In memory of Coco (2007-2025)

This pattern was made for my long cat Coco, who traveled with us from California to Finland and spent her first Finnish winter shivering in our apartment. Regular cat sweaters didn’t fit her -- too short, too bunchy around the shoulders. So I made this one in the dark on a car ride, going off memory and hunches.

She wore it for years. She passed in late November 2025 at nearly seventeen years old. This pattern is her legacy.

Version 2.0 (December 2025): Now includes construction diagrams, orientation notes, and fitting tips. Original stitch counts preserved; explanations vastly improved.

Special features:

• Ribbed mock turtleneck expands and contracts for easy on/off while maintaining shape
• Shoulder shaping accommodates movement in different
  positions
• Single large armhole instead of individual sleeves—easier to put on, more freedom of movement
• Belly shaping in the lower half accommodates full bellies
• Uniform single crochet background is great for decorative appliqués
• Hidden seam placement under the left arm keeps the back smooth and pristine for decoration

Sizing:

Made to fit an 11-pound long cat. Works for 10-14 pounders of similar body type. Top-down construction makes it easy to try on as you go. Larger hook = bigger sweater.

Blog post with full story:

https://littleblueandwhitehouse.com/2025/12/15/cocos-sweater-mock-turtleneck-sweater-for-cats/

⚠️ 12/15/2025 - Heads up to fellow designers: My free pattern was recently found being sold on Etsy by a shop called “Digitalnajwa” — they were using my original photos (featuring my cat Coco!) to sell it for €6.83. The listing has since been removed, but the shop still has other patterns listed that look suspicious. If you offer free patterns, it might be worth checking if your work has been scraped and resold.