Let it Snow! Bel Air Earflap Hat Pattern by Daphne Adair - Knitting Tutorial and Guide for Various Sizes

Let it Snow! Bel Air Earflap Hat By Daphne Adair

Materials

Bel Air: 1 ball each MC (brown), CC1 (coral) and CC2 (pink) You'll have plenty of each contrast color for multiple hats, but for the largest size will use most of the MC. Size 7 DPNs and 16" circular needle. Size G crochethook. Or size to obtain gauge.

Gauge

4.75 st/in st st (row gauge is not critical)

Sizes

Kids' (fits 18"-20" head); adult small/med (fits 21"-22 head); adult med/large (fits 23"+ head)

Earflaps (make 2)

Using DPN and MC, CO3. Work 3 rows st st beg with a purl row. RoW 4: K1, M1R, K1, M1L, K1. Row 5 and all odd rows: Purl. Row 6 and all even rows: K1, M1R, knit to last stitch, M1L, K1. Continue as established until 15 (17, 19) sts. Work even a further 2" (3", 3") (total length about 5"). Break yarn and leave on DPN or stitch holder. Make a second earflap then carry on to the hat!

Hat

CO 29 (31, 33) sts using long-tail method, MC and circular needle. Continuing with the circular needle, knit earflap stitches from one DPN. Using a second strand of MC yarn, cast on another 29 (31, 33) sts, then knit earflap stitches from second DPN. Make sure all your stitches are in order—no twists!—and join (88, 96, 104 sts total on needle). Knit 3/4" (1", 1") even, then work chart once. Knit until hat is 4.5" (5", 6") from brim. Set-up row for decreases: \*K 22 (24, 26), PM\* around, using a different color or type of marker to indicate beginning of the round. Decrease row: K to 2 sts before marker, ssk, slip marker, k2tog. Knit one row even between decrease rows. Continue until 16 sts remain, ending with a decrease row. Knit around, removing markers. Next row, ssk, k2tog around. Break yarn, leaving about 10" long. Thread end onto a yarn needle and thread through remaining stitches and cinch sts together. Leave yarn outside hat to attach pompom. Edging: Use yarn ends from the hat brim to weave together any gaps between the earflaps and CO stitches at the brim. Using pink (CC2), with RS facing, single crochet around the entire hat edge, from earflap tip to earflap tip. Chain one before slip stitching together at end of round. Using coral (CC1), single crochet around, chaining 2 at tips of earflaps.

Braids: Cut 6 lengths each of CC1 and CC2, about 30" long. Use crochet hook to pull 3 strands of each color through the loop created at the tip of each earflap. Divide strands into three groups of each color and braid to desired length. Knot end and trim. Pompom: Using a pompom maker or your preferred method, create a pompom holding both contrast colors together. Attach to hat using the yarn end from the hat, making sure to capture the yarn you used to wrap the center of the pom so it will be secure. Bring the yarn end back inside the hat and weave in. Trim ends of pom to perfection and steam your hat! If desired, make a bigger size than strictly needed and line hat with polar fleece. This is a big, soft, warm hat, but if you're in colder climes, you may need a little more padding.

4-stitch / 11 row repeat