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
I’m knitting the toddler size and am stuck at the set up row. I believe I’d made some errors along the way and am confused as to how to proceed.
I cast on 68, completed my short rows and knit the body. I hadn’t counted my stitches until the set up row but I have 71. How many should I have at this point?
As far as the set up row… purl 8, knit 1, mark the previous stitch (place a movable marker on the knit stitch, correct), purl 16, knit 1, mark previous stitch…. 3 times and purl remaining. 26×3=78.. plus any stitches left over.
Perhaps I did my short rows wrong and there were meant to be increases that I didn’t knit. It sounds like I’ve made errors in a couple places and am wondering where I may have gone wrong. I’m not opposed to frogging it and starting again, but I wouldn’t want to make the same mistakes. In the meantime, I’ll keep browsing through comments and Ravelry to see if anyone else had the same problem.
Hello Jena,
Thank you for reaching out! At this point you should still have your 68 stitches. Your set up row- “p8,k1, mark previous stitch, [p16, k1, mark previous stitch] three times, purl to end of round” – comes to 8 + 1 + (16+1)x3 + 8 = 68. This means that you could evenly decreases by three stitches and then proceed with the pattern as written, or you could of course frog and start from the beginning.
I hope this helps and let us know how it goes!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Ah ha, I was miscalculating. I’ll proceed from here and see how it goes. Thanks!
I got confused with where to place the stitch markers when decreasing at the top of the hat. The directions said to mark the previous stitch… does that mean the marker should go before or after the decrease stitch? As I finished the hat, I ended up with the stitches between the decrease seams being really uneven, which I assume is because I didn’t have the markers in the right spot. I made the hat too big, so I’m remaking it and I want to get it right this time!
Hi Caitlin,
Thanks for reaching out! Since the Garter Ear Flap Hat uses double decreases, it is actually not helpful to place your marker on the needle, as you will have to move it out of the way on each row and it can be tricky to tell where to place it. The best way to mark this stitch is to use a removable stitch marker, and place it in the previous stitch itself, in the row just under the needle. After a few decrease rows the stitch will be very easy to find even without the marker since there will be a column of stockinette stitches and decreases standing out from the surrounding garter stitch, but you can also move the marker up the column of stitches if necessary.
I hope that helps!
Julianna
Thank you! I was marking the immediately previous stitch, not the same stitch in the previous row. This makes much better sense! Maybe that should be clarified in the pattern?
Hi Caitlin,
I’m so happy that I was able to help! In general, if a pattern says to “mark a stitch” instead of “place marker,” this indicates to place a removable marker on the stitch itself instead of on the needle, but I will pass your edit suggestion along to the design team!
Best,
Julianna
Hi! I also had issues understanding this. Maybe the explanation could go up where the notes for wrapping and ss2k are? Thanks!
Hi Hollie,
Thanks for the suggestion! I will certainly pass this along to the design team to consider when this pattern is up for editing!
Best,
Julianna
Thankyou for the lovely pattern! Im knitting the baby size, i have a question about how to continue once the first ear flap has been shaped. (Directly after the short rows) in the pattern it ends with “Next Two Rows: Knit to 1 stitches before next marker, wrp-t.” And then moves straight on to the next ear flap. I have a wrapped stitch left on my left needle and a stitch marker after that. Do i turn and knit across the ear flap ive just done and then the last few stitches to get to the end and then knit a row in between starting the next ear flap? Or do i continue on to knit the rest of the stitches for that row (across the other 3 markers) even if the yarn is purl wise to begin with? I dont think its clearly explained in the pattern itself 🙂 confused at this point- i am a visual learner and deciphering the pattern has been tricky so far.
Hi Laura,
Thanks for reaching out! You are correct that you will be leaving one wrapped stitch on the first ear flap while you work the second ear flap, and, similarly, after finishing the second ear flap, you will also have one wrapped stitch left over when the flap is complete. Once you finish the second ear flap, you will then knit one round all the way around the hat. Some people find that that these two leftover wrapped stitches create holes in the corners of the ear flaps, so if that is the case for you, you can knit the wrap together with its stitch as we show in our Wrap and Turn Short Rows tutorial during this knit round.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
When you do your first wrap turn you end up with your yarn as purl do you purl back to the beginning stitch marker of the ear flap or knit? It doesn’t make sense because your yarn is in purl position not knit. Help?!
