worked pattern forward in one stripe pattern, reversed colors and horizontal direction for opposite. One white kitty one black kitty.

Have two rectangular pieces. Now to make the backs. I think garter stitch plus short rows for shaping.
/
pick up 44 sts along edge
one per stripe, a few more on the top and bottom/

rows:
k
k
k
* k20, wt
k to end
k18 wt
k to end
k 16 wt
k to end
k all
repeat from *

k 2 rows

k16 wt
k to end
k18 wt
k to end
k20 wt
k to end
k all
repeat from

k 3 rows
’
k 4 rows --
other pair: do 2 more garter rows at beginning and only two here at the end

to seam, modified 3 needle bindoff
hold right sides together with last row still on needles
pick up a stitch on the other edge, slip one stitch from needle, k those two sts together.
proceed this way,.. pick up, slip from back needle, k2tog and bind 1 off. work this way leaving a thumb hole gap.