Neko Ear Warmers

My mind, recently, has been on Japan and its culture, as well as on Halloween. My daughter has discovered Sailor Moon, and I have been very happily re-watching all of the episodes with her. The series brings back so many childhood memories for me. My best friend from elementary school is half Japanese. I vividly recall watching episodes of the anime not yet released in the U.S. with her in Japanese, and pretending to be sailor scouts ourselves. She is now in Japan, teaching English to youngsters. I couldn't be happier for her!

In Japan, cats are very beloved. Sailor Moon itself has two cats in it: Luna and Artemis. With Halloween just a bit over two months away, I've had cute crochet hats and ear warmers on the brain. I've already made a pumpkin hat that I'm very proud of. You can see more photos and purchase a custom made beret here. I used an already existing pattern for the hat itself. However, every other little bit it (the stem, leaf, and vine) I stitched together on the fly. Making up those few bits really got my creative juices flowing. The leaf I made for the hat really almost looks like a cat ear, right?

This got me to thinking: why not write my own pattern for a cat-eared ear warmer? I wish I had not attached my ears so far apart, but the pattern is very quick and easy. Enough of me blabbing, though. I got to work and wrote the pattern for the cat-ear ear warmer ("Neko Ear Warmer"). I'm even posting it for free below, just because I want to see how many people actually make it. (If you do, you must send me photos! Please?) If you don't want to go through the trouble, or don't know how to crochet, you can always purchase a custom-made one from my Etsy shop. If you do make the pattern, though, please don't sell it, since it's copyright BlueCloudCrochet. The published pattern is just for fun! Happy stitching! xo

Neko Ear Warmer

Yarn weight: medium worsted (4) (10 ply)

Suggested hook: H (8-5.00 mm)

Notions: tapestry needle

Size: adult

Gauge: 6 hdc = 2 in. 5 rows = 2 in.

Abbreviations:

                Ch = chain

                Sc = single crochet

                Hdc = half double crochet

                Dc = double crochet

                Tr = triple crochet

                Sl st = slip stitch

BAND

Ch. 70

Row 1: hdc in 3^rd ch from hook & each ch across

Row 2: ch 2 (counts as 1^st hdc) hdc across (69 st.)

Row 3 – 7: repeat row 2

Row 8: ch 1, sc in ea. hdc across. Finish off. (69 st.)

Sl st in foundation ch. Ch 1. Sc across. Finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing. (69 st.)

Fold piece in half, & sew together using tapestry needle.

EARS (make 2)

Make a magic circle, ch 1.

Round 1: in magic circle, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc, sl st to join. Pull string from magic circle to tighten to desired tautness.

Rnd 2: ch 1. Do not turn. Sc in same st as join. Sc in next st. 2 sc in next 2 st, sc in next 3 st, 3 sc in next st, sc in next 3 st, 2 sc in next 3 st, sl st to join.

Rnd 3: sl st in next 2 sc, ch 1. Sc in same st, ch 1. [sc, ch 1] 8 times. [sc, ch 1, sc] in next st. ch 1. [sc, ch 1] 7  times. Sc in next st. sl st in next st. finish off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Attach each ear to desired locations on band.