Hi Lauren,
Thanks for reaching out! After working the wrap and turn, you will simply move your yarn to the back so you are ready to knit the next set of stitches.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
When knitting the ear flap it says knit the next two rows to 6 before marker. So my question is I knit to 6 before marker wrap and turn and knit back to six before marker..is that the second row? Or am I going back and forth twice? It seems that the ear flap is to big if you go back and forth twice. This is the baby size.
Hi Carol,
Thanks for reaching out! For these short rows, you will only be knitting two rows total, one on the wrong side and one on the right side, for each step.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
I am making the toddler size hat and the number of stitches cast on (68) does not match to number of stitches on the 3/4 row when you start placing the place markers-that totals 64….I’m confused and struggling to read through 524 comments to see if there is an answer….
Hi Christine,
Thanks for reaching out! It is true that the stitch counts in this row only add up to 64, but after you place the last marker, the last step in the instructions for this row is to knit to the end of the row, so you will knit the last four stitches for a total of 68 and then continue on to the next row.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Is it just the ear flaps that are in garter stitch then it changes to stocking stitch with the reverse side showing.
Thanks so much Judy
Hi Judy,
Thanks for reaching out! The body of this hat is actually entirely in garter stitch – once you complete the ear flaps, you will work the rest of the hat in garter stitch in the round by alternating knit and purl rounds.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna
Hi! I’m making this again and it appears the pure alpaca is on its way out. What other yarn do you suggest using? The 8-ply cashmere looks like it might work (and looks amazing!) What about worsted hand dyes? I’m concerns about it being soft enough for a baby!
Hello Laura,
Thank you for reaching out! Wow, both of those options would be perfect, they are what I would have reccomended! They are both so soft and beautiful.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Thanks Marilla! I’ll try both! 🙂
Hi! i made this hat last winter and absolutely loved it and also the alpaca pure is excellent quality yarn. Will there be more colors available in alpaca pure before winter? I want to make a larger one for my baby.
Hello Carroll,
Thank you for reaching out! While our Alpaca Pure yarn has been discontinued, this hat would be beautiful and soft in our Worsted Twist which is 100% Merino Wool with lots of color options.
I hope this helps and happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi, I love this hat but I am really struggling with it. Should the first two rows be knit or should one be Purl? Otherwise isn’t it stockinette when In the photos it’s clearlt garter. Also on the right ear flap, if I wrap and turn at the last stitch before the last marker ie the last wrap and turn, then I’m knitting back the wrong way surely? I guess it is me not understanding it as lots of others have managed it but advice would be appreciated. Thanks
Hi Elspeth,
Thanks for reaching out! You will be knitting the first two rows to create a narrow rolled stockinette edge, and will then work the rest of the hat in garter stitch. It does look like the edging is also garter stitch in some of the pictures, but it’s just because it rolls so tightly so only the purl side is visible. When working the ear flaps, each short row is worked twice, first on the right side and then on the wrong side, so after knitting the final short row the second time, you will turn back to the right side to knit the final row and continue on with the rest of the hat.
I hope that clears everything up!
Julianna
My query is similar to that from Laura Swaby 22 May 2019.
When I finished knitting the Left ear flap, that is knitting 1 stitch before marker,( which is done twice) the pattern says wrp-t ( wrap and turn).
So by turning you are looking to knit across the Left flap.
Should it be that instead of turning at the end of the flap I should be knitting across the three markers to start the right Flap?
Thanks
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks for reaching out! When working the short rows for the ear flap, you will be working each short row twice, first on the right side and second on the wrong side, ending with a wrap and turn, so you will have the right side facing at the end of the left ear flap. At the beginning of the right ear flap, the first row instructs you to knit to 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) stitches before the fourth marker, which will include knitting over the left ear flap one more time.
I hope that clears things up!
Julianna