There´s been Herding Cats socks and Herding Cats kitten mittens and now our feline friends are planning on keeping our heads nice and cozy on cold days with Herding cats Hat! Mittens and socks are often hidden away on our hands and feet in pockets and shoes, but a beanie hat, covered in our favourite furry friends, is a true declaration of love for our cat for everyone to see! It really declares to the world that you are cat fan. Something our feline friends would naturally expect from us.
Herding Cats Hat is a fun to knit hat that can be worked in any two contrasting colours of your choice. Or it can be worked in multiple colours as shown in this version, to show your love for multiple cats. This is a pattern for a cozy and warm beanie with a long folded brim that will help keep your ears warm on cold days. It features the iconic stranded knitting Herding Cat motifs.

Knit from the bottom up and worked in the round, the brim of this beanie starts with plain, stockinette stitch. The main part of the hat features a simple, stranded colourwork pattern, which ends before the hat decreases. The hat is worked with magic loop method or dpns for the decrease stitches at the top of the beanie and then the remaining stitches are sewn together. The cat motif uses only two colours at a time and repeats throughout the beanie. Duplicate stitch details can be added (or 3 colours in one round worked) if you wish to add eye details. This pattern includes three sizes, from small to large adult size.

Sizing
1 (2, 3)

Fits head circumference: 46.25 – 50.5 (52.5 - 57.75, 58.5 – 64.25) cm / 18 ½ – 20 (21 - 22 ½ , 23 ¼ - 25 ½ ) inches.
Finished hat size: 46.25 (52.5, 58.5) cm / 18 ( 21 , 23 ¼ ) inches

Approx. 0 - 10% negative ease recommended
Sample shown is knit in size 2 for head circumference 55 cm (22 inches)

MATERIALS
Yarn – Sport weight
Filcolana Pernilla 3ply worsted spun yarn (100% Peruvian Highland Wool), 175 m (191 yds) per 50g
Any sport weight sock yarn can be used for this pattern as long as you obtain the same gauge.

MC: Eucalyptus 368. 50 (55, 60) g, 175 (193, 210) m / 191 (211, 230) yds.
CC: Various Cat Contrast colours. 27 (30 33) g, 95 (105, 115) m / 104 (115, 126) yds.

Colour used in this sample are – Black (102), Tangelo (melange 831), Nougat (melange 973), Natural White (101) and Deep Mahogany (201). Approx 6g of each, for each set of cat motifs.

Needles
For stockinette: 3mm (US 2.5), 40 cm (16 inch) circular needle. Magic Loop method or DPNs for decreasing section.
For colourwork: 3.5mm (US 4), 40 cm (16 inch) circular needle.

Important note: Do check your gauge for fitting.

Gauge (after blocking)
26 x sts x 38 rnds = 10cm (4 inches) for stockinette.
24 x sts x 32 rnds = 10cm (4 inches) for colourwork.

Notions
Stitch marker, scissors, tape measure, tapestry needle for sewing in ends.