free pattern · amateur crochet

Overcast Beanie

most people who make it just call it the cat wif hat

Yarn weightSuper Bulky (6)
Hook8mm (US L-11)
Gauge6 sts x 6 rounds = 4in / 10cm in sc, unblocked
Yardageapprox 180yd / 165m

materials

ch = chain sc = single crochet inc = 2 sc in next st st(s) = stitch(es) rnd = round

the chart

RND 1
6
RND 2
12
RND 3
18
RND 4
24
RND 5
30
RND 6
36
RND 7
36
RND 8
36

RND 1: Magic ring, 6 sc into ring. Do not join, work in continuous spiral. Place marker in first st.

RND 2: Inc in each st around. (12)

RND 3: *Sc 1, inc in next st* around. (18)

RND 4: *Sc 2, inc in next st* around. (24)

RND 5: *Sc 3, inc in next st* around. (30)

RND 6: *Sc 4, inc in next st* around. (36)

RND 7: Sc in each st around, no increases. (36)

RND 8: Sc in each st around, no increases. (36)

rounds completed: 0 / 8

round by round

  1. RND 1 Magic ring, 6 sc into ring. Do not join, work in continuous spiral. Place marker in first st. (6)
  2. RND 2 Inc in each st around. (12) (12)
  3. RND 3 *Sc 1, inc in next st* around. (18) (18)
  4. RND 4 *Sc 2, inc in next st* around. (24) (24)
  5. RND 5 *Sc 3, inc in next st* around. (30) (30)
  6. RND 6 *Sc 4, inc in next st* around. (36) (36)
  7. RND 7 Sc in each st around, no increases. (36) (36)
  8. RND 8 Sc in each st around, no increases. (36) (36)

Continue straight rounds of sc until the piece measures 9in from the crown, well past a comfortable ear-covering length. Fasten off, weave in end. Do not block tightly; the brim is meant to fold down soft and loose. This is not a mistake in the pattern, it is the whole pattern.

finished object

the finished beanie, hand crocheted in chunky pink yarn, worn low over a cat's eyes

fig. 1 · worn, front view. cat included for scale, not for pattern purposes.

the same beanie and cat, wider shot of the kitchen table it was photographed on

fig. 2 · same object, wider crop. the cat did not move between shots.

designer's note

Someone asked for a hat for their cat. Nobody asked for it to fit. Every round after round 6 exists so the brim has somewhere to go, and it goes over the eyes, every time, on purpose. Photographed proof of concept in the finished object section below: the cat sat still for it, which the designer takes as a five star review.

pattern shared by the maker, written up by a stranger on the internet