Earflap Fuzzy Hat Pattern

I tend to be a yarn hoarder. I have a stash of yarn that’s at least eight years old. It’s left over from a time when all I wanted to knit was pink, fuzzy scarves, and now that I’m a classy college kid (haha) it’s just been taking up space. After an afternoon of searching through this yarn treasure chest, I found these two unusual yarns, and some Red Heart Classic I was never going to use, and the Ear Flap Fuzzy Hat was born!

This is an awesome pattern to use up those random skeins. It’s warm, cozy, and absolutely silly. It’s also a nice, simple ear flap pattern, so if you’re feeling boring, you could always skip the color change and make something more practical!

I made my hat larger than I normally would because I didn’t want it to flatten out my hair. If you want a smaller, snugger hat, I’ve adapted the pattern for both sizes. The instructions for the larger size are in parentheses. If your head is bigger than 22 inches, or you want the loose look like in the pictures, go with that.

One final note: The pink yarn I used is a multi-weight yarn—it changes as you knit. I don’t know what that type of yarn is called, but it’s listed as “worsted” on the tag. I’d say you’re pretty much golden with whatever yarn you choose, as long as check your gauge for the Red Heart Classic Solid and only knit for 2 ½ inches when you switch colors.

 

Gauge: In Red Heart Classic Solid, with size 8 needles in stockinet stitch: 4”x4” = 16sts x 24 rows

Yarn:

1 skein Jai Alai, or similar fuzzy yarn

1 skein Red Heart Classic Solid

1 skein pink worsted weight yarn

Materials:

16-inch size 8 circular needles

5 size 8 double-pointed needles

Stitch markers

Small pom-pom makers

Size J crochet hook

Tapestry needle

Pattern Notes:

Inc: Unless otherwise noted, increase by knitting into the front and back of the stitch

Dec: All decreases are k2tog

Ear Flap Fuzzy Hat

Ear Flaps—make 2:

With strands of Jai Alai and Red Heart Classic held together, CO 3. Work flat.

Row 1 (RS): knit

Row 2 (WS): k1, inc by picking up st in between, k1, inc by picking up st in between, k1

R3: k

R4: k1, inc, k to last two sts, inc, k1

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until you have 17(19) sts on the needle

Work 7(5) rows in garter stitch.

Row 8: join earflaps to hat!

Hat:

Working from RS of one earflap using circular needles, place marker, k across earflap. CO 22 sts, k across 2^nd earflap, CO 16(20) sts, and join in the round. 72(80) sts on needles.

Work 1½ inches in garter stitch using Jai Alai and Red Heart Classic.

Switch to pink worsted weight yarn, and begin working in stockinet stitch. Work 2½ inches in stockinet stitch—4 inches from edge of hat

Switch to Red Heart Classic Solid.

Larger size only:

Round 1: k all stitches

Round 2: [k8, k2tog] around –72sts

All sizes

Round 1 and 2: k all stitches

Round 3: begin decreases, switch to double pointed needles when needed— [k7, ktog] around –64sts

Round 4: k all sts

Round 5: [k6, k2tog] around –56sts

Round 6 and 7: k all sts

Round 8: [k5, k2tog] around –48sts

Round 9: k all sts

Round 10: [k4, k2tog] around –40sts

Round 11: k all sts

Round 12: [k3, k2tog] around –32sts

Round 13: k all sts

Round 14: [k2, k2tog] around –24sts

Round 15: k all sts

Round 16: [k1, k2tog] around –16sts

Round 17: [k2tog] around –8sts

Cut a tail about six inches long, and thread through all 8sts on the needles. Pull tight.

Weave in ends.

Edge and tassels:

Using Red Heart Classic and size J crochet hook, start at the base of one earflap. Sc around entire edge to the base of the 2^nd earflap, chain 28, and fasten off. Repeat for other half of hat. Make three pom-poms, and attach to end of tassels and top of hat.

That’s it! All done!

Please use this pattern for your own enjoyment, but do not sell the pattern or finished product without my consent. As always, link back to thelifeartistic.blogspot.com, and let me know if you have any questions!