Alrighty. Both cats are complete (and I have moved on to a dog and a cashmere bear). Creamsicle with a Joggless Jog and Butterscotch with seaming.

From the front, they look about the same.

I enjoyed knitting Creamsicle Tabby much more, and I think his shape is cuter. I don’t really mind seaming as an activity, but it made Butterscotch harder to stuff – especially given the way I finish the arms and legs. Creamsicle’s arms and legs have a decided curve to them where the joggless jog pulls at them and also a raised ridge where the jogless jog actually happens. Both heads were knit in the round.

You can really see the difference from the back.

I used Meg’s method on Creamsicle Kitty, and opted to do them all in the same place (it made more sense than a raised spiral around the toy’s middle). That method is also decribed very clearly here. There are other ways to make jogless stripes in the round, (my favorite is this one) but none of them work on a toy when the stripes are only two rounds wide.

So which is better: Butterscotch where the stripes match or Creamsicle where the shapes look better. And does anyone have any other ideas?