Are you ready to knit something absolutely purr-fect? If you’re a cat lover or just love playful accessories, then you’re going to flip for these knit cat ear beanie patterns! Cat ear beanies are the cutest way to add a dash of whimsy to your wardrobe, and the best part? You can make one yourself! Whether you’re a beginner looking for a simple knit project or an experienced knitter wanting to try something fun, there’s a pattern here with your name on it.
These knit cat ear beanie patterns are a fabulous blend of cozy and quirky. You get all the warmth and snugness of a classic knit hat, but with those adorable little cat ears popping out, it’s instantly upgraded to “can’t stop smiling” status. They’re perfect for wearing to a fun event or even for spicing up your everyday errand run. Basically, it’s the hat that makes every day feel like a costume party!
In this collection, you’ll find knit cat ear beanie patterns of all shapes and sizes. There are many variations on the classic design that call for different weights of yarn and different stitch patterns too. And the color options? Endless! Go for classic black for that sleek feline vibe, or get creative with vibrant yarns to make your cat ear hat stand out even more.
Not only are these beanies incredibly cute, but they’re also the perfect project for knitters of all levels. If you’re new to knitting, don’t worry—you can still make an awesome cat ear beanie! Many of these patterns are beginner-friendly, with simple stitches and easy-to-follow instructions. And if you’re a seasoned pro, there are plenty of opportunities to add your own flair with more interesting knitting techniques.
So, grab your needles and let’s get started on crafting the most playful beanie ever! With these knit cat ear beanie patterns, you’ll be channeling your inner feline in no time. Trust me, once you make one, you’ll be hooked—just like a cat chasing yarn!
1. Super Cat Hat
Super bulky weight yarn makes short work of this cozy and chunky cut hat. It’s made in the classic pink color that was first popularized with women’s rights protestors. The pattern is knit in the round using 1×1 rib stitch and stockinette stitch. That doesn’t sound too hard, does it? It’s available in two sizes: child and adult.
Designer: Knifty Knittings
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Solids (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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2. Lola Hat
Do you have a little one at home who is obsessed with kitties? This is your sign to make them a cat hat! The pattern for this cat hat is knit in the round using rib and stockinette stitches. You have the option of using double pointed needles or circular needles and the magic loop method. Available sizes for this design include newborn, baby, child, and adult.
Designer: Lizzy Knits
Yarn: Hobby Lobby I Love This Yarn! Solids (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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3. Brioche Cat Hat
Take your knitting skills to the next level by learning a fun and exciting new skill. This super cute cat hat pattern is an excellent first foray into brioche knitting because there is no shaping whatsoever. All you need to know is how to brioche knit and how to brioche purl while working in the round. By the time you finish with this project, you will have plenty of brioche knitting practice!
Designer: Gritty Knits
Yarn: Gritty Knits Merinosaurus Worsted (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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4. PussyHat Project
If you don’t like knitting in the round, then the next one of our knit cat ear beanie patterns is perfect for you. This design is knit flat starting with a generously wide 2×2 rib section, then continuing with a sleek stockinette section, and ending with another 2×2 rib section. You fold the piece in half, sew it together along the two raw edges, and then you have yourself a fantastic cat hat.
Designer: Kat Coyle
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Worsted (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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5. Seamless Kitty Cat Hat
A cute kitty hat with an attached cowl will keep your kiddo extra cozy and warm. This balaclava style design is fantastic for cold weather activities like sledding and ice skating. The pattern calls for rib and stockinette stitches as well as decreases and short row shaping. It’s available in three sizes for children ages 2, 4, and 6.
Designer: Wandering Cat Studio
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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6. Hat of a Cat
A sultry strand of cozy lace weight mohair is held together with a DK weight yarn to make this cute cat hat. It’s made even warmer by the addition of a double brim. The pattern calls for stockinette and rib stitches. There’s no shaping, instead the pattern has you go back in and sew lines across the corners of the hat to make the kitty ears more pronounced.
