International Cat Hat: France, Le Mieux

Ooo la la! Your cat will be très sophistiqué sporting this chic beret. The swirling decrease and tiny nubbin atop this hat sets this cat beret apart from the rest.

Don’t be surprised when your cat dons the beret and demands a cigarette and coffee for breakfast.

Make sure not to miss my other free patterns listed on the sidebar!

Le Mieux is already available as a free Ravelry pattern, but I will reprint it here for those of you who are still on the waiting list.

Materials
• 60 yards of DK yarn. I used Tahki Cotton Classic because the resulting fabric is floppy.
• 2 US size 7 circular needles, any length, OR size needed to achieve gauge. US size 7 DPNs may also be used instead of 2 circular needles
• 4 stitch markers
• Row counter
• Tapestry needle

Gauge
• 6.5 stitches = 1 inch on US size 7 needles in stockinette stitch

Finished Measurements
Finished hat circumference is roughly 12 inches. To adjust the hat’s circumference, increase or decrease the cast on number of stitches by 6.

Abbreviations

[ ] repeat instructions between brackets
co cast on
k knit
k2tog knit two stitches together
ktbl knit through the back loop
M1L make one left
M1R make one right
p purl
pm place marker
rnd round(s)
ssk slip one stitch knitwise, slip next stitch knitwise, then knit stitches together
sts stitch(es)

Directions
CO 60 sts onto one US size 7 circular needle (needle A). Slip 30 sts onto the other US size 7 circular needle (needle B). Join to knit in the round.

Rnd 1-5: [ktbl, p1] until the end of round
Rnd 6: On needle A, k10, pm, k10, pm, k10
Repeat for needle B.
Rnd 7: On needle A, k1, M1L, k until 1 sts before marker, M1R, k1, slip marker, k1, M1L, k until 1 sts before marker, M1R, k1, slip marker, k1, M1L, k until 1 sts before end of needle, M1R, k1.
Repeat for needle B.
Rnd 8: k all sts
Rnd 9-18: Repeat Rnd 7 and 8. 132 sts total.
Rnd 19: k all sts
Rnd 20: On needle A, ssk, k until next marker, slip marker, ssk, knit until next marker, slip marker, ssk, k to the end of needle.
Repeat for needle B.
Rnd 21-40: Repeat Rnd 20 until 6 sts remain.
Rnd 41-43: k all sts. Repeat this round 2 more times.
Rnd 44: k2tog 3 times. 3 sts remain. Cut yarn, leaving a 6 inch tail.

Finishing
Using the tapestry needle, thread yarn tail through the 3 remaining sts. Pull closed. Weave in ends.

If you make this, I'd love to hear from you. Have fun humiliating your cat!

http://spindlesandspices.blogspot.com

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

ETA: This pattern can be found in .pdf form on Ravelry here.
6/21/01: Corrected errors in rnd 7 and stitch count rnd 9-18. Corrections are in red.