Felis Hattus

Felis Hattus: Double-Knit Cat Ear Hat

What Is Being Made

Felis Hattus is a knitted hat featuring a distinctive rectangular silhouette with prominent cat-ear shaping at the crown. Designed by Alasdair Post-Quinn, this intermediate-level pattern creates a single-layer fabric using double-knitting techniques, resulting in a hat that mimics the visual complexity of intarsia knitting without the traditional complications of that method.

Craft and Technique Overview

This pattern is designed for knitters with intermediate experience and serves as an excellent introduction to multiple double-knitting techniques. The hat employs double-knitting—a reversible fabric technique that creates two layers of fabric simultaneously on a single needle—in a creative way that produces a hollow, single-layer construction. The body of the hat uses plain double-stockinette stitch to maintain the hollow structure, while the crown features strategic double-knit color changes that simultaneously shape the hat and define the characteristic flat cat-ear shapes.

The double-knitting approach used in Felis Hattus eliminates many of the challenges associated with traditional intarsia knitting in the round, such as managing multiple yarn colors and preventing tangling. However, the pattern requires careful, deliberate knitting to ensure that the two layers of the double-knit fabric remain properly separated throughout construction.

Stitches and Shaping Techniques

• Double-stockinette stitch: Used for the main body to create the hollow fabric foundation
• Double-knit color changes: Applied at the corners and crown to shape the hat and create the cat-ear details
• Color work integration: Double-knitting techniques create visual color patterns reminiscent of intarsia without the associated construction difficulties

The corners of the rectangular hat are modified using simple double-knit color changes, which serve the dual purpose of shaping the crown while establishing well-defined, flat ear shapes characteristic of the design.

Customization and Pattern Flexibility

Felis Hattus is designed with flexibility in mind. The pattern is straightforward to modify for different gauges, allowing knitters to work with various yarn weights and needle sizes while maintaining the intended hat proportions. The ear sizes can also be easily adjusted, making this pattern adaptable to individual preferences and yarn availability.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The pattern calls for worsted-weight yarn. The original design sample uses Swans Island Natural Colors Collection Merino Worsted, which is 100% organic merino wool with a yardage of 250 yards per 100-gram skein. One skein is sufficient to complete the hat. The sample shown features Color A in shade #YW201 Garnet. Knitters can substitute any worsted-weight yarn of similar yardage and gauge.

Needles and Tools

While specific needle sizes are not detailed in the provided content, double-knitting patterns typically require circular needles or double-pointed needles appropriate to the worsted-weight yarn being used, selected to achieve the desired gauge and fabric density.

Skill Development

Beyond creating a finished wearable hat, Felis Hattus serves as a comprehensive learning project for knitters seeking to expand their technical abilities. The pattern introduces multiple double-knitting techniques in a practical, project-based context, making it an ideal stepping stone for those looking to master this versatile method.