simple ear flap hat
by: Susan Bailey Pierce This is a simple hat pattern that only takes a few hours to complete. It is knit with two strands of DK-weight yarn to create a chunky, warm head covering perfect for beating the cold. While the earflaps remind one of Peruvian chullos, the round cap of the hat looks distinctly like a vintage football helmet or aviator's cap.
Materials
Yarn: MC: 4 skeins KnitPicks Merino Style 1 skein or remnants of Merino Style in a contrasting color (optional) Recommended Needles: $24^{\prime\prime}$ circular needle, size 8 US $\left(5\mathsf{\,m m}\right)$ I or needed to achieve gauge DPNs, size 8 US $:5\,\mathsf{m m})$ or needed to achieve gauge Finished Size (washed and blocked): Approximately 21" in circumference. Willfit any average adult head. Gauge: 16 sts $=$ 4 inches over st st in the round Definitions: $\mathsf{B O=}$ bind off ${\mathsf{C}}{\mathsf{C}}=$ contrast color CO $=$ cast on $\mathsf{k}2\mathsf{t o g}=$ knit two stitches together $\mathsf{M}\mathsf{C}=$ main color $\mathsf{S S D=}$ slip 2 sts as if to knit, return to left needle and purl the two sts together
Pattern Notes
The earflaps on this hat are set back off the face - there are 25 sts between the earflaps on the front of the hat, but only 10 sts separate them in the back of the hat. lf you desire a more symmetrical hat, feel free to distribute the stitches in an alternate manner.
Body of hat
Using long circular needle and with two strands of MC held together, CO 81 sts. row 1: seed st. join so pur bumps from CO edge are on the outside of the hat. cont in seed st or until piece measures 1.5 inches. Work in stockinette until piece measures approx 5 inches from bottom edge. Next round: $^{*}k7$ , k2tog, rep from \* to end. 72 sts. Next 3 rounds: k all sts Next round: $^{\ast}\mathsf{k}6$ , k2tog, rep from \* to end. 63 sts. Next 3 rounds: k all sts Next round: $^{*}k5$ , k2tog, rep from \* to end. 54 sts. Next round: k all sts Next round: $^{*}\mathsf{k}4$ k2tog, rep from \* to end. 45 sts. Next round: k all sts Next round: $^{*}k3$ k2tog, rep from \* to end. 36 sts. Next round: k all sts Next round: $^{*}k2$ k2tog, rep from \* to end. 27 sts. Next round: k all sts Next round: $^{*}k)$ , k2tog, rep from \* to end. 18 sts. Next round: k all sts Next round: \*k2tog, rep from \* to end. 9 sts. Next round: k all sts Cut yarn, leaving about 6 inch tail.Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull tight, and weave in ends.
Turn work so that hat is upside-down and CO edge points up. Count 23 sts on either side of beg of round.
With RS facing and two strands of MC held together, pick up 23 stitches along brim of hat. Rows I and 2: \*kl, pl, rep from \* to last st, kl. Row 3: p2tog, \*k1, p1, rep from \* to last 2 sts, ssp. 21 sts. Rows 4-6: \*p1, k1, rep from \* to last st, p1. Row 7: ssk, \*p1, kl, rep from \* to last 2 sts, k2tog. 19 sts. Rows 8-10: \*kl, pl, rep from \* to last st, kl. Row 11: p2tog,\*k1, p1, rep from \* to last 2 sts, ssp. 17 sts. Rows 12-14: \*p1, kl, rep from \* to last st, p1. Row 15: ssk, \*p1, kl, rep from \* to last 2 sts, k2tog. 15 sts. Rows 16-19: \*k1, pl, rep from \* to last st, k1. Row 20: p2tog, \*k1, p1, rep from \* to last 2 sts, ssp. 13 sts. Rows 21-23: \*p1, kl, rep from \* to last st, p1. Row 24: ssk, \*p1, kl, rep from \* to last 2 sts, k2tog. 11 sts. Rows 25-27: \*k1, pl, rep from \* to last st,k1. Row 28: p2tog, $^{*}k)$ , p1, rep from \* to last 2 sts, ssp. 9 sts. Row 29: \*p1, kl, rep from \* to last st, p1. Row 30: ssk, \*p1, ki, rep from \* to last 2 sts, k2tog. 7 sts. Row 31: $^{*}k!$ , pl, rep from \* to last st, kl. Row 32: p2tog, $^{*}k)$ , p1, rep from \* to last 2 sts, ssp. 5 sts. Row 33: $^{*}\mathsf{p}1$ , kl, rep from \* to last st, pl. Row 34: ssk, $^{*}\ p\rceil$ , ki, rep from \* to last 2 sts, k2tog. 3 sts. Row 35: kl, pl, kl. Row 36: sk2psso. Cut $18"$ tail and pull through last st to knot. Leff earflap Starting at the leff-most st of the right earflap, count 25 sts. This is the starting point for picking up sts to create the second earflap. Follow directions as set out for right earflap. Finishing Weave in loose ends. Cut 10 36-inch (1 yard) long pieces of MC - 5 for each earflap. Fold 5 strands in half. Poke a crochet hook through the bottom of the earlap, close to the point created near the bound off edge, from front to back. Wrap loop of folded yarn strands around hook; pull through. There should be a loop of yarn protruding from the RS of the earflap. Pull loose ends through loop to secure strands to the earflap. Including tail from earflap, there should be 12 strands of yarn hanging from the work. Divide into 3 sections of 4 strands and braid until desired length. Knot to secure, and trim ends to the same length. Do the same for the second earflap with the other 5 strands. If desired, personalize hat with CC using duplicate stitch in any 23-25 stitch wide motif
