Rainbow Earflap Hat

Hi, my name is Nicole and I am a Chroma addict. It sounds absolutely preposterous with an entire world of yarn fibers available to me that I always seem to find a way back to Chroma, but I do. Chroma with it’s gorgeous self striping colors, it’s easy washability and it’s warm wool fiber blend that makes it perfect for any project from socks to mittens to hats, it seems to be finding it’s way on my needles constantly of late.

Last year I knit my yearly winter hat from Chroma Prism fingering, but the design has a lace pattern and this year with my short hair, my head has been unbelievably cold. Luckily I had some Chroma Prism worsted in my stock of yarn because I knew I needed a new hat that would cover my head and ears, but also show off Chroma’s colors. This is a basic hat with a little earflap and a folded brim for flair.

Here is what you will need:

• One hank Knit Picks Chroma worsted yarn {198 yards – 100 grams}
• Size seven needles
• Notions – scissors, tape measure, tapestry needle, stitch maker

Cast on 96 stitches. This hat is for an adult woman with a small head. Me! You can adjust the size by adding or subtracting stitches in groups of eight. If you want to make a children’s hat appropriate for a 2 year old I would start with 80 stitches.

Join the stitches in the round. Make sure when you join the stitches they are not twisted.

Knit two stitches, purl two stitches. Repeat K2, P2 ribbing around for ten rows.

Start knitting the body of the hat. Knit for five to 5-1/2 inches depending on how long you want your hat. Remember the cuff, or ribbing of the hat will be folded up, so the cuff does not contribute to the overall length.

Begin the decreases as follows. You can add length in between the decrease rows by adding in extra knit rows. These knit rows do not change the overall look of the hat.

1. Knit 6 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around. {84 stitches}
2. knit 5 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around {72 stitches}
3. Knit one row.
4. Knit 4 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around {60 stitches}
5. Knit two rows.
6. Knit 4 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around. This is not an error, repeat this row. {50 stitches
7. Knit one row.
8. Knit 3 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around. {40 stitches}
9. Knit one row.
10. Knit 2 stitches, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around. {30 stitches}
11. Knit 2 rows.
12. Knit 1 stitch, knit 2 stitches together, repeat around. {20 stitches}
13. Knit 2 stitches together around. {10 stitches}
14. Cut the yarn leaving a seven inch tail. Thread the yarn onto your sewing needle and pull the yarn through the remaining 10 stitches. Weave the tail in the inside of your hat.

Now, because your cuff is folded up, you will want to start your earflaps. I wanted my earflaps along the folded edge of the cuff. These are easy. Here is how you pick up the stitches:

After you have picked up all 18 of your stitches, the process is quite simple.

• Purl one, knit one, purl 14, knit one, purl one
• Knit one, purl one, knit 14, purl one, knit one

Repeat these two rows 8 times or as long as you want your earflap before the six decrease rows.

1. Purl one, knit one, purl two together, purl 10, purl two together, knit one, purl one.
2. Knit one, purl one, knit two together, knit 8, knit two together, purl one, knit one.
3. Purl one, knit one, purl two together, purl 6, purl two together, knit one, purl one.
4. Knit one, purl one, knit two together (four times), purl one, knit one.
5. Purl one, knit one, purl two together, purl two together, knit one, purl one.
6. Knit two together (three times).

Bind off remaining three stitches. Cut your yarn leaving a six inch tail and weave in the end.

Besides adding earflaps to a hat, another option is adding ties. Braided ties are a simple way to add a bit of character to otherwise plain earflaps. They use a moderate amount of a yarn, but they are extremely simple to execute.

Cut twelve 60 inch lengths of yarn.

Six of these pieces of yarn will go on one side and six on the other. Using your sewing needle draw each piece through a stitch at the bottom of the earflap. Pull each piece of yarn only halfway through.

After all the yarn has been pulled halfway through, so it is doubled, divide the yarn into equal sections for braiding.

Braid the sections until you reach the desired length and then tie a knot. Trim the excess yarn with your scissors and enjoy your new rainbow hat!

#Rainbow #Earflap #Hat With #Knitpicks #Chroma. Hat #Love! #knitting

A photo posted by Nicole (@nvanputt) on Dec 1, 2013 at 6:00am PST

About The Author

Nicole

Member of Team VP, knitter and Mama to Blue and Franks. Life, is bloody good.