Cats! Bizarre, adorable, a staple of the internet.
This is a super-simple pattern, great for beginners, it can be easily adjusted to different sizes (from kids to adults) and would make the perfect gifts for your friends and family.
You will need:
5mm crochet hook (FOR A CHUNKY BEANIE: 10mm crochet hook)
Worsted weight yarn in the colour of your choice (If you are making a chunky beanie with the 10mm crochet hook, either use chunky weight yarn (6) or two strands of worsted weight yarn tied to your hook.)
Abbreviations:
sc - single crochet
dc - double crochet
fpdc - front post double crochet
bpdc - back post double crochet
If you are unfamiliar with front post and back post double crochets (or need a review on how to make them) here is a video tutorial explaining how:
Let's get crocheting!
TO BEGIN:
Crochet a foundation double crochet in an EVEN number that will fit around your head. For my head, I made a foundation of 82dc.
If you don't know how to make a foundation row of double crochet, here is a clear, easy-to-follow video tutorial by Julie King from Gleeful Things.
If you are still having trouble with your foundation row, you can alternatively make a regular chain that fits around your head, slip stitch to join, then make a dc in every chain. Either way works fine, so do whatever feels more comfortable for you!
KEEP IN MIND that if you want the "ears" to be firm and hold their shape, you will want your work to be a little tighter than usual. As such, you might want to consider adding a few extra stitches to your foundation chain to ensure it will fit snugly around your head, but comfortably!
Row 1: Chain 2, 1fpdc in the same dc stitch, 1bpdc in the next stitch. *1fpdc in the next dc stitch, 1bpdc in the next dc stitch. * Repeat ** around, slip stitch to the first fpdc to join.
Row 2 - 22(at least): Chain 2, 1fpdc in the same stitch, 1bpdc in the next stitch. Repeat around until you reach the end, slip stitch to join to the first fpdc.
If you would like your beanie to be longer, or have the option to roll up the bottom of the beanie to create a brim, (as seen in the photos of the pink beanie above), then continue to add more rows. My pink beanie had a total of 26 rows.
TO FINISH:
Now we will be closing up the hat! This is incredibly easy :) In this row, all you need to do is position the stitches so that they line up with each other, and then we will single crochet the stitches together, working from one side of the hat to the other.
Please refer to the pictures provided below to help!
When making the single crochet, make sure you insert your hook into BOTH of the double crochets that are lined up with each other, then complete the stitch. This is how we close up the beanie and create the cat ears shape.
Once you have reached the end, fasten off, and weave in ends.
And that's it! You're all done! A cute, snug, warm beanie for yourself, your friends, children, maybe even your cat >:) Please be sure to share pictures of your work if you make one, I'd love to see your work!
CHUNKY BEANIE:
If you'd like to have a thicker beanie that works up significantly faster, then you can use a 10mm hook with either chunky yarn (6) or two strands of worsted weight tied to your hook. My yellow beanie below was made using the double strand method:
For a chunky beanie, the foundation row was 38dc, followed by 16 rows of fpdc & bpdc, before closing the beanie. Just remember that the length/size of the beanie is entirely up to you, so if you'd prefer a shorter one (without the option of a brim), then skip to the sc row as you please :)
Thank you so much for visiting my site and trying out this pattern. I hope you enjoyed making it as much as I enjoyed designing it!
If anyone has any suggestions or critiques, I'd greatly appreciate your (constructive) feedback. You can either leave a comment below, send me a message through this website, or email me at: slipstitchhollow@gmail.com
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Happy Crocheting!
Slipstitch ;)