This banana cat crochet pattern makes a small amigurumi kitten peeking out of a bright yellow-green banana costume.

The cat has a round tabby head in pale brown with a cream face patch, little stub arms and feet, and the banana peel wraps around it like a hooded onesie, topped with a brown stalk.

It is a quick, small project: the head is only 12 rounds, the arms and feet are tiny tubes, and the banana is a flat panel of half double crochet rows that you fold and sew around the stuffed head.

In the photo the finished cat stands upright and fits easily in one hand, which makes it a cute keychain-size gift or desk buddy.

The pattern uses basic stitches only (sc, hdc, sl st, ch) plus front loop only rows, which give the peel its ridged texture. It is a good next step after your first ball-shaped amigurumi, because it adds a simple color change for the face and a flat-to-3D assembly.

Tip: The PDF does not list yarn, hook or eye sizes. The materials below are suggestions based on the photo, not from the designer.

Finished size

The PDF gives no measurements. Based on the photo, the finished banana cat is roughly 8–10 cm (3–4 in) tall when worked in a DK or light worsted cotton with a 2.5–3 mm hook. A thicker yarn and larger hook will make it bigger.

Yarn substitution

The sample looks like a smooth cotton or cotton-blend yarn, which gives crisp stitches and shows the peel ridges well. Any DK or light worsted cotton, cotton-acrylic or acrylic works.

Pale brown for the head, arms and feet (a light caramel or tan).
Skin color (cream or off-white) for the face patch.
Yellow-green for the banana peel; plain yellow also works for a ripe banana.
Brown for the stalk and the tabby stripes.

Chenille or plush yarn will look softer but hides the face color change, so keep the head in a smooth yarn if you can.

Common mistakes

Losing the face placement. Rounds 6 and 7 place the cream stitches in the middle of the round. Use a stitch marker at the start of each round so the face patch lines up above the center.
Counting the chain stitch in Row 1 of the peel. After chaining 28, the first stitch goes into the second chain from the hook, giving 27 stitches (2 sl st + 22 hdc + 3 sl st).
Working the wrong loop on the peel. Only the odd rows from Row 3 on are worked in the front loop only. Mixing them up changes the ridge texture on one side.
Under-stuffing the banana. The peel is sewn around the head and becomes the body. Add stuffing as you sew the top and back so the cat stands up and keeps its shape.

FAQ

Is the banana peel a hood or the body?
Both. The flat peel is wrapped around the head so the face peeks out the front, then sewn closed at the top and back and stuffed. The lower part forms the body, with the feet sewn on at the bottom.

What eyes should I use?
The photo shows small round black eyes. Small safety eyes (about 5–6 mm) work for an adult's keepsake. For a gift for a baby or small child, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead.

How do I make the tabby stripes and blush?
The PDF does not include instructions for the face details. In the photo, the stripes are short lines embroidered in brown on the forehead, the mouth is a small embroidered line, and the cheeks are pink, which you can add with a few stitches of pink yarn or a little blush or fabric pencil.

Can I make it without the banana?
Yes. Finish the head, add the arms and feet to a simple body, and you have a plain tabby kitten. The banana peel is what makes this pattern special, though.

Materials notes

The pattern starts the head in pale brown and changes to skin color only for a few stitches in Rounds 6 and 7, then fully in Round 8. Carry the unused color loosely inside the head.

Pattern

Head

Begin with pale brown.

R1: 8 sc in magic ring [8]
R2: (sc, inc) repeat 4 times [12]
R3: (sc, inc) repeat 4 times [18]
R4: (sc, inc, sc) repeat 4 times [24]
R5: (3 sc, inc) repeat 4 times [30]
R6: 15 sc, 1 sc in skin color, 14 sc in pale brown [30]
R7: 14 sc, 3 sc in skin color, 13 sc in pale brown [30]
Change to skin color.
R8: 30 sc [30]
R9: (3 sc, dec) repeat 6 times [24]
R10: (sc, dec, sc) repeat 6 times [18]
Insert the eyes (if using safety eyes) and start stuffing.
R11: (sc, dec) repeat 6 times [12]
R12: (dec) repeat 6 times [6]
Finish stuffing, fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Tip: The cream face patch grows from a single stitch in R6 into a full round from R8, so the point of the patch forms the middle of the forehead.

Hands (make 2)

Pale brown.

R1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
R2–R3: 6 sc [6]
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Legs (make 2)

Pale brown.

R1: 10 sc in magic ring [10]
R2: 10 sc [10]
R3: (dec) repeat 5 times [5]
R4: 5 sc [5]
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Banana peel

Yellow-green. The peel is worked flat in rows.

Row 1: ch 28, turn. Starting in the 2nd chain from the hook: 2 sl st, 22 hdc, 3 sl st [27]
Row 2: ch 1, turn, 3 sl st, 22 hdc, 2 sl st [27]
Row 3: ch 1, turn, working in flo: 2 sl st, 22 hdc, 3 sl st [27]
Row 4: ch 1, turn, 3 sl st, 22 hdc, 2 sl st [27]
Rows 5–14: repeat Rows 3 and 4 [27]
Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

The slip stitches at both ends make the peel narrower at the top and bottom, which gives the banana its tapered shape.

Stalk (top)

Brown.

R1: 6 sc in magic ring [6]
R2: (inc) repeat 6 times [12]
R3: (dec) repeat 6 times [6]
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Stalk (bottom)

Brown.

7 sc in magic ring.
Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing.

Assembly

Place the stuffed head inside the banana peel so the face shows at the front opening.
Sew the top and the back of the peel closed, adding more stuffing as you go so the body is firm.
Sew the top stalk to the tip of the banana and the bottom stalk to the base.
Sew the hands to the sides of the peel and the legs to the bottom front.
Embroider the tabby stripes, mouth and blush if you like.

Your banana cat is complete!

Optional & Creative Ideas

Customize colors: Make a ripe banana in bright yellow with tiny brown spots, or swap the cat for a gray or orange tabby.
Keychain version: Add a keyring to the top stalk for a bag charm.
Fruit costume series: Use the same peel idea with other colors for a whole set of fruit-costume cats.
Face details: Add white highlights to the eyes with a single stitch of white yarn for extra sparkle.

Final Thoughts

The banana cat is a small, fast make with a big smile factor. The flat hdc peel is easy to work, and sewing it around the head is a simple way to learn how flat pieces turn into 3D amigurumi costumes.

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Banana Cat Crochet Pattern: Amigurumi Kitten in a Banana Peel