Bumble Cat Toy
It is a knit Bee on a cord my friends, enjoy.
MATERIALS:
4 colours of yarn, mine was acrylic and came from the dollar store, spare no expense 
:
MC = black
CC1 = yellow
CC2 = white
CC3 = blue
Fiberfill, scrap yarn or fabric to stuff the toy
Catnip - optional but adds to the fun
1 set of double pointed needles, whatever size you need to knit your yarn up tightly. I used US # 4.
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
ABBREVIATIONS
CO = Cast on
BO = Bind off
K = knit
KFB = knit into front and back of stitch
K2T = knit two together
M1 = make 1 stitch
sts = stitches
DIRECTIONS
Body - knit in the round (make 1)
With MC, CO 8. Join being careful not to twist (8sts)
Note: Beginning with Rounds 1 and 2 in MC, alternate knitting 2 rows with MC and 2 rows with CC for Bee stripes.
Round 1: K all sts.
Round 2: [KFB] in each stitch. 16sts.
Round 3: K all sts.
Round 4: *K2, M1* repeat across row. 24 sts.
Round 5: K all sts.
Round 6: *K3, M1* repeat across row. 32 sts.
Rounds 7-15: K all sts.
Round 16: *K2, K2T* repeat across row
Round 17: K all sts.
Round 18: *K1, K2T* repeat across row
Round 19: K all sts.
Pause here, weave in cast on tail and stuff Bee body with fiberfill and cat nip, then continue.
Round 20: *K2T* repeat across row. 8 sts.
Round 21: K all sts.
Note: Tie off CC1 now and leave tail inside of Bee body, continue using MC only for Bee head.
Round 22: *K1, M1* repeat across row. 16 sts.
Round 23: K all sts.
Round 24: *K2, M1* repeat across row. 24 sts.
Round 25: K all sts.
Round 26: *K1, K2T* repeat across row. 16 sts.
Round 27: K all sts.
Pause here and finish stuffing Bee body and head with fiberfill and catnip, then continue.
Round 28: *K2T* repeat across row. 8 sts.
Cut yarn leaving approx. 6 inch tail. Thread tail through remaining stitches, gather and tie tightly. Weave in end.
Wings - knit flat (make 2)
With CC2, CO 8.
Row 1: K7. Turn.
Row 2 and all even numbered rows: K to end. Turn.
Row 3: K6. Turn.
Row 5: K5. Turn.
Row 7: K4. Turn.
Row 9: K5. Turn.
Row 11: K6. Turn.
Row 13: K7. Turn.
Row 15: BO 8.
Weave in ends and sew to the Bee’s back.
Cord - knit flat on 2 dpns (make 1)
Pick up and knit 3 stitches in the center of the Bees back.
Knit I-cord until cord measures approx 40 inches, BO. Make a finger sized loop at the end of the I-cord and use the tail of the yarn to stitch the loop shut, weave in any ends.
Tadaaaaaaaa!
It’s time to taunt the cat 
If you have made it this far I would love to see a photo (extra points if the cat is included). Send it and/or questions, comments to christine (at) christinelandry (dot) com.
May 20th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Here’s Tess killing the bee in question. Great cat toy.
May 25th, 2007 at 10:13 pm
This is so cute! And the kitty pictures are wonderful! I just wish my ninja cat didn’t kill and eviscerate stuffies before they have a chance to flee.
June 9th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Great kitty toy! You are my neighbour on the free pattern webring and I thought I’d drop in for a visit.
July 19th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
This is great! I made it flat on 2 needles and then sewed up the seam. My cat loves it!!
July 20th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
[…] Bumble Cat Toy by Christine Landry […]
August 1st, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Hello! great idea of color of this siyte!
August 9th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
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Hi weblogger
Nice blog you have. I will bookmark it 
October 6th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Thank you for sharing!
October 25th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
This is sooo cute! Thanks.
October 28th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Why? Cats are the most pretty and happy with their own pelt.
I do like the toys, but not the sweaters.
October 29th, 2007 at 2:16 am
Don’t do this to our lovely cats! They have their own naturel wonderful and warm coat and they do not need this!
November 19th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
The sweaters are cute but it seems like they’d really infuriate cats!
January 12th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
lol loved the squishy and squirmy part=)
April 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
[…] http://www.christinelandry.com/?p=3 […]
July 18th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
I dont have a cat but would like to make some cat jumpers for xmas gifts, could you give me a pattern with the required no of stitches for a average size cat—as you say they have give & stretch, Thanks.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Omg, I love cats! I have a gray one with a white belly. But its short haired….I want a white persion cat. Those are awasome!
October 2nd, 2008 at 7:58 am
I knitted this up last night.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:47 am
[…] Bumble Cat Toy is a bit trickier, but so […]
December 22nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
LMAO!!!
I love the description of the cat loving sweaters as much as sarcasm, is so true. I make sweaters for my little dogs and sometimes they get tried on a passing cat if the dogs aren’t about, always make that work so much more enjoyable when you’ve wrestled with the cat for awhile. My cats don’t need the sweaters but i work with cats at the humane shelter here and injured/mistreated cats do sometimes need something to keep them warmer, especially in the winter months.
As for the stuffing on the bumble toys, they are similar to ones i make for cats at the shelter and i stuff them with grocery store plastic begs so that they can be washed and germ free as they get shared round the cats there. Plus its a good way of recycling plastic bags. :o)
August 1st, 2009 at 8:09 am
Just wanted to say HI. I found your blog a few days ago on Technorati and have been reading it over the past few days.
www.christinelandry.com - cool!!!!
October 20th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Hi Christine
I’ve just found and knitted your wonderful bumble bee for my adopted 5yr Birman. She absolutely loves it and is a joy to watch as she chases it around the house.
Could send a photo of cat and bee but unsure how I do this.
Regards Elaine
Snells Beach New Zealand
December 2nd, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I loved your comments about how cats love sweaters - you are obviously a cat person. Great job on the patterns. I can’t wait to delight (not) my grandkitties with gifts!
December 25th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
Christine, your sweater for a cat pattern is one of the most well written I have seen in a very long time. There is NO reason it could not be used for a dog or a hamster or little lamb or goat or any other animal who gets cold. I have a short-haired dog, a Mountain Fiest, and here in Michigan it gets PLENTY cold and yes, he NEEDS his coat to go outside and sometimes, even needs a sweater in the house to stay toasty. I WILL be adapting this for my boy, and thank you.
That bubmlebee pattern is one of the cutest I have seen for cats in a very long time, and I’ve made and sold cat toys at CFA-sanctioned Cat Shows for years and have seen a heck of a lot of toys. Now I’m wondering about adapting other little bug and insect toys (there are quite a few online) to put cords on them for toys, too. Wotta hoot! Thank you for this pattern. My Sweetheart’s cat, Reeces, will enjoy it soon.
Warm hugs and woofs,
Maggie & MacTaggart
in cold and miserable Michigan
by the way — Happy Christmas!
October 17th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Thank you for your loverly patterns they come to use i am sure Margaret