Cat-Shaped Pen Holder Crochet Pattern

If you’ve been looking for a fun, functional, and absolutely adorable desk accessory to make, this cat-shaped pen holder crochet pattern is exactly what you need. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter looking for a quick weekend project or a beginner ready to try something a little more exciting than dishcloths, this pattern is approachable, satisfying, and genuinely useful once it’s done. Keep your pens, pencils, markers, or even makeup brushes organized in the cutest little cat container you’ve ever seen — and know that you made it yourself.

This pattern creates a small, sturdy cup-shaped holder with cat ears on top and an optional embroidered or stitched face on the front. It sits beautifully on a desk, a nightstand, a craft table, or a bathroom vanity. It also makes a wonderful handmade gift for cat lovers, students, teachers, or really anyone who appreciates something thoughtful and unique.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know to make your very own cat-shaped pen holder.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you begin, gather your supplies. The great thing about this project is that it doesn’t require much yarn at all, so it’s a fantastic stash-buster if you have small amounts of yarn left over from other projects.

You will need approximately 100–150 yards of worsted weight yarn in your main color (this will be the body of the cat), plus a small amount of a contrasting color if you want to add details like a belly patch, inner ears, or facial features. A neutral gray, warm cream, classic black, or a soft orange tabby color all look adorable for the body.

For the hook, a 5.0mm crochet hook works well with standard worsted weight yarn, but always check your tension as you go. The finished holder needs to be firm enough to stand upright and hold its shape, so you want to crochet fairly tightly. If your stitches feel loose, try going down half a size to a 4.5mm hook.

You’ll also need a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and adding any embroidered details, a pair of scissors, and stitch markers to keep track of your rounds. A small amount of black embroidery floss or yarn is helpful for stitching the cat’s face — eyes, nose, and whiskers go a long way in bringing your little holder to life.

Some crafters also like to place a small glass jar, a plastic cup, or a section of a cardboard tube inside the finished holder to give it extra stability and prevent it from bowing outward when filled with pens. This is entirely optional but does add a nice professional finish to the project.

Gauge and Finished Size

Gauge: approximately 14 single crochet stitches and 16 rows equal 4 inches using a 5.0mm hook and worsted weight yarn.

Finished size: roughly 4 inches tall (not including the ears) and about 3.5 inches in diameter at the opening. This is the perfect size to hold about 8–12 standard pens or pencils comfortably.

Keep in mind that gauge matters more for this project than it might for something like a scarf, because you want the bottom of the holder to lie flat and the sides to stand up straight. If your gauge is off, the proportions of the holder may change. Adjust your hook size accordingly.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

Throughout this pattern, the following standard US crochet abbreviations are used:

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
sc2tog — single crochet two together (decrease)
inc — increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
st — stitch
sts — stitches
MR — magic ring (also called a magic circle)
BLO — back loop only
FLO — front loop only
rnd — round

Pattern Instructions

The Base

Begin by creating a firm, flat circle for the bottom of your pen holder. This is worked in continuous rounds, so use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of each round.

Start with a magic ring.

Rnd 1: Work 6 sc into the magic ring. Pull the tail to close the ring snugly. (6 sts)

Rnd 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Rnd 3: Sc in next st, inc in next st — repeat from to around. (18 sts)

Rnd 4: Sc in next 2 sts, inc in next st — repeat from to around. (24 sts)

Rnd 5: Sc in next 3 sts, inc in next st — repeat from to around. (30 sts)

Rnd 6: Sc in next 4 sts, inc in next st — repeat from to around. (36 sts)

Rnd 7: Sc in next 5 sts, inc in next st — repeat from to around. (42 sts)

At this point you should have a flat circle with 42 stitches. If you want a wider base, you can add one more increase round following the same pattern (sc in next 6 sts, inc in next st around, giving you 48 sts), and then adjust the side rounds accordingly.

The Sides

This is where the holder transitions from a flat circle to a cup shape. Working into the back loops only at the start of the sides creates a clean, defined edge at the base of the holder — this is the same technique used in crochet baskets and bowls to create that right-angle turn.

Rnd 8: Working in BLO, sc in each st around. (42 sts)

Rnd 9 through Rnd 18: Working in both loops now, sc in each st around. (42 sts each round)

Continue working these even rounds until the sides of your holder reach about 3.5 to 4 inches in height. You want enough depth to hold pens without them toppling over, but not so deep that the cat ear portion gets lost. If your yarn is thicker or your stitches are larger, you may reach the right height in fewer rounds. If your yarn is on the lighter side of worsted, you may need a couple of extra rounds.

After your last even round, do not fasten off. You’ll continue from this point to add the ears.

The Cat Ears

The ears are worked flat, back and forth, at the top of the holder in two places. They are built directly onto the edge of the cup rather than made separately and sewn on, which gives them a clean, attached look and saves you the extra step of sewing.

To position the ears evenly, think of the opening of your holder like a clock face. The first ear will be positioned at roughly the 10 o’clock position and the second ear at the 2 o’clock position, leaving the front face area open between them and the back side open as well.

First Ear

Count your stitches around the opening and identify a section of about 7 stitches near one side of the “front” of the holder. Join your yarn (or continue if you haven’t fastened off) at the first stitch of this 7-stitch section.

Row 1: Sc in each of the 7 sts. Turn. (7 sts)

Row 2: Sc2tog, sc in next 3 sts, sc2tog. Turn. (5 sts)

Row 3: Sc2tog, sc in next st, sc2tog. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 4: Sc in all 3 sts. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 5: Sc2tog, sc in last st. Turn. (2 sts)

Row 6: Sc2tog. (1 st)

Fasten off and weave in the end. You’ll have a small pointed triangle shape — a perfect little cat ear.

