This Garter Ear Flap Hat was an engineering feat to get me back on my feet. You see, I didn’t exactly have that quintessential fresh-start feeling that so often comes with the New Year. Instead, I spent January 1st in bed with the flu and its attendant fever, aches, chills, and delirium. Just as the worst was passing, Mother Nature blasted us with a Polar Vortex that I did not have the strength nor will to face.
Cabin fever set in! Groggy from illness and stir-crazed from quarantine, I was determined to prove my health (and sanity), and so, making this hat became a triumphant product of my bruised spirit. I created this hat that simultaneously hangs on and hugs my head, which provides protection and insulation from a season that had been beating me down.
Still enamored with the ease of working short rows in garter stitch (as with my Knit Elbow Patches), I constructed this hat in one seamless piece using Purl Soho’s soft and lush Alpaca Pure. The more I knit with this incredibly comforting yarn, the better I felt. And the topper made it official. Slightly pointed with a tiny tassel, the finish delivered cheer and whimsy. I was back to my healthy self!
With my head toasty warm and back in full heath, that fresh-start feeling did arrive… just a little late this year. A belated Happy New Year to all! May it be a healthy one. -Laura
Materials
- 1 (1, 1, 1, 2, 2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure, 100% alpaca. I used the colors Heirloom White (Artemisia, Storm Gray) for the Baby (Kid, Adult Medium) hat.
- A US #8, 12-inch (for Baby size) or 16-inch circular needle
- A US #7, 12-inch (for Baby size) or 16-inch circular needle
- A set of US #7 double pointed needles
- 4 removable stitch markers
- 1 stitch markers of a different color to indicate end-of-round
Gauge
4 1/4 stitches and 8 rows = 1 inch in garter stitch with smaller needle
Sizes
Baby (Toddler, Kid, Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large)
- Finished Circumference: 14 (16, 17 3/4, 19 3/4, 21 3/4, 23 1/2) inches
- Finished Height: 7 1/4 (8, 9, 10, 11 1/2, 12 3/4) inches, from bottom of ear flap to top of hat, not including tassel
Notes
The Right and Left Ear Flaps are shaped using short rows. For our complete Short Rows Tutorial, please click here. NOTE: Because the short rows are worked in garter stitch in this pattern, you do not have to pick up the wraps; simply ignore the wraps when you come to them and work the wrapped stitch normally.
wrp-t [wrap and turn]: keeping the yarn in back, slip the next stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right needle. Bring the yarn forward as if to purl. Return the stitch from the right needle back to the left needle. Turn the work.
s2kp [slip slip knit pass]: Slip two stitches together knitwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitches over knit stitch and off needle. (2 stitches decreased)
Pattern
Begin
With larger needle, cast on 60 (68, 76, 84, 92, 100) stitches.
Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Knit 2 rounds.
Change to smaller needles.
Next round: Knit 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 6) stitches, place marker (pm), knit 16 (18, 20, 23, 25, 27) stitches for Left Ear Flap, pm, knit 22 (24, 28, 30, 32, 34) stitches for Front, pm, knit 16 (18, 20, 23, 25, 27) stitches for Right Ear Flap, pm, knit to end.
Shape Left Ear Flap
NOTE: For this portion of the pattern, you will be working in Short Rows, back and forth, turning the work part way through each round, rather than continuing to the end of the needle. For a tutorial, click here.
NOTE: If a dash (” – “) appears in place of a number for your size, omit this line of instruction.
Next Row (right side): Knit to 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) stitches before second marker, wrp-t.
Next Row: Knit to 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, -, -, -, 11) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, -, -, 10, 10) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, -, 9, 9, 9) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, 8, 8, 8, 8) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (7, 7, 7, 7, 7) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows (all sizes): Knit to 6 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 5 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 4 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 3 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 2 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 1 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Shape Right Ear Flap
NOTE: For this portion of the pattern, you will once again be working in Short Rows.
NOTE: If a ” – ” appears in place of a number for your size, omit this line of instruction.
Next Row (right side): Knit to 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) stitches before fourth marker, wrp-t.
Next Row: Knit to 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, -, -, -, 11) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, -, -, 10, 10) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, -, 9, 9, 9) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (-, 8, 8, 8, 8) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to – (7, 7, 7, 7, 7) stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows (all sizes): Knit to 6 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 5 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 4 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 3 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 2 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Two Rows: Knit to 1 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.
Next Row: Knit to end of round.
Work Body of Hat
Round 1: Purl (removing 4 stitch markers).
