Free Crochet Rattle Pattern – Adorable Cat Toy for Newborns

I’ve been in the mood for crochet patterns for newborns lately. They’re just too sweet to resist! If you’re also on the hunt for the perfect free crochet project for newborns, this crochet rattle pattern might be just what you need. Designed as a chubby little cat, this baby-safe amigurumi rattle uses soft yarn, gentle shapes, and zero hard pieces, making it ideal as a first handmade toy. It’s a lovely option for a baby shower gift or a cute addition to your own nursery. Plus, the pattern includes a step-by-step photo tutorial to help you create something both adorable and functional.

Crochet for Newborns: Safe & Sweet Gift Ideas

Baby rattles are just the beginning! If you’re looking to crochet gifts for a newborn, here are more free patterns that are soft, gentle, and perfect for little ones:

• Crochet Bunny Rainbow Rattle
• Easy Crochet Octopus
• Blue Whale No-Sew Toy
• Crochet Ideas for Newborn

These designs pair beautifully with a handmade rattle if you’re putting together a full baby gift set.

More Free Crochet Patterns for Babies & Toddlers

If you enjoy fast and satisfying makes, these small, baby-safe crochet patterns are just what you need. Each one is part of a growing collection of no-sew or minimal-sew designs:

• Spring Crochet Baby Blankets – Free Patterns
• Crochet Baby Dresses – Free Patterns
• Mini Sunshine Doll Amigurumi
• Violette Ballerina Amigurumi Doll

Quick, giftable, and totally beginner-friendly!

💙 Ready to start? Let’s crochet this crochet Cat Rattle together!

Free Crochet Rattle Cat Pattern

List of Materials:

• 2mm crochet hook,
• White and blue lightweight acrylic yarn.
• Black embroidery thread for the eyes.
• Sewing needle,
• Stuffing material hypoallergenic polyester,
• Scissors

Finish size

This toy is crocheted using lightweight yarn and a 2 mm hook. The finished size is approximately 15 cm (5.6 inches) tall with the ears.

Gauge

You don’t need to worry too much about the gauge for this pattern. Just choose a hook that works well with your yarn. I always like to use a slightly smaller hook than the yarn label suggests—this helps keep the stitches nice and tight, so the stuffing doesn’t poke through. If your stitches look a bit loose, try going down a hook size.

Crochet Cat for Newborns Instructions

For this baby toy, we are going to start from the grip by making a tube, after that, we will connect the tube edges. That will start the head. It’s a fast, simple, and beautiful toy! Let’s begin!

Rattle Grip

With blue yarn chain 12,

1 rnd  12sc (starting from the first chain, closing a circle)

• Continue working in rows.

2 -3 rnd  12sc

• Change to white

4 to 6 rnd  12sc

• Change to blue

7 to 9 rnd  12sc

• Repeat rnd 4 to 9, six times (for the rnd 10 to 45).

• Change to white.

46 to 48 rnd  12sc, chain 6

NOTE: stop for stuffing the tube every 12 rows

• Connect the tube by inserting the chain inside one stitch of the other edge.

NOTE: for the rnd 49 you should make 1SC in each of the chains, 12SC around the edge, again 1SC in the other side of each chain, 12SC. Having a total of 36 stitches.

TIP: You have two options for round 49. You can make all stitches in single crochet, or—if you’re working on the blue edge, you can use Front Post Single Crochet (FPSC). I prefer FPSC because that round marks the beginning of the chain, and using this stitch makes both edges look more even.

Head

49 rnd  36sc (or, 6sc, 12FPSC, 18sc)

50 rnd  (5sc, 1inc) repeat 6 times Total 42 sts

51 rnd  (6sc, 1inc) repeat 6 times Total 48sts

52 rnd   (7sc, 1inc) repeat 6 times Total 54 sts

53 rnd  (8sc, 1inc) repeat 6 times Total 60sts

54 rnd  (9sc, 1inc) repeat 6 times Total 66sts

55 to 59 rnd  66sc

60 rnd  (13sc, 1dec, 7sc, 1dec, 7sc, 1dec) repeat 2 times Total 60sts

• Change to blue yarn.

61 rnd  60sc

62 rnd  (12sc, 1dec, 6sc, 1dec, 6sc, 1dec) repeat 2 times Total 54sts

63 rnd  54sc

64 rnd  (11sc, 1dec, 5sc, 1dec, 5sc, 1dec) repeat 2 times Total 48sts

65 rnd  48sc

66 rnd  (10sc, 1dec, 4sc, 1dec, 4sc, 1dec) repeat 2 times Total 42sts

67 rnd  (9sc, 1dec, 3sc, 1dec, 3sc, 1dec) repeat 2 times Total 36sts

68 rnd  (8sc, 1dec, 2sc, 1dec, 2sc, 1dec) repeat 2 times Total 30sts

69 rnd  7dec, 1sc, 7dec, 1sc Total 16sts

• Cut the yarn, fasten off and hide the remaining yarn inside the toy.

Cat Ears

With blue yarn start,

1 rnd    4sc in magic ring

2 rnd    (1inc, 1sc) repeat 2 times Total 6sts

3 rnd    (1inc, 2sc) repeat 2 times Total 8sts

4 rnd    (1inc, 3sc) repeat 2 times Total 10sts

5 rnd    (1inc, 4sc) repeat 2 times Total 12sts

6 rnd    (1inc, 5sc) repeat 2 times Total 14sts

7 rnd    (1inc, 6sc) repeat 2 times Total 16sts

8 rnd    (1inc, 7sc) repeat 2 times Total 18sts

• Cut the yarn, fasten off.
• Make another one in white.

Final Details

1. Sew the ears starting at round 61 and ending at round 67.
2. With black thread, embroider the eyes on round 59, leaving 12 stitches between them.
3. Embroider the nose one round below the eyes.
4. Whiskers: Make 3 lines starting one stitch beside the eye and one round below, each with a length of 3 stitches — or place them where they look most symmetrical to you!

Congratulations!!!

You finished your Crochet Rattle amigurumi!

If this free pattern was useful to you and you are happy with your results, post a picture and tag me on social media so I can see your final product!

Take a look at other patterns here for your next WIP!

Happy crocheting!

Ana

FAQ about Crochet for Newborns