Designer: Lotien Designs
Yarn: DK Weight #3 and Lace Weight #0
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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7. Phat Pussy Hat
Go big and go bold with a thick weight of yarn that really turns up the stitch definition in this cat hat design. The pattern is worked flat in garter and stockinette stitches. There’s no special stitches or shaping necessary to create the cat ears, they just happen naturally. It’s available in child size, adult small size, and adult large size.
Designer: illumiknit designs
Yarn: HiKoo® by skacel Zumie (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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8. Kitty Beanie
All over ribbing makes this cat hat extra stretchy. I also really like the sleek overall effect that it adds to the design. The pattern is available in three sizes: child, woman, and man. You’ll use two thin weights of yarn held together for this design. The thinner weights of yarn give the pattern a lower profile that’s purr-fect for blending in with your everyday attire.
Designer: Soumine KIM
Yarn: Retrosaria Rosa Pomar Mondim (Fingering Weight #1) and
Lain’amourée Orphée (Lace Weight #0)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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9. Pusheen Hat
Do you have a favorite famous cat? The cartoon cat named “Pusheen” is one of mine and she’s the inspiration for this feline-tastic design. For this pattern, you’ll be using stockinette and rib stitches. Special techniques include short row shaping to create the ears and embroidery chain stitches to add the details. The pattern is available in five sizes from baby to large adult.
Designer: Sheila Toy Stromberg Handknits
Yarn: Sirdar Simply Recycled DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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10. Pretty Kitty Cat Hat
How cute would this little cat be for baby’s first Halloween costume? This would be a really easy costume idea that you could pull off at the last minute with the addition of a matching onesie and maybe a cat tail too. The pattern calls for knit and purl stitches as well as knit 2 together and slip slip knit decreases. It’s available for free in 12 month size.
Designer: Little Red Window
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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11. Knit Knit Hat
I love the added bit of interest and edginess that a variegated yarn adds to the classic cat hat silhouette. This straightforward design is simply knit in the round with stockinette stitches, which makes it great for beginners and for anyone who loves to knit in front of the tv. The brim of the hat naturally curls upward to reveal a touch of the texture on the reverse side of the work.
Designer: Hedgehog Fibres
Yarn: Hedgehog Fibres Chubby (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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12. Happy Kitty Hat
The next one of our knit cat ear beanie patterns calls for some more advanced knitting. Working with two colors is twice as much fun in the two color brioche knitting technique. For this design, you’ll be using knit brioche stitches, purl brioche stitches, brioche increases, and brioche decreases. This project is a great way to learn a new knitting skill to add to your repertoire.
Designer: Knit Graffiti Designs
Yarn: Republic of Wool DK Superwash Merino (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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13. Cat-Eared Baby Hat
Seed stitch and a cute button closure add a little extra texture and detail to this stockinette stitch hat. It’s worked in the round from the bottom up much like traditional beanie designs. The cat ears are knit separately (also in seed stitch) and then sewn on. This design was made to fit the littlest kitties in your litter: babies 0-3 months old.
Designer: Sophie Ting Original Designs
Yarn: Rowan 4 Ply Cotton (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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14. G-Cubed
A simple garter stitch rectangle forms the basis of the next one of our knit cat ear beanie patterns. This is a great design for beginner knitters because it is very straightforward and there are no special stitches. It’s really no different from knitting a dishcloth or a hot pad, with the exception of the simple sewing techniques you’ll need to use to complete the design.
Designer: Woolly Wormhead
Yarn: Devon Sun Yarns Humble Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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15. Cat Hat
Having adorable accessories makes all the difference when it comes to running boring errands. Everything is just more fun with a cat ear beanie! The pattern for this cute beanie is knit in the round with stockinette stitch and seed stitch accents. Its a nice and relaxing project that doesn’t require any shaping and works up quickly in a nice thick yarn.
Designer: Alena’s Design
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick Solids (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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16. Cat Ears Animal Hat
This design is knit much more like traditional beanies. The pattern calls for rib and stockinette stitches. You’ll knit the ears separately and then sew them on at the end. If you already have a plain knit beanie on hand, then you could just knit the ears and attach them to that instead. This is a great time-saving option if you are in a time crunch!