Round 2: Knit.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 4 (4 1/4, 4 3/4, 5 1/4, 6 1/4, 7) inches from the rolled edge at the center of an Ear Flap, or until approximately 3 1/4 (3 3/4, 4 1/4, 4 3/4, 5 1/4, 5 3/4) inches shy of desired finished height.
Shape Crown of Hat
NOTE: Switch to double pointed needles when necessary.
Set-Up Round: P7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12), k1, mark previous stitch, [p14 (16, 18, 20, 22, 24), k1, mark previous stitch] three times, purl to end of round.
Round 1: [Knit to one stitch before next marked stitch, s2kp (see Pattern Notes above), move stitch marker to the s2kp] four times, knit to end of round. [8 stitches decreased]
Round 2: [Purl to marked stitch, k1] four times, purl to end of round.
Round 3: Knit.
Round 4: Repeat Round 2.
Repeat Rounds 1-4 five (6, 7, 8, 9, 10) more times. [12 (12, 12, 12, 12, 12) stitches]
Next Round: Repeat Round 1. [4 (4, 4, 4, 4, 4) stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Finish
Cut yarn leaving a 24-inch tail, thread onto tapestry needle and pull through remaining stitches. Make a Tiny Attached Tassel by following the instructions found here.
Weave in your ends and block as desired.
PRINT
When purling on Row 1 of the body of the hat, should I be on the wrong side? I started this hat once before and ended up taking it all out, so I’m looking ahead. It seems the decorative stitches will be on the wrong side. It is a precious hat and I so much hope I will be able to complete it. I am making the toddler size.
Hi, Peggy!
Thank you very much for writing in! You are correct, when you start row 1 on the body of the hat you will be on the wrong side.
If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Thank you so much for sharing this pattern! I am also confused about being on the wrong side on the purl rows, and having the decorative decrease end up on the inside of the hat. I can’t figure out how to get the edge to roll outward (away from baby’s head) and still have the decrease stitches appear on the outside. All I can figure is that I somehow messed up the ear flap directions, because I also ended up with the join/seam running up the front of the hat, whereas in the pictures it seems the join lands between the ear flaps. Help!? It is so adorable I’ll be disappointed if I can’t complete this correctly.
Hi Janemn,
Thanks for writing us! It seems to me that you have knit your hat inside out. I have been in your position many times! If your ear flaps are closer together on one side of the hat than the other, then I would consider that side the back whether or not your beginning of round originates there. As for your increases appearing on the inside, this is actually ok! When you finish your hat, you will turn the piece inside out and consider the “wrong side” the “right side”. Finally, if you ear flaps are curling toward the face now, just remember that they will flip the other direction when you turn the hat inside out. Good luck on your project!
Best,
Adam
Thank you for this great pattern!
I am following the instructions just fine, but when I get done with my ear flaps, and I do the first purl round where you remove the stitch markers, there ends up being a tiny hole at the right edge of each of the flaps- due to the final wrap and turn… Just wondering if this is normal, or if I’m missing something that might fix this? It isn’t a big deal, and may even almost disappear after blocking.
Thanks!
Yara
Hello, Yara!
Thank you so much for writing in! And thank you for your kind words! You shouldn’t have holes, when you knit the wrapped stitches, did you knit them together with the stitch that they are wrapped around? Doing that will prevent those holes. If they are tiny, they might disappear after blocking.
Again, thank you for writing in. If you have further questions, please let us know!
Best wishes,
Kumeko
Your instructions are confusing, I don’t know where to go after the first two rows. This a nice hat, but this instructions doesn’t help.
Hi Lorena,
Thanks for writing us! So sorry you are having trouble with this pattern. After you knit two rows you do the following:
Change to smaller needles.
Next round: Knit 3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 6) stitches, place marker (pm), knit 16 (18, 20, 23, 25, 27) stitches for Left Ear Flap, pm, knit 22 (24, 28, 30, 32, 34) stitches for Front, pm, knit 16 (18, 20, 23, 25, 27) stitches for Right Ear Flap, pm, knit to end.
This is a set up round because after this round you will shape the ear flaps. I hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
Hola todos, alguna amiga de este blog, podria traducirme estas instrucciones para hacer el gorrito?, mi ingles no es muy bueno y no acabo de entenderlo.
Muchas gracias
Conxita
Hi, Conxita!
Thank you for writing in! Unfortunately, we do not have a Spanish translation of this pattern, sorry.
Best wishes,
Kumeko
I think I’m confused about the pattern. On lines of instruction with a dash for your size, you omit the entire line(s) of instruction? This is a little scary. I just love this hat and want to finish a practice hat before I make one in the good yarn.
Hello, Michele!
