Knit a Pussycat Hat in the Round

Free pattern to knit a pussyhat/pussy cat hat in the round.

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If you’re connected at all to the knitting world, and probably even if you’re not, you may have heard about the Pussyhat Project, which aims to outfit as many women as possible who are marching in the Women’s March on Washington with hats that look like cats.

Even if you don’t share the politics behind it, I think it’s great to see craft used as a means of protest and in such a public way. Free pattern to knit a pussyhat/pussycat hat in the round.

I knit a hat according to the pattern on the website, except I completely misinterpreted what the instructions were saying to do so it came out a little crazy.

The original design is knit flat and seamed, and I don’t like seaming even though I can do it pretty well, so I decided to make a version of the pussycat hat in the round for all your pussycat hat needs.

What You’ll Need

The Pussyhat Project called for medium-weight pink yarn, but I’ve hard requests for blue and purple, too, and of course you can make any color you like.

I mostly used yarn from my stash but this Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in Raspberry looks like a good pink option.

The pattern says it takes about 210 yards, and I haven’t measured but that sounds about right for mine, too.

To work the pattern in the round, you’ll need a size 9 US/5.5 mm circular knitting needle with a cable around 16 inches. Free pattern to knit a pussyhat/pussycat hat in the round.

Gauge and Sizing

I got 4 stitches per inch in Stockinette Stitch in the round on size 9 US needles. Gauge is not super critical but you want to be somewhere close.

If you need a different size, the ribbing works on multiples of 4 stitches, which is handy for the gauge. Example: to knit a hat 16 inches around, you’d need 64 stitches.

The smaller hat shown is 21 inches around and 7 inches long. The larger is 23 inches around and 8.5 inches long. The smaller one fits a smaller adult head; the larger a bigger head.

The Pussycat Hat in the Round PatternFree pattern to knit a pussyhat/pussycat hat in the round.

Cast on 84 stitches for the smaller hat or 92 for the larger. Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Work in knit 2, purl 2 ribbing for 20 round.

Work in Stockinette Stitch (knit every round) until desired length. I did about 7 inches on the smaller two-color one and 8.5 inches on the larger blue one (the pink one is the one I Frankensteined together from the original instructions).

Turn the hat inside out and work the three-needle bind off to finish.

Weave in ends.

Need help with the three-needle bind off? Here’s a little video:

To wear, fold the “ears” so they’re a little catty.

This hat is super simple to knit and actually lots of fun, too. I have a feeling I’ll be making them beyond the next few days.

Have you ever knit a pussycat hat? I’d love to hear how you make them!

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12 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing! The three needle bind off was a great idea and dimple for me to learn. The hat turned out perfect.

  2. I also use the flat knit pattern, and it also turned out goofy. Not really sure why. I like your pattern a lot better

  3. Hi, I’m a new knitter and need help. I knit the Pussycat hat in the round but cannot figure how to cast off with the three needle bind off on the circular needle. I’m 80 years old, my mom was a suffragette and to honor her I want to knit one of the Pussyhats for my daughter and three granddaughters. I was wondering if you could demonstrate the three needle cast off using the circular needle. I learn so much better by seeing than reading???? Thank you to anyone that can help me.

  4. Go to Google or you tube and search for three needle bind off.
    There is a neat video. It’s a little tricky.

  5. Thanks but I did that and there are lots of videos showing 3 needle bindoff but none for doing it using circular needles. I’ll keep looking. ??

  6. Just make sure you have the same number of stitches on each half of the needle. You’ll pull the cord out at the center of the hat, like you might do if you were knitting magic loop, and keep the stitches toward the needle ends. Grab a third needle and work it as usual, knitting one stitch from the front together with one stitch from the back. Hope that helps!

  7. The three-needle bind-off video that Sarah White has with the pattern instructions is really wonderful! She makes it very easy to understand. I was a bit mystified because I’ve never done a three-needle bind-off at all. The video really helped! Thank you!

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