Earflap Hat

Free Hat Knitting Pattern

Introducing the cozy and stylish Earflap Hat knitting pattern for adults! This hat is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm during those chilly winter days. The pattern is worked bottom-up, in rounds, seamlessly, making it a great project for intermediate level knitters.

The unique design of this hat includes earflaps and ties, which are worked separately before additional stitches are cast-on between them and the main body of the hat is worked in the round. The earflaps and ridge of the hat are created using the garter stitch, while the body of the hat is worked in both double seed stitch and stockinette patterns, adding both texture and visual interest to the finished product.

This pattern is perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of handmade warmth and style to their winter wardrobe. So grab your knitting needles and your favorite yarn, and get ready to create a cozy and chic Earflap Hat!

Skills Required/Techniques Used:
-Knit & purl, cast on & bind off
-Increasing: make 1 (m1)
-Decreasing: knit 2 together (k2tog)
-Working in the round on double pointed needles
-Working I-cord

Measurements:
Head circumference 21" (53 cm)
Depth: 8" (20 1/2 cm) (excluding earflaps).

Size: average adult head

Materials: Hand Spun Yarn from Autumn Hill Llamas and Fiber: 4.1 oz, 220 yds (60% merino wool, 20% yak, 20% silk), 13 WPI - DK weight - 1 skein

Needles: circular and double pointed needles (dpn) US # (4 mm) OR SIZE NEEDED TO OBTAIN GAUGE

Gauge: 20 sts x 32 rows = 4" x 4" (10 cm x 10 cm) in double seed st.

Notions:
yarn needle, a stitch marker,

Abbreviations:
k - knit
p - purl
st, sts - stitch, stitches
k2tog - knit 2 together
m1 - make 1 increase - make a backward loop over the right-hand needle and in the next row/round purl/knit as a regular stitch
RS - right side
WS - wrong side
sl - slip
sm - slip marker
pm - place marker
rm - remove marker

Pattern Notes:

Double Seed Stitch in rounds: multiple of 4 sts.

Rounds 1 and 2: *k2, p2 - repeat from * around

Rounds 3 and 4: *p2, k2 - repeat from * around

Repeat Rounds 1-4.


Garter stitch in rows: all rows knit.

Garter stitch in rounds: knit the first round, purl the next round. Repeat 2 rounds.

Stockinette stitch in rounds: All rounds knit

The selvedge/edge stitches are worked as follows: slip the first stitch knitwise and purl the last one.


Short Overview of the Pattern:

The hat is worked bottom-up, in rounds, seamlessly. First the ties and earflaps are worked separately, then additional stitches are cast-on between the earflaps and the working piece is closed in the round. The earflaps and the ridge of the hat are worked in garter stitch, the hat is worked in double seed stitch and stockinette patterns.

Ties and Earflaps (make 2)

On one of the double pointed needles cast on 4 sts and work an I-cord until it's 9" -10"long. Start the earflap:

Foundation row (WS): sl1, p3

Row 1 (RS, increase row): sl1, m1, k to last st, m1, p1. (6 sts)

Row 4: sl1, knit till last st, p1.

Repeat rows 1-2 seven (7) more times.

Stitch count after each increase row:

Row 3 = 8 sts

Row 5 = 10 sts

Row 7 = 12 sts

Row 9 = 14 sts

Row 11 = 16 sts

Row 13 = 18 sts

Row 15 = 20 sts

Work 25 more rows (rows 16-40) without increasing: sl 1, k18, p1. Leave the stitches on the needle.

Make the second earflap with the tie.


Hat

Either with circular needle, or using the dpn, cast on 10 sts. With RS facing, knit 20 sts of the first earflap, cast on 40 sts, knit 20 sts of the second earflap, cast on 10 sts. = 100 sts. Place a marker between the first cast-on 10 sts and the last cast-on 10 sts; the beginning of the round is in the center back of the hat. Slip the marker while working.

Round 1: purl around

Round 2: knit around

Repeat rounds 1-2 six (6) more times until the ridge is 1 1/4" ( 3" cm) wide.

Round 15: knit around

Rounds 16-17: (k2, p2) - repeat around

Rounds 18-19: (p2, k2) - repeat around.

Repeat rounds 16-19 9 more times until the piece measures 6 1/2" (6.5 cm) from the cast-on edge of the hat.


Crown Shaping:

Change to dpn, distributing the sts evenly between 4 needles - 25 st per needle and knit around

Decreasing round 1: (k8, k2tog) repeat 10 times =90 sts

Decreasing round 2: (k7, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 80 sts

Decreasing round 3: (k6, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 70 sts

Decreasing round 4: (k5, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 60 sts

Decreasing round 5: (k4, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 50 sts

Decreasing round 6: (k3, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 40 sts

Decreasing round 7: (k2, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 30 sts

Decreasing round 8: (k1, k2tog) repeat 10 times = 20 sts

Decreasing round 9: k2tog repeat 10 times = 10 sts

Cut yarn, leaving a 10" (25 cm) tail. Pull through all the remaining stitches and secure.


Finishing:

Weave in all yarn ends.

Have fun!