How to Knit Hats With Flaps

Grab some yarn and a coordinated set of DPNs and a circular needle in order to learn how to knit hats with ear flaps.

A knitted hat with ear flaps provides warmth and protection from winter's freezing winds. Ear flaps add a finished look to a regular hat and protect the wearer's ear and neck from cold and snow. If you want to knit a hat with ear flaps, you only need to knit the flaps and then attach them to the brim of the hat as you begin to knit. The construction of an ear flap hat is basic enough for a beginner as long as you are familiar with knit stitches and knitting in the round.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Double-pointed knitting needles
• Circular knitting needle
• Scissors
• Large eye blunt needle

Instructions

1. Measure your head. Determine the measurement across your ears that you want for the width of your ear flaps; this is measurement A. Now, determine the desired height of your ear flaps; this is measurement B. Measure the circumference of your head in the front between the positions of the ear flaps; this is measurement C. Measure the circumference of your head in the back between the positions of the ear flaps; this is measurement D.

2. Knit the first ear flap using double pointed needles (DPNs). Cast on four stitches. Knit one row, and then increase the next row by knitting the first and last stitches through the front and back loops. Knit in this two-row garter stitch pattern until your ear flaps measure the width of measurement A; then, continue to knit every row back and forth without increasing until the ear flap measures the length of measurement B. When you reach the end of the first ear flap, cut the working yarn, leaving a 4-inch tail. Leave the ear flap stitches on the DPN, and set aside.

3. Knit a second ear flap. This time, instead of cutting the working yarn, knit the last row of the ear flap with a circular needle. Cast on enough stitches to match the width of measurement C, and then knit across the stitches of the first ear flap you set aside. Cast on enough stitches to match the width of measurement D, and then join with the first stitch of the second ear flap to set up knitting in the round.

4. Knit the brim of the hat in garter stitch to match the ear flaps. Since you are knitting in the round, to make garter stitch, now you have to alternate knit rows with purl rows. Knit in this pattern for 2 inches.

5. Switch to stockinette stitch for the remaining portion of the hat. Knit every stitch in every round until the hat measures approximately 4 1/2 to 5 inches from the base of the brim.

6. Decrease the crown of the hat. For the next round, count the number of stitches you have and divide by 10, and then subtract two. Knit this number of stitches, and then knit two together. For instance, if you had 100 stitches, then you would knit eight stitches and knit two together. Repeat this pattern around. For the following round, knit all stitches. For round three of the decrease, knit one less stitch in your pattern before knitting two together; in this example, you would knit seven and then knit two together. Repeat this pattern around, and then knit one round where you knit all stitches. Continue to decrease in this manner until you have approximately 30 to 40 stitches on the needles, and then decrease in the same way but eliminate the rounds where you knit all stitches. When you have fewer than 10 stitches on the needles, cut the working yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches, pulling tightly like a drawstring to close up the top of the hat. Weave in your loose ends, and your hat with ear flaps is ready to wear.

References

• Knitting Pattern Central: Hats