Pussyhat, Pussyhat, Where Are You?

If you’re an advanced beginner knitter – or even a beginner willing to try something new – you can make a pussyhat like one of these! They’re quick, fun knits.

Here’s an easy pattern for a basic hat, plus some variations like the photos above. There’s a pattern below for a star, too! (The “ROAR” hat is just a basic hat with letters cut out of felt and sewn on.)

Pussyhat pattern

You need:

• Cascade 128 or similar bulky yarn, about 2/3 skein
• 16″ circular needles, size 9 or 10
• stitch marker(s)

Basic pattern, by Celia McCarthy of Piedmont Yarn, Oakland CA:

For this pattern you need only one stitch marker.

• CO 76 stitches on circular needles (this pattern works well with a stretchy cast on method like the long tail cast on)
• place stitch marker (PM) and join to knit in round
• K2, P2 for 20 rounds
• K for 20 rounds
• Do a 3 needle bind off, weave in all ends

Pattern with insertions (triangle, heart, star, etc):

For this pattern, you need two stitch markers of different colors.

• CO 76 stitches on circular needles (this pattern works well with a stretchy cast on method like the long tail cast on)
• place first stitch marker and join to knit in round
• K2, P2 for 12 rounds (can be more or less depending on how big you want the ribbed cuff to be)
• Next round: K36, K2tog, place second stitch marker, K36, K2tog. The second stitch marker marks halfway around the hat.
• Knit 2 rounds
• Knit insertion (insertion patterns below). If you want to have the pattern on both sides of the hat, you will repeat the insertion pattern after the second stitch marker on each round. If you want the pattern on one side only, knit all stitches between the second stitch marker and the end of the round.
• K all rounds until hat is desired length: total of 40 rounds or so
• Do a 3 needle bind off, weave in all ends

Insertions:

Pink triangle:

• Round 1: K18, P1, K18, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 2: K17, P3, K17, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 3: K16, P5, K16, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 4: K15, P7, K15, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Continue in this manner until you have 13 purl stitches*

* If you want to have the pattern on both sides of the hat, you will repeat the insertion pattern after the second stitch marker on each round. If you want the pattern on one side only, knit all stitches between the second stitch marker and the end of the round.

Pink heart:

• Round 1: K18, P1, K18, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 2: K17, P3, K17, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 3: K16, P5, K16, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 4: K15, P7, K15, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 5: K14, P9, K14, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Rounds 6, 7, 8 and 9: K13, P11, K13, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 10: K14, P4, K1, P4, K14, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 11: K15, P2, K3, P2, K15, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*

* If you want to have the pattern on both sides of the hat, you will repeat the insertion pattern after the second stitch marker on each round. If you want the pattern on one side only, knit all stitches between the second stitch marker and the end of the round.

Star:

• Round 1: K14, P1, K7, P1, K14, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 2: K15, P2, K3, P2, K15, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 3: K15, P3, K1, P3, K15, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Rounds 4 and 5: K16, P5, K16, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 6: K15, K7, K15, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 7: K14, P9, K14, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Round 8: K17, P3, K17, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*
• Rounds 9 and 10: K18, P1, K18, pass marker, complete round with pattern or knit stitches*

* If you want to have the pattern on both sides of the hat, you will repeat the insertion pattern after the second stitch marker on each round. If you want the pattern on one side only, knit all stitches between the second stitch marker and the end of the round.