Thank you for writing in! You are correct, you will omit the rows that have a dash for the size that you are making. Please keep us updated on your progress and if you have further questions let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
I am workin on the ear flap hat, and I’m at the point where I’m shaping the crown. However, the “knit” sts that are supposed to form a design going inward to the top of the hat, are not going in the right direction Am I moving the marker wrong? I did the sskp then placed the marker. I need help! Love the hat.
Hi Shelby,
Thanks for writing us! Starting at the set-up round, be sure that when you are “marking previous stitch” that you are marking the knit stitch you just did. This will be the decorative decrease. I suggest using a removable stitch marker for this part so you always see which stitch you are supposed to stop at before the decrease. Good luck and happy knitting!
Best,
Adam
can you make this cute hat without the earflaps …. seasons are changing!
Hi Maggie,
You can certainly make this hat without ear flaps! All you have to do is omit the ear flap shaping and continue working the body in the round. All shaping is as normal after that. I hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
Hi there, thank you very much for this adorable pattern
I’m having a bit of trouble on Round 2 of Shaping the hat (Round 2: [Purl to marked stitch, k1] four times, purl to end of round. ).
I just wanted to clarify – you’re supposed to purl UP TO the marked stitch, and then knit the marked stitch, right? Also, what should you do with the marker at this point? Do you move it to the knit stitch?
Reading ahead I’m a bit confused as to how you move the markers along. Do you move the marker on to whichever stitch falls on the marked stitch in each subsequent round?
Thank you very much for your help!
Sheryl
Hi Sheryl,
Thanks for writing in! You are correct that you need to purl up to the marked stitch and then knit the marked stitch. You will be moving the marker each round if you wish. This helps you see which stitch is creating the decorative decrease. Please see our tutorial for more info about this decrease. I’ve pasted the link below:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2016/03/14/slip-slip-knit-pass-s2kp/
Good luck and happy knitting!
Best,
Adam
I am working on the ear flap hat and am a bit confused with the ear flap part. When starting the left ear flap what do you do with the 3 stitches before the marker. Is the yarn cut then started at this spotband di you cut the yarn when doing the right ear flap or knit over to it.
Hi Renee,
Thanks for writing us. After short rowing the left ear you should end up at the marker 3 stitches in from your end of round marker. Knit across the left ear flap, front of hat and the right ear flap until 7(8,9,10,11,12) stitches before the fourth marker depending on which size you are making. Now you are ready to start short rowing the right flap. You will not be working the three stitches before and after the end of round marker until you start knitting the body of the hat. Also, there is no need to cut your yarn because you are just traveling from the left ear flap to the right one. I hope this helps.
Best,
Adam
I am confused at the part where you start the ear flap. I am at the end of my round. I have 3 stitches then a marker, then 16 stitches for my ear flap. Why am I only knitting 7 stitches then switching back. Knit 7 stitches to the fourth marker doesn’t make since because it will take either 3 stitches or 19 stitches to get to either of the markers. Sorry I am somewhat a beginner so I may be missing something basic.
Thanks,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for writing us! The ear flaps are created using a technique called short rows. This means that you are knitting more fabric in one area of the piece than in the other areas (in this case, the ear flaps). The directions tell you to knit to 7 stitches before the 2nd marker and then wrap and turn. Next you will be knitting until 7 stitches before the next marker (this is 2 stitches for the smallest size) and wrapping and turning. When you turn and knit back you will come across your wrap. Pick up the wrap and continue on with the directions, which is to knit to 6 stitches before the next marker. Please take a look at our Short Rows tutorial if you are still having trouble with the ear flaps. I hope this works out for you!
Thanks,
Adam
hi! i knit this hat a couple months ago for a friend’s baby and it’s the cutest hat ever! i’m now knitting another one for another friend’s little one, and i cannot for the life of me remember how i “marked the previous stitch” when shaping the crown. i’m thinking i use an open-ended marker to mark the knit stitch? is that right? i had a little trouble with this last time but i know i ultimately prevailed…thanks in advance!
Hi Piper,
Thanks for writing us! Yes, you will mark the actual stitch with a removable marker. To see a tutorial on this decrease, click here!
Best,
Adam
I am knitting the Baby Size.
Just wondering when I have finished the Left Ear Flap ending with wrp-t do I knit the stitches (6) across back of hat to start Right ear Flap or knit across the Left Ear Flap and the front of the hat and then start the RightEar Flap.
The pattern is not clear about where to go from the end of the Left Ear Flap before starting Right Ear Flap.
