Garter-Rib Ear Hat

GARTER-RIB EAR HAT

Here's a simple pattern for a toddler-preschooler hat that's both warm and adorable. The hat will fit a child with a 20 inch head (age 2-4), but is really stretchy so will accommodate a larger head as well. Knit in classic garter stitch but with a unique garterstitch-twist on a traditional ribbing that keeps things interesting. Practical i-cord side flaps will keep precious little ears warm while the decorative animal ears will make mothers swoon.

Materials:

1 ball of Diamond Superwash Aran in Main colour (i used colour # 1654).

1 bal of Diamond Superwash Aran in Contrast colour (i used colour # 7473).

4.5 mm 16 inch needle

5 mm 16 inch needle AND double-pointed needles for decreasing/i-cord.

optional: stitch markers to assist with the decreases.

optional: buttons for embellishment on the ears.

ABBREVIATIONS:

MC – Main Colour

CC – Contrast Colour

K – Knit

P – Purl

K2tog – Knit two together

SSK – Slip Slip Knit

CO – Cast on

gauge – 18 stitches/4 inches on 5 mm needles.

Main Body of Hat

CO 72 stitches with 4.5 mm needles with CC. begin knitting in round being careful not to twist stitches. 

knit in garter rib pattern as follows:

1^st row: KKKP

2^nd row: KPPP

repeat these last 2 rows a total of 8 times (16 rows).

Switch to MC and 5 mm needles.

knit in garter stitch (*knit one row, purl the next* repeat). continue for 4.5 inches from the cast-on edge, at which point you will begin decreasing.

decreases:

row 1: *knit 7, k2tog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 2: purl

row 3: *knit 6, k2tog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 4: purl

row 5: *knit 5, k2tog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 6: purl

row 7: *knit 4, k2tog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 8: purl

row 9: * knit 3, ktog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 10: *purl 2, p2tog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 11: *knit 1, k2tog*. repeat. continue until end of round.

row 12: *purl 2 tog* repeat until end of round. (8 stitches remain).

break yarn leaving a long tail and knit through the last stitches. weave in wrong side of work.

Ear Flaps:

if you look closely, you can tell where the beginning of the rows were (where the knit turned to a purl) as there is a line (a jog), or a break in the fluidity of the row. i attempted to centre this line in between the ear flaps.  with right side facing, begin the first ear flap by picking up stitches about one to one-and-a-half repeats of the garter-rib away from the beginning of the row. measure how long your ear flap ends up being (mine was 6 repeats of the garter rib). measure that distance PLUS the 1 repeat give from the centre line to determine where to start your second flap. these directions are finicky and strange so just eye-ball it the best you can.

row 1: with CC and 5 mm DPN, pick up 21 stitches on the ribbing with right side facing.

row 2: (WS)knit

row 3: (RS)knit

row 4: k1, SSK, K until 3 stitches remain. K2tog, K1.

row 5: K

continue the last 2 rows until 5 stitches remain. with right side facing, begin i-cord.

Follow suggestions above for where to place the second ear flap and follow the same directions above for the second ear flap.

Ears:

Outer Ear (make 2).

With 5 mm needle and MC, cast on 10. Do 8 rows garter stitch (k each row).

Decreases:

row 1: k 1, SSK, knit until 3 stitches remain, k2tog, k1.

row 2: k

Repeat last row 1; 6 stitches remain. rather than knit another row, bind off.

Inner Ear (make 2).

with 5mm needles in CC, co 8. Do 6 rows garter stitch (k each row).

Decreases:

row 1: k1, SSK, K until 3 stitches remain, k2tog, k1.

row 2: k

row 3: repeat row 1; 4 stitches remain. rather than knit another row, bind off.

sew inner ear onto outer ear with the bottom flat side lined up and the inner ear centred on the outer ear. you’ll have two adorable ears which you must then sew onto the hat. this was a bit tricky to do evenly so give yourself some time. i tried to line them up with the cetre of the ear flaps, about 4 ridges or so from the top of the hat, but you may want to put them elsewhere. experiment. i sewed buttons onto the middle of the ears for fun.

I kept rough notes while creating this pattern and thought I’d share. If something is unclear or outright confusing, just email me and i’ll do my best to shed some light. ravelry link is here.