My hat, which I thought was going to be a cat but I'm informed is most definitely a mouse, is finished!
I promised a tutorial so I'll try not to disappoint! I must stress that the original pattern was written by Jana Falls which I found on Ravelry and I've merely adapted this for my own purposes. I umm'd and ahh'd over whether to write up the whole pattern to put on my blog and in the end I decided it would be too confusing to keep telling people to look at the original pattern and then mine etc, so here goes.
This pattern is for double knit yarn so if you're using Aran please visit the original :)
You will need:
DK yarn
4mm circular needles
4mm DPNs
A stitch marker
A tapestry needle
Snacks
For a regular adult sized head you need 114 stitches in total to begin. The pattern starts with the two ear-flaps and works from the brim to the top.
The ear-flaps
On DPNs cast on 6 stitches
Purl the next row to set up.
Row 1a (right side): Knit front back, knit until the last stitch, knit front back
Row 2a (wrong side): Knit 2, purl until the last stitch, knit 2
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 22 stitches. If you want more or less stitches you need to take this into account later!
Row 1b (right side): Knit all stitches
Row 2b (wrong side): knit 2, purl until the last 2 stitches, knit 2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 to desired length. 2-3 repeats should do it.
End with a knit row (as in Row 1b)
For the second ear-flap repeat as above, end with the knit row on your circular needle.
Making into the hat
With the second ear-flap on your circular needle cast on 46 stitches using a cable cast on. This will be the front of the hat – it's wider than the back. Join the other ear-flap and knit along to the end of this flap. Make sure it's the same way round as the other flap!! Cast on another 24 stitches using a cable cast on.
You should now have 114 stitches; 22 for each ear-flap (so 44 together), 46 for the front and 24 for the back. Right...
Transfer the last cast on stitch to the left (or right!) needle and purl two together (p2tog). You should have 113 stitches now.
At this point the original pattern says to knit but I ended up with my purl stitches on the outside (which would mean you'd need to purl!). Even though I've done this twice the same happened so I'm continuing on my random way :)
Purl across the first ear-flap and p2tog where the ear-flap and the cast on stitches meet. 112 stitches now!
Purl across to the next ear-flap, p2tog where it starts (111 stitches), purl across and then p2tog where it ends. You should have 110 stitches now. If you don't, you can either do an increase / decrease or start over :)
The body
The next part is pretty boring. Purl, purl, purl away until your you've got approximately 12cm worth of hat or roughly 34 rows. It's not an exact science and the hat in my photos is probably a little too big so I've scaled down my estimates.
The top – decreasing
Ok this bit is why you needed to have 110 stitches so that the decreases work perfectly.
Place a stitch marker. I always get confused with this but the way I remember is my markers a stop sign. I place it on the first stitch I knit or purl, and when I get back to it I know to STOP!
Round 1: *Purl 8, purl 2 together (p2tog)*. Repeat between the *'s til you hit the stitch marker – 99 stitches
Round 2: Purl all 99 stitches
Round 3: *P7, p2tog* – 88 stitches
Round 4: Purl all 88 stitches
Round 5: *P6, p2tog* - 77 stitches
Round 6: Purl all 77 stitches
Round 7: *P5, p2tog* - 66 stitches
Round 8: Purl all 66 stitches
Round 9: *P4, p2tog* - 55 stitches
Round 10: Purl all 55 stitches
Round 11: *P3, p2tog* - 44 stitches
Round 12: Purl all 44 stitches
Somewhere around here it might be easier to switch onto DPNs. Just spread out your stitches evenly across your DPNs, keeping one free that you'll knit (or purl!) onto.
Round 13: *P2, p2tog* - 33 stitches
Round 14: Purl all 33 stitches
Are you using the DPNs yet?
Round 15: *P1, p2tog* - 22 stitches
Round 16: Purl all 22 stitches
Round 17: P2tog until you hit the stitch marker – 11 stitches
Round 18: P2tog until you hit the stitch marker (same as Round 17) – 6 stitches
Cut a long tail, 15cm should do, and pull this through the remaining 6 stitches to finish. This will pull the top of the hat together nicely.
Ears – make two
Using DPNs cast on 2 stitches.
Row 1: Kfb both stitches – 4 stitches
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Kfb into first stitch, knit 2, kfb into last stitch – 6 stitches
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Kfb into first stitch, knit 4, kfb into last stitch – 8 stitches
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Kfb into first stitch, knit 6, kfb into last stitch – 10 stitches
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Kfb into first stitch, knit 8, kfb into last stitch – 12 stitches
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: Kfb into first stitch, knit 10, kfb into last stitch – 14 stitches
Row 12: Purl
Row 13: Kfb into first stitch, knit 12, kfb into last stitch – 16 stitches
Row 14: Cast off
Keep going until your ears are wide enough. I worked upto this point, you could go bigger or smaller if you wanted.
