Merry Ear Flap Hat: Free Hat Knitting Pattern

Введение

Merry Ear Flap Hat

Looking for reasons to be merry this year? We’re not saying bright colored tassels and fluffy pom poms are going to return this holiday season to “normal,” but we’ll take what we can get!

Our Merry Ear Flap Hat pattern pumps as much cheer into every little bit as it possibly can. Adorable tassels, chunky I-cords, cozy garter ear flaps, a contrasting-color crown, and a pom pom to top all pom poms, these hats know how to stretch a good thing!

In our super soft Super Soft Merino yarn, we love the graphic impact, as much as the warm toastiness, of our Merry Ear Flap Hat. And with ten(!!) new colors of Super Soft Merino to choose from, things are really starting to look bright.

We recommend making a lot of Merry Ear Flap Hats this year… For everyone’s happiness!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 55 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!

Materials

Color A (I-cords + Tassels): 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool yarn. Each skein of this bulky weight yarn is 87 yards; approximately 10 (13, 16, 18) yards required.
Color B (I-cords + Cuff): 1 skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 24 (26, 32, 40) yards required
Color C (Body + Crown): 1 skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 33 (43, 57, 70) yards required
Color D (Pom Pom): 1 skein of Super Soft Merino; approximately 40 (40, 40, 40) yards required
US 11 (8 mm), 16-inch circular needles
A set of US 11 double pointed needles
4 stitch markers, including one unique
Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, Extra Large + Jumbo size

NOTE: To make a solid color hat with a pom pom, you’ll need 2 (2, 2, exactly 2 or maybe 3) skeins. Without a pom pom, you’ll need 1 (1, 2, 2) skein(s).

We made our samples in these fun palettes (NOTE: Some colors are no longer available)…

Baby/Toddler Size

Color A: Peachy Pink
Color B: Super Orange
Color C: Heirloom White
Color D: Super Pink

Kid/Junior Size

Color A: Lotus Flower
Color B: Wild Violet
Color C: Oyster Gray
Color D: Bougainvillea Pink

Adult Small Size

Color A: Mountain Blue
Color B: Cobalt Blue
Color C: Artemisia Green
Color D: Blue Blue

Gauge

12 stitches and 18 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

12 stitches and 22 rounds = 4 inches in garter stitch

Sizes

Baby/Toddler (Kid/Junior, Adult Small, Adult Large)

Finished Circumference: 13¼ (16, 18¾, 21¼) inches

Finished Height: 7 (8, 9, 10) inches

Notes

Short Row Shaping: wrp-t (wrap and turn)

Keeping yarn in back, slip next stitch purlwise from left needle to right needle. Bring yarn to front. Return slipped stitch to left needle. Turn work so wrong side is facing you.

To see this technique in action, visit our Short Row Tutorial and follow along with the wrap and turn on the knit side section (at 0:30 seconds), except do not bring the yarn to the back before you turn.

Pattern

Make I-Cords

With Color A, cast 3 stitches onto a double pointed needle. Knit I-cord for 1 (2, 3, 3) inches. Cut Color A.

Join Color B, and continue knitting I-cord for 2 (3, 4, 4) inches. Cut Color B and set aside.

Make a second I-cord identical to the first.

Begin Cuff

With Color B, cast 9 (11, 13, 15) stitches onto circular needles; with right side of an I-cord facing you, knit across 3 I-cord stitches; cast on 17 (21, 25, 29) more stitches, making sure to pull cast-on tail tightly behind I-cord for first stitch; with right side of remaining I-cord facing you, knit across 3 I-cord stitches; cast on 8 (10, 12, 14) more stitches, again pulling cast-on tail tightly behind I-cord for first stitch. [40 (48, 56, 64) total stitches]

Place unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Set-Up Round: Purl to end of round.

Work Left Ear Flap

Short Row 1 (right side): K12 (14, 16, 18), wrap + turn (wrp-t, see Notes).

Short Row 2 (wrong side): K2 (2, 3, 3), wrp-t.

Short Row 3: Knit to previous row’s wrap, knit wrapped stitch as usual knit stitch, wrp-t.

Repeat Short Row 3 seven (7, 9, 9) more times, ending with a wrong side row.

Work Right Ear Flap

Short Row 1 (right side): K26 (30, 36, 41) wrp-t.

Short Row 2 (wrong side): K2 (2, 3, 3), wrp-t.

Short Row 3: Knit to previous rows wrp-t, knit wrapped stitch as usual knit stitch, wrp-t.

Repeat Short Row 3 seven (7, 9, 9) more times.

Next Round: Knit to end of round.

Continue Cuff

Round 1: Purl to end of round.

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 one more time, then repeat Round 1 one more time.

Cut Color B.

Work Body

Join Color C and work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures 5 (5½, 6, 6½) inches from cast-on edge, measuring at end of round.

Work Crown

Set-Up Round: K5 (6, 7, 8) place marker (pm), [k10 (12, 14, 16), pm] 3 times, knit to end of round.

Round 1: [Knit to 2 stitches before next marker, knit 2 together (k2tog), slip marker, slip slip knit (ssk] 4 times, knit to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 three (4, 5, 6) more times. [8 stitches remain]

Cut yarn and pull tail through remaining stitches.

Finish

Tassels

With Color A, cut six 7-inch lengths of yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread each length halfway through the tip of I-cord at bottom of Ear Flap to make 12 strands of fringe. Wrap the I-cord cast-on tail several times around the base of the fringe where it joins the I-cord. Thread the tail down through the wraps and trim the fringe and tail to desired length.

Pom Pom

If you’re using Purl Soho’s Pom Pom Maker Set, use the Extra Large Pom Pom Maker and the 3-inch Trim Guide. With Color D, follow our Pom Pom Tutorial’s instructions for a one-color pom pom.

Attach Pom Pom

Thread each pom pom tail separately through the top of the crown to the inside of the hat. Tie the tails into a knot, then thread the tails up through the pom pom itself and trim them flush with the pom pom.

Weave In + Block

Weave in ends and steam block, if desired.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho. We can’t wait to see what you make!

LEARN ABOUT SUPER SOFT MERINO + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS

The best reason to use Super Soft Merino for this project is because it is the dreamiest, cuddliest, toastiest yarn you can imagine! A single ply of 100% merino wool, Super Soft Merino has a nice, loose spin that shows off the softness of its fiber and keeps it nice and lightweight. Its gauge ranges from a chunky/bulky-weight to super bulky-weight (2.75-3.25 stitches per inch), making it a great choice for quick (and beautiful!) hand-knit gifts. And more… Super Soft Merino comes in 30 amazing colors, too!

More Free Knitting Patterns

Be sure to explore our vast collection of Super Soft Merino knitting patterns and cast on!

More Chunky/Bulky + Super Bulky-Weight Yarns

Shop our entire collection of chunky/bulky weight yarns
Shop our entire collection of super bulky-weight yarns
If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial, our Yarn Substitution article, and our Complete Guide To Yarn for lots of helpful information.

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