How to Knit a Child's Cat Hat

Cute Kitty Hat Pattern
Leah Jubara
Project Overview
  • Total Time: 3 hrs
  • Yield: 1 Hat
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Estimated Cost: $30

This cat hat is a really quick and easy pattern that's sure to be a hit with any cat or animal-loving child. This project is just a simple stockinette stitch hat worked in the round; the fun comes with the addition of simple triangular ears and stitched face and whisker embellishments.

Gauge

The gauge of this pattern is 14 stitches and 24 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch in the round (3.5 stitches and 6 rows per inch).

Size

The finished hat circumference is about 11 (12, 14, 16) inches to fit a newborn (3 to 6-month-old, 6 to 12-month-old, and toddler). The hat is meant to be snug. Instructions are given for smallest size with larger sizes following in the parentheses.​

Leah Jubara

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • 1 Set of 4 size 7 US (4.5 mm) double-pointed knitting needles
  • 1 Tape measure
  • 1 Pair of scissors
  • 1 Yarn needle

Materials

  • 1 Skein of medium weight yarn
  • 1 Scrap of black medium weight yarn

Instructions

  1. Knit the Hat

    Cast on 40 (44, 48, 56) stitches. Divide the stitches on three double-pointed needles and join in the round. If desired, place a stitch marker to mark the end of the round.

    • Work in knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 1 inch
    • Work in stockinette stitch (knit every round) until piece measures 4 (4.5, 5, 5.5) inches from cast on edge
    • *Knit 6, knit 2 together, repeat from * around
    • On the second size, knit 4 stitches at the end of the round, 35 (35, 42, 49) stitches
    • Knit 1 round
    • *Knit 5, k2tog, repeat from * around, 30 (30, 35, 42) stitches
    • Knit 1 round
    • *Knit 4, k2tog, repeat from * around, 25 (25, 28, 35) stitches
    • Knit 1 round
    • *Knit 3, k2tog, repeat from * around, 20 (20, 21, 28) stitches
    • Knit 1 round
    • *Knit 2, k2tog, repeat from * around, 15 (15, 14, 21) stitches
    • *Knit 1, k2tog, repeat from * around, 10 (10, 7, 14) stitches

    Cut the yarn and thread onto a yarn needle. Slip the remaining stitches onto the yarn and pull tight to close the top of the hat.

    Leah Jubara
  2. Make the Ears

    Using two double-pointed needles but knitting back and forth, cast on 6 stitches.

    • Purl 1 row
    • Knit 1 row
    • Purl 1 row
    • Slip, slip, knit, knit 2, knit 2 together (4 stitches)
    • Purl 1 row
    • SSK, k2tog (2 stitches)
    • Purl 1 row
    • K2tog (1 stitch)
    • Cut yarn and pull through remaining stitch

    Watch Now: How to Slip Slip Knit

    Once the four ears have been completed, hold two ears wrong sides together and stitch around the edges. Repeat with remaining ears, then sew onto hat as shown or wherever you would like.

    Leah Jubara
  3. Add the Embellishments

    Using a length of medium weight black yarn and a yarn needle, stitch eyes and a nose using a duplicate stitch.

    The whiskers are simply really long stitches worked on a slight diagonal. The center whisker is longer than the other two.

    Leah Jubara