Nose
Using DPNs cast on
Row 1: Kfb both stitches – 4 stitches
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Kfb into first stitch, knit 2, kfb into last stitch – 6 stitches
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Kfb into first stitch, knit 4, kfb into last stitch – 8 stitches
Row 6: Cast off
Whiskers and eyes
Using a tapestry needle and black yarn, sew whiskers and eyes into the hat. The eyes took a while to get right, but it's just three horizontal stitches across two of the 'v' shapes.
Braids
Add braids by cutting 9 lengths of yarn 60cm long. Thread through the bottom of the ear-flaps until equal on both sides (approx 30cm for each side) and plait together. Tie in a knot at the end and repeat on the other ear-flap.
I wrote this out as I was going along so hopefully it works out okay. Any problems just leave a comment :) Enjoy!!
x x x x
If you want a more concise pattern minus the waffle read on :)
Ear flaps:
On DPNs CO 6sts
P next row to set up
Row 1a (RS): kfb, k to last st, kfb – 10sts
Row 2a (WS): k2, p to last st, k2
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until you have 22sts.
Row 1b (RS): k to end
Row 2b (WS), k2, purl until last 2sts, k2
Repeat until desired length. End on Row 1b.
When making the second ear knit your last row on circulars.
Making up
With the second ear-flap on your circular needle CO 46sts using a cable cast on – 68sts
K along the second ear-flap and CO 24sts – 114sts
Transfer last CO st onto other needle & p2tog – 113sts
P across first ear-flap, p2tog at the join – 112sts
P to next ear-flap, p2tog at join, p across the flap, p2tog – 110sts
Body
P for approx 34 rows or 12cm
Decreasing
Round 1: *P8, p2tog)*. Repeat until stitch marker – 99sts
Round 2: P
Round 3: *P7, p2tog* – 88sts
Round 4: P
Round 5: *P6, p2tog* - 77sts
Round 6: P
Round 7: *P5, p2tog* - 66sts
Round 8: P
Round 9: *P4, p2tog* - 55sts
Round 10: P
Round 11: *P3, p2tog* - 44sts
Round 12: P
Switch to DPNs
Round 13: *P2, p2tog* - 33sts
Round 14: P
Round 15: *P1, p2tog* - 22sts
Round 16: P
Round 17: P2tog – 11 stitches
Round 18: P2tog – 6 stitches
Cut a long tail (15cm) and pull through the remaining 6sts to finish.
I promised a tutorial so I'll try not to disappoint! I must stress that the original pattern was written by Jana Falls which I found on Ravelry and I've merely adapted this for my own purposes. I umm'd and ahh'd over whether to write up the whole pattern to put on my blog and in the end I decided it would be too confusing to keep telling people to look at the original pattern and then mine etc, so here goes.
This pattern is for double knit yarn so if you're using Aran please visit the original :)
You will need:
DK yarn
4mm circular needles
4mm DPNs
A stitch marker
A tapestry needle
Snacks
For a regular adult sized head you need 114 stitches in total to begin. The pattern starts with the two ear-flaps and works from the brim to the top.
The ear-flaps
On DPNs cast on 6 stitches
Purl the next row to set up.
Row 1a (right side): Knit front back, knit until the last stitch, knit front back
Row 2a (wrong side): Knit 2, purl until the last stitch, knit 2
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until you have 22 stitches. If you want more or less stitches you need to take this into account later!
Row 1b (right side): Knit all stitches
Row 2b (wrong side): knit 2, purl until the last 2 stitches, knit 2.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 to desired length. 2-3 repeats should do it.
End with a knit row (as in Row 1b)
For the second ear-flap repeat as above, end with the knit row on your circular needle.
Making into the hat
With the second ear-flap on your circular needle cast on 46 stitches using a cable cast on. This will be the front of the hat – it's wider than the back. Join the other ear-flap and knit along to the end of this flap. Make sure it's the same way round as the other flap!! Cast on another 24 stitches using a cable cast on.
You should now have 114 stitches; 22 for each ear-flap (so 44 together), 46 for the front and 24 for the back. Right...
Transfer the last cast on stitch to the left (or right!) needle and purl two together (p2tog). You should have 113 stitches now.
At this point the original pattern says to knit but I ended up with my purl stitches on the outside (which would mean you'd need to purl!). Even though I've done this twice the same happened so I'm continuing on my random way :)
Purl across the first ear-flap and p2tog where the ear-flap and the cast on stitches meet. 112 stitches now!
Purl across to the next ear-flap, p2tog where it starts (111 stitches), purl across and then p2tog where it ends. You should have 110 stitches now. If you don't, you can either do an increase / decrease or start over :)
The body
The next part is pretty boring. Purl, purl, purl away until your you've got approximately 12cm worth of hat or roughly 34 rows. It's not an exact science and the hat in my photos is probably a little too big so I've scaled down my estimates.