Thank you
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for writing us! You will be knitting across the earflap and around the front of the hat, passing the third marker. This is because you are wrapping and turning your last short row, which leaves you facing the right side of the work. Good luck on the project!
Best,
Adam
I also have the join seems at the front of the hat. The last row before working the body, indicates to knit to end of round. I assume this means to the marker when we first joined the yarn. Where did I go wrong?
Thanks.
Hi Carole,
Thanks for writing in! I think that you might have accidentally placed your markers in the wrong spots. There should only be a few stitches in between the beginning of round marker and the ear flaps. If your ear flaps are close together at the middle of round, then use the middle of round as the center back point. Regardless of you ear flap location changing, your end of round will still remain in the same spot. So when it tells you to knit to the end of round you will knit to the front of the hat in your case. I hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
fantastic explanations!
Hi I have a question on the decreases. I’m knitting the baby sized hats and once I’ve repeated the four rounds of the decrease part of the pattern four times(i think four times I’ve had to frog it back to the beggining of thr decreases) I’ve reached the biggining of the round how am I supposed to do the next decrease when the knit or decrease stitch is at the beggining of the round?
Hi Heather,
This is certainly confusing but I think I have a solution! Move your marker to the left of the stacked decrease so it doesn’t get in the way. As long as your decreases all fall in line, you’re golden!
Best,
Adam
I am having trouble. I hope I’m just missing something simple. I am just starting the left ear flap, completed my first w&t. The instructions say to knit the next row but I’m on the purl side. Also, if I try to knit on that side, then it takes the wrap off the w&t. I hope you can tell me what I’m doing wrong. I have made lots of socks so I am familiar with short rows, not as familiar with w&ts but I have done them before. But I am stumped. I hope you can help me.
Thanks.
Hi Denise,
I’m so sorry this is giving you trouble! First, take a look at our short row tutorial for wrap and turn. Maybe this will clear up your losing the wrap when turning the work. Also, because the hat is in garter stitch, this means that you’ll be knitting both sides of the ear flap because garter is worked by knitting both the wrong and right sides. Please let me know if you have any more trouble!
Best of luck,
Adam
I’m a little confused with the ear flap on this project. I am new to short rows, which may be part of my problem. So, you knit to 7(I’m making a baby hat) before the marker, wrap and turn, then this starts the next row? So after the turn I knit to 7 to the next marker, instead of purling to the beginning? Then knit to 6, wrap and turn and again instead of the purling, I knit to 5?
I hope that makes sense. I really like this pattern and have had to redo the hat twice now just for the ear flap!
Hi Emily,
Thanks for writing us! Short rows will be fun once you figure them out! What is going on in short rows is that you are knitting the center of the fabric more than the edges so the center grows longer and the edges do not. You have to wrap and turn in order to avoid a hole in your knitting. So, you’ll knit to 7 stitches before the marker and wrap and turn the work to work back to 7 stitches before the next marker (you’ll be looking at the inside of the hat while working these stitches). The reason you are knitting to 7 stitches before the marker, wr-t, and then knitting back is that garter is worked by knitting both sides when flat. When you start knitting in the round again you will knit one round and then purl one round. I hope this clears things up!
Best of luck and happy knitting!
-Adam
Bonjour,
Je suis intéressée par un modele Garner Earl flap hat mais je ne suis pas assez douee en anglais pour le traduire. Auriez vous la Possibilite de ma le traduire en français? Merci d’avance de votre compréhension. Bonne fin de journee
Bonjour,
Malheureusement on n’a pas les resources de traduire nos directions en français à ce moment mais on va garder à l’esprit pour l’avenir. Merci!
-Adam
This is such a cute pattern…
Instructions indicate that I do not pick up the wraps, but in the comments it indicates that the wraps should be picked up. Which is correct? Also when measuring to begin decreases, do I include the rolled edge in the measurement or just measure from where the garter stitch starts? Love this pattern. Thanks.
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your question! You do actually pick up the wraps as you pass them. It isn’t specifically written out in the pattern but it is implied because you pass the wrap each row. For measuring the hat, you will measure from the bottom edge of the roll up to your live stitches. Do not unfurl the roll; keep it relaxed. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Best,
Adam
I’m having trouble with the decreases. My decorative line of knits are not going in the same direction as the picture shows. they are all slanting left. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Natalie,
I’m so sorry about this! S2KP is an advanced increase, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece of cake. I would rip back until your first decrease round and restart the decreases. Be sure to knit until one stitch before your marked stitch, slip two together knitwise, knit one and then pass the slipped stitches over. If this doesn’t make sense, I’d watch Laura’s S2KP tutorial! Let me know if this helps!
Best,
Adam