Biker Beanie
This is a tight-fitting hat which features earflaps which loop onto your bike helmet straps, keeping your head and ears warm(er) when you bike in cold weather. Disclosures, caveats, etc: Based largely on the “RUNNER BEANIE" pattern by Matt Babcock; I have not test-knit the medium or large sizes.
Size - 22 (23.5, 25) inches head circumference Yarn - 175-200 yards s0ck weight Needles - 1 set US size #1 dpns or 2-16" circulars Gauge - roughly 30 sts x 45 rounds = 4 inches
Beanie
Using Judy's Magic cast-on or Emily Ocker's circular cast-on, cast on 6 stitches. The stitches on the first circular needle (or dpns 1 and 2) are the right side of the hat, while the stitches on the second circular (or dpns 3 and 4) are the left side of the hat. Round 1: Knit around with working yarn and tail held together (12 sts) Round 2: \*Kfb, k1, pm, repeat from \* to end (18 sts) Round 3: \*Kfb, knit to marker, sm, repeat from \* to end (24 sts) Rounds 4-5: Repeat Round 3 (36 sts) Round 6: Knit Rounds 7-8: Repeat Round 3 (48 sts) Round 9: Knit Round 10: \*Kfb, k3, pm, kfb, k3, sm, repeat from \* to end (60 sts) Rounds 11-12: Knit Round 13: \*Kfb, knit to marker, sm, repeat from \* to end (72 sts) Rounds 14-15: Knit Round 16: Repeat round 13 (84 sts) Rounds 17-19: Knit Round 20: Repeat round 13 (96 sts) Rounds 21-23: Knit Round 24: Repeat round 13 (108 sts) Rounds 25-28: Knit Round 29: Repeat round 13 (120 sts) Rounds 30-33: Knit Round 34: Repeat round 13 (132 sts) Rounds 35-38: Knit Round 39: Repeat round 13 (144 sts) Rounds 40-44: Knit Round 45: Repeat round 13 (156 sts) Repeat rounds 40-45 once more for medium (168 sts), twice more for large (180 sts) Knit until cap reaches about a half inch from top of ears, roughly two inches or 22 rounds.
Earflap increase rounds
Round 1: Knit 36 (39, 42), inc, pm, knit 6, pm, inc, knit 72 (78, 84), inc, pm, knit 6, pm, inc, knit 36 (39, 42). Round 2: Knit. Repeat these two round 5 (6, 7) more times, slipping markers.
Earflaps
Knit to first marker, inc, sm, knit 6, sm, inc, knit 12 (14, 16), turn. Row 1: Slip 1, purl 31 (32, 32), turn. Row 2: Slip 1, knit 12 (13, 14), m1, sm, knit 6, sm, m1, knit 12 (13, 14), turn Repeat these two rounds rounds 12 (14, 16) more times. Repeat row 1 once. Knit to first marker, bind off 6 center stitches (removing markers), knit to end of right side. For left side, repeat as for right earflap on second needle (or dpns 3 and 4).
Edging
Cast on two stitches; work 2-stitch i-cord edging. At the cast-off stitches on each earflap, work 12 stitches of i-cord (This will create a small loop through which to thread the straps of your bike helmet to hold the earflaps snug-ly over your ears while you ride) then continue on with edging to end. Weave in ends, block well, and ride! Glossary sts = stitches sm = slip marker pm = place marker BY-NC Erin Christman 2013 inc = increase kfb = knit stitch through front and back dpn = double-pointed needle