The top – decreasing
Ok this bit is why you needed to have 110 stitches so that the decreases work perfectly.
Place a stitch marker. I always get confused with this but the way I remember is my markers a stop sign. I place it on the first stitch I knit or purl, and when I get back to it I know to STOP!
Round 1: *Purl 8, purl 2 together (p2tog)*. Repeat between the *'s til you hit the stitch marker – 99 stitches
Round 2: Purl all 99 stitches
Round 3: *P7, p2tog* – 88 stitches
Round 4: Purl all 88 stitches
Round 5: *P6, p2tog* - 77 stitches
Round 6: Purl all 77 stitches
Round 7: *P5, p2tog* - 66 stitches
Round 8: Purl all 66 stitches
Round 9: *P4, p2tog* - 55 stitches
Round 10: Purl all 55 stitches
Round 11: *P3, p2tog* - 44 stitches
Round 12: Purl all 44 stitches
Somewhere around here it might be easier to switch onto DPNs. Just spread out your stitches evenly across your DPNs, keeping one free that you'll knit (or purl!) onto.
Round 13: *P2, p2tog* - 33 stitches
Round 14: Purl all 33 stitches
Are you using the DPNs yet?
Round 15: *P1, p2tog* - 22 stitches
Round 16: Purl all 22 stitches
Round 17: P2tog until you hit the stitch marker – 11 stitches
Round 18: P2tog until you hit the stitch marker (same as Round 17) – 6 stitches
Cut a long tail, 15cm should do, and pull this through the remaining 6 stitches to finish. This will pull the top of the hat together nicely.
Ears – make two
Using DPNs cast on 2 stitches.
Row 1: Kfb both stitches – 4 stitches
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Kfb into first stitch, knit 2, kfb into last stitch – 6 stitches
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Kfb into first stitch, knit 4, kfb into last stitch – 8 stitches
Row 6: Purl
Row 7: Kfb into first stitch, knit 6, kfb into last stitch – 10 stitches
Row 8: Purl
Row 9: Kfb into first stitch, knit 8, kfb into last stitch – 12 stitches
Row 10: Purl
Row 11: Kfb into first stitch, knit 10, kfb into last stitch – 14 stitches
Row 12: Purl
Row 13: Kfb into first stitch, knit 12, kfb into last stitch – 16 stitches
Row 14: Cast off
Keep going until your ears are wide enough. I worked upto this point, you could go bigger or smaller if you wanted.
Nose
Using DPNs cast on
Row 1: Kfb both stitches – 4 stitches
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Kfb into first stitch, knit 2, kfb into last stitch – 6 stitches
Row 4: Purl
Row 5: Kfb into first stitch, knit 4, kfb into last stitch – 8 stitches
Row 6: Cast off
Whiskers and eyes
Using a tapestry needle and black yarn, sew whiskers and eyes into the hat. The eyes took a while to get right, but it's just three horizontal stitches across two of the 'v' shapes.
Braids
Add braids by cutting 9 lengths of yarn 60cm long. Thread through the bottom of the ear-flaps until equal on both sides (approx 30cm for each side) and plait together. Tie in a knot at the end and repeat on the other ear-flap.
I wrote this out as I was going along so hopefully it works out okay. Any problems just leave a comment :) Enjoy!!
x x x x
If you want a more concise pattern minus the waffle read on :)
Ear flaps:
On DPNs CO 6sts
P next row to set up
Row 1a (RS): kfb, k to last st, kfb – 10sts
Row 2a (WS): k2, p to last st, k2
Repeat Rows 1 & 2 until you have 22sts.
Row 1b (RS): k to end
Row 2b (WS), k2, purl until last 2sts, k2
Repeat until desired length. End on Row 1b.
When making the second ear knit your last row on circulars.
Making up
With the second ear-flap on your circular needle CO 46sts using a cable cast on – 68sts
K along the second ear-flap and CO 24sts – 114sts
Transfer last CO st onto other needle & p2tog – 113sts
P across first ear-flap, p2tog at the join – 112sts
P to next ear-flap, p2tog at join, p across the flap, p2tog – 110sts
Body
P for approx 34 rows or 12cm
Decreasing
Round 1: *P8, p2tog)*. Repeat until stitch marker – 99sts
Round 2: P
Round 3: *P7, p2tog* – 88sts
Round 4: P
Round 5: *P6, p2tog* - 77sts
Round 6: P
Round 7: *P5, p2tog* - 66sts
Round 8: P
Round 9: *P4, p2tog* - 55sts
Round 10: P
Round 11: *P3, p2tog* - 44sts
Round 12: P
Switch to DPNs
Round 13: *P2, p2tog* - 33sts
Round 14: P
Round 15: *P1, p2tog* - 22sts
Round 16: P
Round 17: P2tog – 11 stitches
Round 18: P2tog – 6 stitches
Cut a long tail (15cm) and pull through the remaining 6sts to finish.
