Knitted Ear Flap Hat

The knitted ear flap hat is a cozy and charming accessory that combines style with warmth. With its cute braided tassels and soft textures, this hat not only keeps your ears toasty during chilly days but also adds a touch of whimsy to your winter outfit. Whether you're braving the snow or simply enjoying a brisk autumn day, this hat is sure to become your go-to accessory for both fashion and function. Its versatility allows you to pair it with a variety of outfits, making it a must-have for any cold-weather wardrobe. So, why not treat yourself to a knitted ear flap hat and embrace the comfort and style it brings to your winter adventures?

Sizes XS, S, M, L

Ingredients:
Size 9 or 10 circular and doublepoint needles
1 skein bulky yarn. I love Lamb’s Pride.
Tapestry Needle
Pom pom maker (optional)

Ear flap (make 2):
With two double point needles cast on 2 stitches. Purl 1 row. Work back and forth in stockinette stitch. Every time you do the knit side (right side), increase in the front and back of the first and last stitch. This will create the triangle shape. Keep going until there are 16 stitches for the XS, 18-S, 20-M, or 22-L. Place these stitches on a holder. Hat: With the circular needle, cast on 12-XS, 14-S, 16-M, or 18-L stitches for the back of hat; knit across stitches of the first ear flap making sure the right side is facing you. Cast on 20-22-24-or 26 stitches for the front; knit across second ear flap. There will be 64-72-80-or 88 stitches in all. Join stitches carefully without twisting. Knit 2 purl 2 on the front and back part of the hat (regular knit the ear flaps) for four to six rounds. This will make the nice ribbing and will prevent the hat from curling up.Continue knitting until the hat is about 5.5 inches tall. I usually go with 32 rows from the edge of the hat.

Then start decreasing as follows:Round 1: Knit two together, knit 6. Repeat for one round.Round 2 (and all even rounds): KnitRound 3: K 2 together, K 5 for one roundRound 5: K 2 together, K 4 for one round (this is where you should probably switch to the double points).Round 7: K 2 together, K 3Round 9: K 2 together, K 2Round 11: K 2 together, K 1Round 13: K 2 togetherGather remaining stitches with a darning needle and fasten off. Weave in all tails.I just braided yarn together to make the ties for the flaps. You could also do a cord stitch where you have three stitches on a doublepoint. Knit to end of row and instead of turning the work, just push them back up to the end so the yarn wraps around the back. Knit in this way till it’s long enough. Braiding is faster and pretty.Sometimes I add a pom pom. This is especially nice when making a stripey hat because you can include all the colors in the pom pom and it’s faster to make than one color.