
Cabled Earflap Hat
Step 1: Getting Started
Difficulty: Intermediate
Finished size: 18” diameter(For a larger fit. You can use slightly bigger needles and heavier yarn.)
MATERIALS NEEDED: Yarn, 16”circular needle and one set of US size 6 needlesone stitch marker, tapestry needle
GAUGE: 16 stitches = 4” in stockinette stitch
Abbreviations:
M1: Make one increase — which means adding a stitch. M1L is typically the easiest or M1F: from the front, lift loop between stitches with left needle, knit into back of loop.
C4F: slip 2 stitches onto a cable needle and hold to the front of work. K2, then K2 from the cable needle.
C6F: slip 3 stitches onto a cable needle and hold to the front of work. K3, then K3 from the cable needle
SSK: slip one stitch as if to knit, slip next stitch as if to purl, insert the left needle in the front of the two slipped stitches and knit them together.
SK2P: slip one stitch purlwise, knit next two stitches together, pass slipped stitch over
K2tog: knit two stitches together.
P2tog: Purl two stitches together.
Step 2: Pattern Instructions
EARFLAPS
Cast On 6 stitches (on a DPN, if available).
R1: Knit all sts.
R2: K1, M1, K4, M1, K1
R3: K2, P4, K2
R4: K1, M1, P1, K4, P1, M1, K1
R5: K3, P4, K3
R6: K1, P2, C4F, P2, K1
R7: K3, P4, K3
R8: K1, P2, K1, M1, K2, M1, K1, P2, K1
R9: K3, P6, K3
R10: K1, M1, P2, K6, P2, M1, K1
R11: K1, P1, K2, P6, K2, P1, K1
R12: K2, P2, C6F, P2, K2
R13: K1, P1, K2, P6, K2, P1, K1
R14: K1, M1, K1, P2, K6, P2, K1, M1, K1 (16 sts)
Cut yarn, leaving an 8” tail, and leave the flap on its DPN. Repeat for 2nd flap.
Body of Hat - 6 cables
Using a cable cast on, Cast On 12 stitches on the circular needle. Knit the 16 stitches from first ear flap in pattern (knit the knits, purl the purls), then CO 34 stitches. K16 from second ear flap, then CO 14.
Place marker and join, being careful not to twist stitches, and begin knitting in the round. As you knit around this first row, you’ll notice four gaps, on either side of each ear flap. When you get to those, you will K2tog to close them up. Knit Round 1 as follows:
K6, P2, K3, K2tog, K2, P2,
K6, P2, K1, K2tog, K4
*P2, K6* 3 times,
P2, K3, K2tog, K2, P2,
K6, P2, K1, K2tog, K4, P2, K6, P2.
Continue to next page for the rest of the pattern.
Step 3: Finishing Up
At the end of the round, you should have 88 stitches on the needles.
Continue knitting in cable pattern as follows:
R2: *K6, P2*
R3: *C6F, P2, K6, P2* to last 8 sts, C6F, P2
R4-8: *K6, P2*
R9: *C6F, P2, K6, P2* to last 8 sts, C6F, P2
R10-14: *K6, P2*
R15: *C6F, P2, K6, P2* to last 8 sts, C6F, P2
R16-20: *K6, P2*
R21: *C6F, P2, K6, P2* to last 8 sts, C6F, P2
R22: *K6, P2*
(begin decrease rows)
R23: *K6, P2, SSK, K2, K2tog, P2* to last 8 sts, K6, P2
R24: *K6, P2, K4, P2* to last 8 sts, K6, P2
R25: *K6, P2, SSK, K2tog, P2* to last 8 sts, K6, P2
R26: *K6, P2, K2, P2* to last 8 sts, K6, P2
R27: *C6F, P2tog, K2, P2tog* to last 8 sts, K6, P2tog
R28: *K6, P1, K2tog, P1* to last 7 sts, K6, P1
R29: *SSK, K2, K2tog, P1, K1, P1* to last 7 sts, SSK, K2, K2tog, P1
R30: *SSK, K2tog, P1, K1, P1* to last 5 sts, SSK, K2tog, P1
R31: *K2tog, SK2P* to last 3 sts, K2tog, P1
R32: K2tog around so that 6 sts remain, then pull yarn through remaining stitches with a tapestry needle. Pull end through to inside of hat, weave in, and trim.
Weave in all ends. (I like to leave the tails where I ended the earflaps long so that I can use them to tighten up of otherwise correct anything that looks wonky around the earflap join area.)
For this pattern I threaded through three long pieces of yarn and braided the double-strands until desired length, then tie off and trim.
Block and lay flat to dry.