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!

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

Our Merry Ear Flap Hat 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!

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

In our super soft Super Soft Merino, 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.

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

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

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

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

Materials

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho
  • Color A (I-cords + Tassels): 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino wool. Each skein 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…

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

Baby/Toddler Size

  • Color A: Peachy Pink
  • Color B: Super Orange
  • Color C: Heirloom White
  • Color D: Super Pink
Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

Kid/Junior Size

  • Color A: Lotus Flower
  • Color B: Wild Violet
  • Color C: Oyster Gray
  • Color D: Bougainvillea Pink
Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho

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.

Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho
Merry Ear Flap Hat | Purl Soho