Designer: Fox & Pine Stitches
Yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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17. Ear Flap Pussy Hat
I don’t know about you but my ears get cold really easily so I’m all about this cat hat with ear flaps. There are two versions to choose from: a garter stitch one (as shown) and a stockinette stitch one. The pattern does involve some short row shaping to make the cozy ear flaps, but otherwise it is very straightforward to knit.
Designer: 12 Little Things
Yarn: Lion Brand Lion’s Pride Woolspun (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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18. Cat Ear Beanie
Sometimes beginner knitters struggle with knitting in the round. If that’s you, then just know you are not alone! Luckily, there are a few knit cat ear beanie patterns that are worked flat – like this one. The pattern calls for easy peasy stockinette and rib stitches. Then it is seamed along two sides to create the iconic shape.
Designer: Handy Little Me Designs
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland Thick & Quick (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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19. Easy Cat Hat
A self striping yarn adds a little extra razzle dazzle to this basic cat ear beanie design. After doing some very simple stockinette stitch and rib stitch knitting in the round, you’ll finish off the design with a 3 needle bind off. There’s no sewing and no visible seams along the sides. The pattern is available in just one size: adult women’s.
Designer: CJ Brady
Yarn: Yarn Bee Tender Touch (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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20. Cat Hat
Ooh, now here’s a design for a cat hat that we haven’t seen before! A split brim and an adorable bow accent set this design apart from the rest. The pattern calls for rib stitch worked flat and stockinette stitch worked in the round. You’ll knit the bow separately, add fabric lace edging to it as desired, and then sew it onto the back of the hat.
Designer: Masalykina Nataliya
Yarn: Lana Grossa Carezza (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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21. Kitty Cat Hat
Choose a fuzzy yarn to make your kitty hat look more cute and furry. As an added bonus, the finished product will be extra soft and snuggly. This pattern is worked flat in garter and stockinette stitches before being seamed up. It is designed to fit babies 3-9 months old. There is a button on the chin strap that makes it easier to get the hat on and off your little one.
Designer: The Piper’s Girls
Yarn: Anny Blatt Angora Super (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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22. Kitty Got Hat
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to make a cute cat ear hat. This design is knit more like a traditional hat, just with the addition of some feline fabulous cat ears. The pattern is worked in the round with knit stitches, purl stitches, and knit 2 together decreases. You’ll knit 4 triangles separately to create the kitty ears, using different colors for the inner and outer ear.
Designer: Jayme Sloan
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Solids, Heathers, Twists (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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23. Cat Hat
A self striping yarn is positively purrfect for crafting a kitty beanie that reminds you of an adorable tabby cat or a stripey tiger. For this design, you’ll be using rib stitch for the brim, stockinette stitch for the main part of the hat, and garter stitch for the ears. Using an accent color for the brim and kitty ears really helps them to stand out.
Designer: Dubbele Dutch Crafts
Yarn: Patons North America Classic Wool Roving and
Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts Big Squeeze (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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24. Cat Balaclava
You can keep more than just their head cozy with this hat and cowl combo. The way that the cowl fans out at the bottom makes it extra easy to tuck inside a winter jacket for maximum warmth. I especially love the addition of the kitty nose and whiskers to the top of the cowl. This part can be pulled up above the nose if it gets cold.
Designer: Muki Crafts
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Lima (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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25. Quick Cabled Hat
Do you like your knitting projects to be more exciting and challenging? Incorporating some cablework into your projects is a surefire way to achieve this! The pattern for this textured calls for seed stitches and two different kinds of cables. The design features an extra long length in the back that will keep your neck cozy.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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In the end, a knit cat ear beanie is more than just a fun project—it’s a stylish statement that adds a playful touch to any outfit. Whether you’re keeping cozy or embracing your inner cat lover, these patterns are sure to make you smile. Will you be crafting one of these knit cat ear beanie patterns? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
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Happy Knitting!