Cat Ears Knit Hat Pattern

Knit cat ears hat size:

Head circumference: Teen/Adult: 53-56 cm (21-22”) 

Gauge: 12 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

Common abbreviations of knit stitches:

When the pattern instructs to knit (k) or purl (p), it means to work the stitches normally, with knit stitches worked by inserting the needle into the front loop and wrapping the yarn as you would in standard knitting. Purl stitches are worked by bringing the yarn to the front and wrapping it in the usual way for purling. Any special instructions will mention if the yarn should be wrapped differently than in standard knitting.

k – knit

kb -Insert the needle into the back loop of the stitch, then wrap the yarn in the opposite way from standard knitting, and pull it through to complete the stitch.

k2tog – knit two together

p – purl

pb – Insert the needle into the back loop of the stitch, wrap the yarn in the opposite way from standard purling, and pull it through to complete the stitch.

skpo – Slip, Knit, Pass Over: Slip one stitch to the right needle knitwise, knit in the next stitch and drop this stitch off the left needle, insert the left needle into the slipped stitch, pass it over the knit stitch and it’s done.

Cat ears hat knitting pattern:

Knitting hat’s body:

Cast on 84 sts. Join to knit in rounds.

Round 1: [kb1, p1] – repeat till the end.

Round 2:  [kb, p1] – repeat till the end.

Round 3: [k1, pb1] – repeat till the end.

Repeat Rounds 2-3 until ribbing measures 4.5-5 cm.

Switch to large knitting needles.

Knit next rounds in stockinette stitch until the hat measures 20 cm for an adult size or 16-17 cm for a child size.

84 sts /2= 42 sts

42/3 =14/14/14 sts If the final number is not divisible by 3, place the extra stitch in the center, ensuring both sides remain equal. For example 16/17/16.

Place stitch markers as follows: 14sts, pm, 14 sts, pm, 28 sts, pm, 14 sts, pm, 14 sts.

Shaping cat ears of the hat:

Round 1: [k14, skpo, k10, k2tog, k14] – repeat twice.

Round 2: knit all stitches around.

Round 3: [k14, skpo, k8, k2tog, k14] – repeat twice.

Round 4: knit all stitches around.

Round 5: [k14, skpo, k6, k2tog, k14] – repeat twice.

Round 6: knit all stitches around.

Round 7: [k14, skpo, k4, k2tog, k14] – repeat twice.

Round 8: knit all stitches around.

Round 9: [k14, skpo, k2, k2tog, k14] – repeat twice.

Round 10: knit all stitches around.

Round 11: [k14, skpo, k2tog, k14] – repeat twice.

Round 12: knit all stitches around.

Cut the yarn, leaving a 40-50 cm tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle. Divide all stitches in half, placing the first half of the stitches on the front needle and the second half on the back needle. *Insert the needle as if to purl into the stitch on the back needle, then immediately as if to purl into the stitch on the front needle. Pull the yarn through and drop both stitches off the needles. Repeat from * until the crown of the hat is closed. Cut the yarn and weave in all ends.