Based on growth experiments with FEM and computational analysis of the interfacial energy, a growth model has been developed for graphite {0001} monolayers on rounded Pt single crystals: the final graphite layer orientation is initiated during its earliest growth stages in the vicinal area of Pt{110} with the formation of the smallest most stable nucleus (SMSN), which has the orientation graphite {0001}∥Pt{110} and graphite 〈10 10〉 ∥Pt〈100〉 . Initial layers, which have formed from the SMSN's separately on neighbouring {110} vicinal terraces, snap up and join at the layer edges to saturate graphite σ-bonds. Through this process, one continuous layer is created, the “dumbbell layer”. The dumbbell layer does not form in substrate areas where the depth of the terraces is smaller than the diameter of the SMSN. At sufficiently high supersaturations, the dumbbell layer will initiate further growth. Especially in the case of shorter terraces, the growing layer will make contact with step edges only and, thereby, create channels which can be accessed by diffusing surface particles. The preferred layer growth into surface areas of highest kink density suggests an interaction between strong Pt surface dipoles and the graphite layer.