Snowflake Ear Flap Hat Pattern

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Materials:
• 1 Ball of Green Worsted Weight Cotton (50g)
• 1 Ball of Cream Worsted Weight Cotton (50g)
• Size 4, 19” Circular needles or 5 dpn (this hat can be knitting using a longer circular cord and done in magic loop method)
• Stitch Markers
• Tapestry Needle
• Stitch Holder (or extra dpn)

Gauge:
24 stitches and 40 rounds = 4 inches

Earflaps: (make 2) MC
Cast on 4 stitches using cable cast on.

Rows 1 (RS) and 2: Knit
Row 3: K1,yo, knit to last st, yo, k1
Row 4 and 6: Knit
Row 5: Rep Row 3
Row 7: K1, yo, knit to last st, yo k1
Row 8: K3, p to last 3 sts, k3
Rep Rows 7-8 until there are 20 sts

Keeping first and last 3 sts in garter st (knit every row), and rem sts in St st (RS knit, WS purl), work even until earflap measures 2 ½ inches (4 rows). Place sts on Stitch Holder (or extra dpn).

Hat:
With MC Cast on 120 sts using Cable Cast On. Join without twisting, pm between first and last st. Marker will be the center back of hat.

Next rnd: [K2, p2] 5 times, with RS facing you, place one earflap behind work. Working in k2, p2 rib, work 1 st from main needle and 1 earflap st tog until all earflap sts have been joined. Work in rib over next 40 sts, join 2nd earflap as for first, work in rib to end of rnd.

Work even in 2X2 rib for 1 ½ inches.

Next rnd: With CC knit 10 rnd, inc 5 stitches in the 10th round.

Start Pattern: (gray = main color, white = contrast color) Pattern Repeats 5 times around hat.




Decreasing Rounds:
Dec Rnd 1: Change to CC Knit
Dec Rnd 2: Dec 5 sts evenly (120 sts)
Dec Rnds 3 through 7 and all odd round: Knit
Dec Rnd 8: *K9, K2tog*
Dec Rnd 10: *K8, K2tog*
Dec Rnd 12: *K7, K2tog*
Dec Rnd 14: *K6, K2tog*

Continue in decrease rounds pattern until 11 stitches remain. K2tog 5 times, K1
Last rnd: *K2tog* 3 stitches remain. Cut yarn and using tapestry needle thread yarn through last remaining stitches. Weave in ends.

Braids:
Cut 6 strands of MC and 6 strands of CC 24 inches long. Using tapestry needle, thread one strand of mc and one cc color through end of ear flap 3 times on each flap. Divides strands into three groups and braid, tie in knot at end.

last revision: 03/18/2010

It's Finished...

I finished the ear flap hat as the closing ceremonies began. Caleb was very happy to model the new hat. However it was a tiny bit small on him. He asked me to make another one a bit bigger.

I plan on writing down the pattern tonight so I don't forget how I made it all work out. Then I will be looking for a couple of pattern testers to try out the pattern before I post it for sell.

It's Actually Working

I can't seem to put this hat down. I'm in love with the way it is turning out. So Cute, if I do say so myself. Now I just have to remember that the cast on for the brim is 120, then increase 5 after the ribbing. 10 rows of cream then start chart. Ha! Now I have it in my blog so I can come back to remember. :-)

I Never Said I Was Good At Math

I decided to change the original pattern because I didn't do the math and it turned out all wrong. After searching the web for patterns I liked, I got very discouraged. I noticed the sweater my husband was wearing and right away it dawned on me that was the design I wanted. I got out graph paper and went to work. I came up with the design above and lucked out when it fit mathematically into my hat. (after I took the time to count the stitches). I didn't get much knitting done tonight because I spent most my time working on the pattern. Can't wait till tomorrow when I can make a little more progress.

Got That Fixed, Then Got Adventurous

After fixing the size by a major decrease I moved on and finished the ribbing. Then I got a little tired of the green and decided to add some cream. After 3 round of cream I decided to try my hand at color work. I went online and found a nice Nordic pattern and got to work trying my hand at colorwork. I didn't count the stitches so I am a little off with my pattern. But hey, this is just a prototype after all, a design in action. Trying things out for practice. Crossing fingers it turns out looking half way normal.

I Refuse to go to 0's

I've decided to make an Ear Flap Hat, although the picture looks like some kind of underwear, I promise this is the beginning of a hat with ear flaps.

Calls for Super Fine weight yarn and size 2's
Here is the problem. I'm a very loose knitter. This can easily be fixed with most patterns, I just go down automatically by at least two needle sizes. This will make up for my slack. However, when a pattern calls for a 2, I run into a major road block. I absolutely refuse to use a 0. It all steams from an unfortunate incident involving a sock, a size 0 double pointed needle and my misplacement of said needle, only to find it with my butt cheek as I sat down on the sofa. Enough said!

As seen above the hat at this point could be used for a belt around my supple waist. No Go.

In my infinite knitting wisdom I decided to make a few changes. Starting with the fabric, I felt the super fine weight yarn was too gappy. To fix that I doubled the yarn, thus making the fabric even larger. No Problem, I will just decrease by 16 stitch and to make up for the loose knitting I allowed myself to go down to 1's (purchased by accident of course).

After knitting a few rounds you can see from the picture it turned out a few inches larger than the first go round. Humm how to I plan to fix this issue?

Well, I like the fabric so I am sticking to the double strand. I don't want to start over, so I am going to do two major decreased and come back and steak that area when I am done. We will see if this works...

So Much for the Yarn Diet!

I tried with all my might to slim down my yarn collection. Although I made several scarves, hats, socks and miscellances stuff I think I have more yarn now then I did when I started. The issues was I received a large plastic bin of yarn from a family friend and I found 3 boxes of yarn that I didn't count in the first go round. But the biggest kink in my plan was the sweaters I have bought from thirft stores to take apart and reuse. These sweaters once salvaged added to the yarn total.

Once again it is time to reorganize the closet and take stock of the inventory. This time around I have called upon my best friend Becca to help with the project. We got a start a few weeks ago and we got ride of anything not knitting related. We purchased wood shoe cubies and have made a good start in the process. I need to get a few more cubies to store my yarn in.

The complecated knitting machine has gone away with the garbage man. However my Bond Ultimate Sweater Machine has been a ton of fun. I have learned how to make socks, scarves, hats and mitten gloves. I even made a few of my own patterns that I plan on sharing once I write up the pattern and take some photos.

In the process of all this I have designed (in my head) the ultimate knitting room. Someday when I talk my husband into cleaning out the man cave and moving our son into that room, I will redecorate my sons old room into the knitting room of my dreams. Hard wood floors, yellow walls with white wood work. White wood cubies to store my yarn in, acentuated by canvas prints of knitted fabric color cordinated with the yarn in each cubie. I plan on getting a day bed to place in the room and nice table set up for my Bond knitting machine.

After watching the 2010 Winter Olymipics. my husband is requesting a USA Cable Turtle neck sweater. So as soon I find the pattern I plan on getting started on that project.

This year I have made great strides in my massive Afphgan project. I'm almost on track for having it done within three years. Hey, it's a big blanket...

I started a pair of socks for soldiers, but a majorly messed up on the heel. I was knitting without thinking and I will have to sit and think real hard to figure out what the heck I did to fix them.

Once I get my stuff out and take some pictures I will add then to my blog, right now it's just getting started blogging again after almost a year.