Space Invaders Earflap Hat
SoI know its a winter hat...I made this a couple of months back and just didnt get round to posting so it's late but still cool. Iit's sized fora mans head, whateverthat means. Let me know if you have any issues with the pattern. The charts may not be exactlythe same as the hat because I can never resista couple of alterations asI knit.Anyway, theinstructions. SPACEINVADERSHAT This hat is knitin the round from the top down. Gauge - 4.5sts per inch in aran weight yarn (check you getthis gauge working fairisle!) I used - Rowan Magpie Aran in dark green and pale blue, on 4.5mm circulars. Sized to fit up to a $24^{\prime\prime}$ manshead. WORKINGINTHEROUND: 1. In dark coloured yarn, Cast on 8 stitches. Mark each stitch. 2. Increase into each marked stitch. 16sts 3. Repeat the previous row, increasing into each marked stitch, six more times. 64 sts 4. Knit one round plain. Remove every other marker so that only four markers remain. 5. Increase into each marked stitch.68sts 6. Knit round. 7. Repeat rows 5 and 6 ten more times, removing the markers on the last round (except the one that marks beginning of round). 108sts. 8.Work pattern Chart 1 repeats -there should be nine repeats to fit round the whole head. Use the dark coloured yarn forthe background and the light coloured yarn forthe characters. Rememberyou are working from the top down so start the chart at the bottom as usual and don't be put off that youre knitting the characters upside down.
9.Knit four more rounds in the dark coloured yarn.. 10. The hat should now be approximately $9^{\prime\prime}$ long. Checkitfits and add another row or twoif you wantit longer. 11. When you are satisfied thatthe hatis the rightlength (about eyebrow height), it's time to splitforthe earflaps. Knit 11, purl 37, knit 23, purl 25, knit 12. This will stop the front and back of the hat from curling up and create a nice edge. 12. Onthe next row, knit 11, cast offthe purl stitches, knit23, cast off purl stitches, knit 23. You now have two earflaps, ready to be worked back and forth. To start, you will need to purl one row on the left earflap in orderforit to be the same length as the right. 13. EARFLAPS: Work back and forth in stockinette stitch. On all rows slip first stitch knitwise, knit second stitch, and knit last two stitches. This should give you a sturdy edge that won't curl. Follow the pattern in chart two in the way you prefer, using duplicate stitch, intarsia, or fairisle.
14. When you reach the last row of the pattern, you need to start decreasing the earflaps. On each knit row, knit2tog twice at beginning and end of row. On purl rows, continue to slip first stitch knitwise, knit second stitch, and knitlast two stitches. 15. When you have 13 stitches left, castoff. Close up the little hole atthe very top of the hat and weave in allends.
