Cats in Hats 30 Knit and Crochet Patterns for Your Kitty

Do you ever find yourself reaching for the same kinds of projects over and over again? I know I do. Shawls, socks, hats, and lately, hats for my cat. I mean, honestly, who wouldn’t smile at the idea of knitting a tiny hat for their furry friend, especially when it helps use up some of those leftover yarn scraps?

That’s exactly what makes this book so much fun. Cats in Hats: 30 Knit and Crochet Patterns for Your Kitty is a creative and charming collection by designer Sara Thomas, who clearly has a passion for our fluffy companions. I actually pre-ordered this book back in the fall after spotting it on Amazon—so imagine my surprise when Running Press reached out and asked if I wanted to review it and be part of the blog tour.

Sara Thomas has truly created something special. The book features 30 adorable knit and crochet patterns for cats, all thoughtfully designed and beautifully presented. There are 20 knitting patterns and 10 crochet patterns, with clear instructions and even charts in the crochet section. The difficulty ranges from super simple to a bit more intermediate, so there’s something here for every maker.

It’s also one of those pretty books that’s just as lovely to flip through as it is to make. The projects cover every occasion your cat could dream of—Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, and even Valentine’s Day. You’ll also find fun, whimsical designs like a top hat, a shark hat, a cupcake hat, and a spring chick hat.

The book itself is made with nice-weight pages and a thicker-than-normal paperback cover, giving it a quality feel. There are 112 pages in total, each one filled with cute kitties in adorable hats. Pages 6–7 include a sweet introduction from Sara and a bit about her own furry felines. Pages 8–9 offer a snapshot of all the patterns in the book, organized into two sections—knit and crochet—along with page numbers for easy reference.

The pattern layouts are one of my favorite parts. Each includes a large, clear photo that really shows off the finished hat, as well as the size, supplies needed, and well-spaced instructions on a clean white background that lets the finished object photo shine. The crochet patterns are the only ones with charts, which are very easy to follow.

Pages 102–107 are packed with helpful knitting and crochet techniques used throughout the book. Sara even includes extra tutorials for things like how to stuff pieces, make pom-poms, and join seams. Page 108 lists abbreviations and chart-reading tips, all explained clearly and in a way that feels familiar and universal to most knitters and crocheters.

Sara also shares every yarn and color she used in the book on page 109. I love that she chose yarns easily found at big-box craft stores, so you can either match her exact choices or pull from your own scrap stash. Pages 110–111 feature a tidy index of all the patterns in alphabetical order, and the final page, 112, lists each kitty model and the page they appear on—making them the cutest little furry fashion models ever.

Now, you might be asking yourself, “Why would I make my cat a hat?” The real question is, “Why not?” These projects are quick, fun, and guaranteed to make you smile. Most of mine worked up lightning fast—some I even finished while sitting in my son’s pickup line at school. The patterns use small amounts of yarn, so they’re perfect stash busters. They’re great for cute photo ops, greeting cards, or adding to gift baskets for new cat owners. Kids also love using them for their stuffed animals.

And one of my favorite ideas—make them for donation! If you live near an animal shelter or rescue group, whip up a few hats and drop them off during the holidays. They can use them for photo sessions to help get cats adopted. No one can resist a kitty in a hat, and you could help save lives one stitch at a time.

Now for the exciting news! You can win your very own copy of Cats in Hats: 30 Knit and Crochet Patterns for Your Kitty by Sara Thomas and the awesome folks at Running Press. They’re offering an amazing giveaway:

~~ ONE prize pack that includes a copy of the book, an exclusive hat pattern from Sara Thomas, and the yarn needed to complete it.
~~ FIVE runners-up will each receive a copy of the book.

Please note: Winners will be contacted by email and must respond within 48 hours with their address and confirmation. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will run from 3/16/2015 to 3/30/2015 at 12 AM EST

The picture below shows the exclusive pattern included in the prize pack—it’s the cutest Easter Egg Hat ever!

         

My blog isn’t the only stop on this tour, so be sure to check out the other blogs for more giveaways and to see their furry friends modeling these adorable hats. Here’s the Cats in Hats Blog Tour schedule:

AUTHOR KICKOFF: 3/16 Scooter Knits
3/17 Yarning 4 A Smile
3/18 Wendy Knits
3/19 In Stitches
3/20 Polka Dot Cottage
3/21 FaveCrafts
3/22 Recycled Crafts
3/23 Lorelei’s Blog
3/24 CraftSanity
3/25 Lori Greenberg
3/26 Crafting a Green World
3/27 Gaea Handmade
3/28 Pretty Things Blog

I made a total of nine hats from the book: Strawberry, Bunny, Dinosaur, Extraterrestrial, I Heart You, Elf, and three Bobble Hats. I still plan to make many more. My kitty model is Dexter, who will be turning one soon.

Dexter is a rescue we adopted from our local animal shelter. He was found in a dumpster at just five weeks old, weighing less than half a pound—skinny, scared, and not yet weaned. I happened to visit the shelter about 30 minutes after he was brought in. I was holding another kitten when Dexter climbed up the side of his cage and meowed. I hadn’t even noticed him there before. When I heard his story, I knew we couldn’t leave him behind.

Even though he wasn’t ready for adoption, my husband and I agreed to foster him. We promised to get him to the vet and teach him to eat. He came home that day, and now he’s a 15-pound bundle of snuggly fun. Dexter comes when you call his name, plays with our boys and his bouncy balls, watches TV, and loves looking out the window at the birds. He’s an indoor kitty and the perfect little companion. We are truly blessed that he came into our lives.

You can see more of my finished projects on my Ravelry page here. You can also find Sara’s Etsy store and her Ravelry page through the links provided. I’d love to see your finished cat hats, too—share them with the hashtags #catsinhats and #ScooterKnits on Instagram and social media.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED

Don’t want to wait to win? You can also grab your own copy—or pick one up as a gift—by clicking the Amazon link below to get this adorable book at a great price. Click here: https://amzn.to/4oKH5bp (affiliate link- see the terms and conditions page of this blog)

I want to thank Running Press and Sara Thomas for creating such beautiful things that make our lives, and the lives of our furry friends, even more fun.

 

Happy Yarning ~ Kim

(I am in no way being paid by Sara Thomas or Running Press for this review. I am, however, an Amazon affiliate and will make a very small amount if you purchase the book through the Amazon link provided.)