Knitty Kitty

I knitted this for Mommy (who I just recently taught how to knit) for Christmas.  It's so cuddly!  I would have given it buttons for eyes, but after watching Coraline, I will never be able to give ANYTHING button eyes.

Materials:
-Red Heart Super Saver yarn in Mexicana
-4mm double pointed needles (set of 4)
-Yarn or tapestry needle
-Cotton or poly-blend stuffing
Abbreviations:
CO- cast on
BO- bind off
sts- stitches
k- knit
m1- make 1 st by picking up and knitting the bar in between the 2 sts.
Rep- repeat

Body:

CO 27 sts.

Divide between 3 dpns (9 sts per needle)

Inc 1 st at both ends of each dpn every other row 3 times.

K all sts until work measures 6 in.

K2tog all sts for one round.

Cut yarn leaving 6 in. end.

Weave the end through yarn needle.

Thread through all sts, sliding sts off of needles as you go.

Pull tightly and sew up.

Head:

CO 27 sts.

Divide between 3 dpns (9 sts per needle)

Inc 1 st at both ends of each dpn every other row 5 times.

K all sts until work measures 5 in.

Next round:  Needle 1:  BO 16 sts.  k to end.  Needle 2:  k10, BO 9.  Needle 3:  BO 7 sts.  k to end.

Continue working flat all sts on needle 3 in stockinette st as such (you will come back to needles 1 and 2 later):

Decrease 1 st at each edge every other row until there are 2 sts left.

BO all sts.

Reattach yarn to beginning of needle 1.

Work flat on needles 1 and 2 in stockinette st.

Decrease 1 st at each edge every other row until there are 3 sts left.

BO all sts.

Finishing:

Sew up the top of the head.

Stuff both the head and body (you should fill it up with more than you think).

Sew the head and body together at the neck.