Pussyhat Project: Recycled Sweater Hat Tutorial

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve been knitting up a storm for the Pussycat Project! The Pussycat Project is a way you can show solidarity with the people attending the Women’s March on Washington (and sister cities) on January 21st.  I’ve already knit a dozen hats to be handed out to attendees using my knitting machine! (Read more about the project and it’s mission at the official Pussyhat Project website.)

I’ve gotten a lot of comments from sewists that don’t knit but would like to participate and contribute hats to the march. I decided to make this quick tutorial for a pussyhat you can make out of a recycled sweater!

I had this pink cashmere sweater in my stash. Perfect! It’s been washed and has shrunk a little but still has a bit of stretch. If you’re using a 100% wool sweater it may be less stretchy, but that’s ok!

Use the ribbed edge if the sweater as the bottom edge of your hat. Wrap the edge of the sweater around your head as snug as you’d like your hat to be, then measure that width. (Remember you want the direction of the stretch to go around your head.) Take that number then divide by 2. Cut 2 rectangles to that width plus 9″ in height if you plan to cuff that hat (about 8″ high if you don’t plan to cuff it).

Place the rectangles right sides together, and sew the sides and top with a 1/4″ seam allowance, being careful not to stretch the fabric, starting ABOVE the ribbed cuff. To sew the cuff seams, place the edges  wrong side together. This will hide the seam allowances when the cuff is turned up. Trim the seam allowances at the top corners at an angle.

Here you can see the seam allowances for the cuffed version. If you opt not to do a cuff, just sew the whole hat right sides together.

Turn the hat right side out, pushing out the corners. Tack the cuff up if desired. And you’re done! That didn’t take long at all!

I love how the square hat makes “ears” when you put it on your round head!

Couple of notes…I chose to make one seam on each side because it makes the “ears” more uniform vs. only having one seam. You should be able to get at least 2 hats out of a pullover sweater, depending on the size. Maybe even get a baby hat out of the sleeves! If you can’t find a sweater to chop up, you can use fleece and hem it.

Get involved and show your craftivism! Visit the Pussycat Project site for other patterns! There’s tutorials/patterns for knitting, crocheting and sewing. Act now if you’re interested! The turn in date is fast approaching!