Cat Ears Knit Hat
Quick, cozy hat with built in cat ears. Worked in the round with a ribbed brim and simple crown shaping. Sizes for Baby, Child, Adult. Clear step by step instructions, tips for adjusting, and finishing notes included.
Materials
- Yarn: Worsted / Aran weight (Category 4 Aran/Worsted). Suggested: one 100 g skein approx 200 yd 183 m will make an Adult hat; adjust per size below. Yardage by size: Baby 75 70 m 69 yd, Child 120 110 m 120 yd, Adult 150 137 m 150 yd (approximate - see notes)
- Needles: 16 inch 40 cm circular and set of double pointed needles for small circumference or magic loop method. Recommended sizes: US 8 UK 6 5.0 mm (main) and US 7 UK 7 4.5 mm 4.5 mm (optional for firmer rib). You will need DPNs in the same sizes for shaping or a shorter circular for magic loop.
- Notions: stitch marker, tapestry needle, scrap yarn or stitch holder, removable marker, scissors, optional safety pins for positioning ears
Gauge
18 stitches and 24 rounds = 4 inches 10 cm in stockinette in the round using US 8 5.0 mm. Adjust needles if your gauge differs.
Finished Sizes
- Baby 0-6 months: circumference about 16 inches 41 cm; height approx 5.5 inches 14 cm
- Child: circumference about 18 inches 46 cm; height approx 6.5 inches 16.5 cm
- Adult: circumference about 20 inches 51 cm; height approx 8 inches 20 cm
Stitch Abbreviations (US terms)
- CO cast on
- k knit
- p purl
- k2tog knit 2 together
- ssk slip slip knit (left leaning decrease)
- st stitch
- pm place marker
- rnd round
Pattern Notes
Cast on numbers below assume the gauge above. The counts are divisible by 8 to make crown decreases easy. You can adjust stitch count in multiples of 8 for a tighter or looser fit. Work joins and decrease rounds with even spacing. When crown decreases make the first decrease round on the RS and follow the sequence listed exactly.
Cast On
- Baby CO 72 sts. Join to work in the round, place marker for beginning of round.
- Child CO 80 sts. Join to work in the round, place marker.
- Adult CO 88 sts. Join to work in the round, place marker.
Brim
With smaller needles if you prefer a firmer brim (US 7 4.5 mm) or same needles, work 1x1 rib or 2x2 rib for desired width.
- Rib: k1 p1 repeat or k2 p2 repeat for 1.5 4 cm to 2 inches 5 cm for Baby and Child; 2 inches 5 cm to 2.5 inches 6.5 cm for Adult.
Body
After brim, switch to stockinette in the round (knit every round) until hat measures from cast-on edge to crown shaping point:
- Baby: 5.5 inches 14 cm from the cast on edge
- Child: 6.5 inches 16.5 cm
- Adult: 8 inches 20 cm
Crown Decreases
These decrease rounds assume your total was divisible by 8 (72 80 88). Work the following repeating pair of rounds, reducing the number of plain knit stitches between decreases by one each decrease round. Continue the pair of rounds until you have about 8 12 stitches left, then close as directed.
- Round 1: *k7 k2tog* repeat to end which reduces the stitch count by one decrease per repeat.
- Round 2: knit around.
- Round 3: *k6 k2tog* repeat to end.
- Round 4: knit around.
- Round 5: *k5 k2tog* repeat to end.
- Round 6: knit around.
- Round 7: *k4 k2tog* repeat to end.
- Round 8: knit around.
- Round 9: *k3 k2tog* repeat to end.
- Round 10: knit around.
- Round 11: *k2 k2tog* repeat to end.
- Round 12: knit around.
- Round 13: *k1 k2tog* repeat to end.
- Round 14: knit around.
- Round 15: *k2tog* repeat until a small number of stitches remain (around 8 to 12 depending on starting size). Cut yarn leaving a 6 8 inch tail, thread tail through remaining stitches with tapestry needle, pull tight to close, weave in end.
Notes: The exact number of decrease rounds you do will depend on starting stitch count. This progressive decrease sequence produces a neat rounded crown.
Cat Ears (Make 2)
Sew-on triangular ears knit flat. Use same yarn and needles.
- Baby: CO 10 sts
- Child: CO 12 sts
- Adult: CO 14 sts
Work triangle in garter stitch for a sturdy ear using this decrease sequence:
- Row 1 RS: knit across
- Row 2 WS: knit across
- Row 3: k2tog, knit to last 2 sts, k2tog
- Row 4: knit across
- Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until 2 3 sts remain. Final row knit them together and bind off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Fold ear with RS together and seam the base to form a triangle with point at top.
Optional: Work a few rows of garter at the bottom edge before decreasing to make a sturdier base for sewing.
Placement and Sewing
Block hat lightly if desired. Fold hat in half to find center back or measure distance from front to back. Position ears symmetrically. A guideline method: fold hat flat with center front at fold; measure back from the front fold 3 1 1.25 inches 8 3 3.2 cm to where the first ear should sit from the center front line depending on size. Space ears approx 3 3.5 4 inches 7.5 9 10 cm center to center for Baby Child Adult respectively. Use pins or safety pins to check placement then sew ears securely with mattress stitch or whip stitch from the inside to hide seams. Weave in ends.
Finishing
- Weave in all ends. Tuck seams to the inside for a clean finish.
- Optional: Add a soft fleece lining by cutting two ear shaped fleece pieces and hand sewing into the ear cavity for comfort and wind protection. You can also add a pompom at the crown.
- Light blocking can even out stitches; do not overstretch.
Adjustments and Tips
- To make ears pointier, decrease every row instead of every other row while shaping the triangle.
- For smaller gauge or slouchier hats, choose larger needles or add 8 16 stitches and adjust decreases keeping multiple of 8.
- If using very stretchy yarn, reduce cast on stitches by one repeat of 8 for a snug fit.
Care
Follow yarn label for care. Generally hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry for best longevity and to preserve ear shape.
Support and Notes
Website https://purljam.verde.uk Email team@verde.uk Socials #purljam
Enjoy knitting your cat ear hat. If you want this adapted to crochet or sized differently write specifying gauge and target circumference and I can provide a conversion.