HOW TO KNIT A BEANIE* (including with white/purple/green 9 row band)

1 ball of 8 ply yarn in colour of your choice

Needles: 5mm [old size 6] straight needles. If you are a tight knitter, you may need to

use a 5.5mm needle to get the right size. If you knit loosely, use 4.5mm needles.

Gauge: 18 sts and 23 rows = 10cms in stocking stitch

Finished size: before seaming 28 cms wide and 43 cms long

Pattern:

To fit: medium/large

Cast on 44-50 stitches. Most favour 44 stitches. Leave a long tail for seaming

Rib: K1*k2, p2, repeat from * to end p1.

Work Rib for 10 cms.

Work in stocking stitch [knit right side rows, purl wrong side rows] until piece

measures 33 cms from cast on edge.

Begin Rib on right side row. 

Rib: P1 *p2, k2, rep from * end k1.

Work Rib for 10cms.

Piece measures 43cms from cast on edge.

Cast off all stitches.

Cut yarn leaving a long tail for seaming.

Fold hat in half and sew each side seam. Weave in loose ends.

Put on hat and the cat ears will appear!

BEANIE WITH PURPLE GREEN AND WHITE RIB BAND

Some knitters are keen to knit a variation with the first 9 rows of the band of the Beanie in traditional feminist colours stripes.

Suggested order of colours -white purple then green (if folding band in half)

First row on rightside (include in rib then rib on the wrong side)

Knit 3 rows of each colour.

Note: if you are a tight knitter, you may need to use a 5.5mm needle to get the right size.

If you knit loosely, use 4.5mm needles.

* Adapted by Glenda Gartrell from the original pattern by Kat Coyle of The Little Knittery in Los Angeles. 8 ply acrylic yarn wool. One of our members, super knitter Glenda Gartrell, has modified the pattern (see below) so that you can knit hats on straight needles (5mm) rather than round. Glenda estimates it takes 3 hours to knit one hat (2 hats 1x 100 gram ball of yarn wool per hat).