Second Ear

Skip a section of stitches — roughly 10 to 14 stitches — to leave the front face area of the cat open. Then join your yarn at the next stitch and repeat the ear instructions above for the second ear. Skip another section of stitches for the back, positioning the ears symmetrically when viewed from the front.

If the spacing doesn’t divide perfectly evenly based on your stitch count, that’s completely fine. You can adjust by skipping one more or one fewer stitch between the ear sections. Cat ears don’t need to be mathematically perfect — in fact, a little asymmetry often looks charmingly handmade.

Optional: Inner Ear Detail

If you’d like to add a pop of color to the inside of each ear (which looks especially cute on gray or black cats), cut a small length of a contrast color yarn — pink works beautifully — and use your tapestry needle to do a few simple embroidery stitches filling in the center of each ear triangle. You can also use a surface slip stitch in contrast yarn along the edges of the ear. Either approach adds a lovely dimension to the finished piece.

The Cat Face

Now comes the most fun and most customizable part of the whole project: adding the cat’s face. There’s no single right way to do this, and your cat’s expression will give the holder its personality.

Using black embroidery floss or a strand of thin black yarn, embroider the face onto the front of the holder using your tapestry needle. Here are the features to add and some simple ways to stitch them:

Eyes: The easiest approach is to make two small oval or almond shapes using satin stitch — fill in a small oval by stitching parallel lines close together. Alternatively, you can stitch simple curved lines for sleepy or content-looking eyes, which gives the cat a peaceful, zen expression. Position the eyes roughly in the upper-center area of the front panel, spaced about 1 inch apart.

Nose: A small triangle of three or four stitches in the center of the face, placed just below the eyes, works perfectly. You can use the same black thread or switch to a dusty rose or light pink for a softer look.

Mouth: From the bottom point of the nose triangle, stitch a short vertical line downward and then branch it into two small curved lines going out to each side — this creates the classic cat W-shaped mouth. Keep it small and delicate for the best result.

Whiskers: These are optional but add a lot of character. Use three long straight stitches fanning out from each side of the nose area. Because embroidery floss can snag easily on a functional holder, some crafters prefer to skip the whiskers or to paint them on with a fabric paint pen instead, which makes them more durable over time.

If embroidery feels intimidating, you can also use craft glue to attach small googly eyes or flat button eyes instead, which is a quick and very charming alternative. Just make sure any attachments are glue-gunned securely if the holder will be in regular use.

Finishing Touches

Once your cat face is complete and all ends are woven in, give your holder a light blocking if needed. Wet blocking (dampening the piece and shaping it with your hands, then letting it air dry) can help the base lie flat and the sides stand up straight if they’ve curled inward during crocheting.

If you want extra sturdiness, cut a circle of cardboard or craft foam slightly smaller than the diameter of the base and slip it inside before placing any pens in the holder. Some crafters also apply a thin layer of fabric stiffener or even a light misting of spray starch to help the sides hold their shape.

Color Ideas and Variations

One of the most delightful things about this pattern is how much room there is to make it your own. A few color and style ideas to spark your imagination:

A classic orange tabby look is achieved with a warm pumpkin or rust-colored yarn for the main body, with cream or white for the muzzle area and inner ears. Add thin black embroidered stripes on the forehead for tabby markings.

A sleek all-black cat holder looks modern and chic on any desk. Use bright gold or yellow for the eye color to create a dramatic, sophisticated look.

A calico cat variation uses small patches of white, orange, and black or brown yarn worked in as you go up the sides of the holder — this requires a bit more color-changing but the result is stunning.

A soft gray cat with pale pink inner ears and a dusty rose nose has a gentle, almost illustration-like quality that’s very popular in modern boho or Scandinavian-inspired home decor.

A white cat with light blue eyes and pale lavender inner ears is elegant and understated — perfect for a bridal shower or new-home gift.

Gifting and Packaging Ideas

This cat-shaped pen holder makes a wonderful handmade gift. To package it beautifully, fill it with a few quality pens or a small bouquet of colored pencils before wrapping it in clear cellophane tied with ribbon. You can also pair it with a small notepad, a journal, or a set of sticky notes for a complete handmade desk kit.

For a teacher appreciation gift, fill the holder with their favorite type of pen and include a handwritten note. For a friend’s birthday, tuck in some chocolate or small candies along with a couple of pens. The holder doubles as packaging and present in one, which makes it feel extra special.

If you sell your crochet work at craft fairs or in an online shop, this holder is a reliable bestseller. It’s quick enough to make in multiples, visually eye-catching on a display table, and hits the sweet spot between useful and adorable that shoppers love. Pricing it between $18 and $28 depending on your market is a reasonable starting point.

Tips for Success

A few final tips to keep in mind as you work through this pattern. First, keep your tension consistent throughout the sides of the holder. Loose or uneven tension on the sides will make the holder look floppy and affect how well it stands up. If you notice your sides are starting to flare outward, try consciously pulling your yarn a little more firmly as you stitch.

Second, use stitch markers generously. Marking the beginning of each round and the placement points for the ears before you start building them will save you from having to rip back and recount.

Third, don’t rush the face embroidery. This is the step that determines how much personality your cat has, and taking your time with it — working slowly, adjusting the size and shape of each feature as you go — makes all the difference between a holder that looks finished and professional versus one that looks a bit uncertain.

Finally, enjoy the process. This is the kind of small, satisfying project that reminds you why you love crochet in the first place. It comes together quickly, uses materials you likely already have, and results in something genuinely lovely and useful. Every time you reach for a pen, you’ll see that little cat face looking back at you, and that never really gets old.

Happy crocheting, and don’t forget to share your finished cat-shaped pen holder with us — we’d love to see every version you make.