Incredibly thick, textured yarn and big needles make this a hat that you can conjure up in next to no time. Choose colors that match your favorite jacket or pick a bright contrasting shade for a modern look.
ESTIMATED TIME TO COMPLETE
The hat took 2 hours to knit.
SIZE
Around head: 21¼ in. (54 cm).This hat will fit an average woman’s head.
YOU WILL NEED
• 2 x 100 g balls (approx. 7 oz.) of Rowan Biggy Print in Thunder, shade 252
• pair of size US 17 (12 mm) knitting needles
GAUGE
7 sts and 10 rows to 4 in. (10 cm) over st-st on size US 17 (12 mm) needles. Change needle size, if necessary, to obtain this gauge.
ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit; kfb = k into front and back of st; RS = right side; skpo = slip 1, k1, pass slipped st over; s2kpo = slip next 2 sts as if to k2tog, k1, pass 2 slipped sts over; st(s) = stitch(es); st-st = stockinette st; tog = together; WS = wrong side; [ ] = work instructions in square brackets as directed.
NOTE
• The gauge is firmer than usual for Biggy Print in stockinette stitch to give the hat a more sculptural shape.
EARFLAP HAT
Cast on 5 sts.
Row 1 (RS) K.
Row 2 (and every WS row) P.
Row 3 [Kfb] 4 times, k1. 9 sts.
Row 5 [Kfb] 8 times, k1. 17 sts.
Row 7 [Kfb] 16 times, k1. 33 sts.
Row 9 K3, [kfb, k3] 7 times, k2. 40 sts. St-st 12 rows. Bind off knitwise.
Right earflap. With RS facing, leave first 6 sts of bound-off edge, working into back loop only, pick up one st from each of next 7 sts, turn.
Row 1 (WS) K1, p5, k1.
Row 2 K7.
Row 3 As Row 1.
Row 4 K1, k2tog, k1, skpo, k1. 5 sts.
Row 5 k1, p3, k1.
Row 6 K1, s2kpo, k1. 3 sts.
Row 7 k1, p1, k1.
Row 8 S2kpo. Fasten off.
Left earflap. With RS facing, leave center 14 sts of bound-off edge, working into back loop only, pick up 1 st from each of next 7 sts, turn.
Complete as given for right earflap.
TO FINISH
Join Rows 1 and 2, then wrap yarn around the knitting to make a top knot before joining remaining back seam. Cut 6 x 33½-in. (85-cm) lengths of yarn, and use 3 lengths threaded through fastened-off stitch at end of earflap and doubled, to make a 3-strand braid at the end of each earflap. Secure ends of braids with a length of yarn.
ABOUT THIS YARN
Biggy Print has two loosely twisted strands of varying thickness plied together to make a soft, but chunky 100% merino wool yarn that has 33 yds. (30 m) to a 100 g (approx. 3½ oz.) ball. This colorway has two tones of gray for the background with streaks of hot pink.
TIPS
• Instead of knitting a gauge swatch, check your gauge by knitting an earflap. Cast on 7 sts with a smooth contrasting yarn, then change to Biggy Print and knit the earflap as directed. If the 5 sts in st-st measure 2¾ in. (7 cm) and your earflap is 3¼ in. (8 cm) long (excluding cast-on sts), then you can get on with the hat. Make a second earflap. Undo cast-on sts and sew earflaps onto finished hat.
• You’ll find it easier to work the braids if you pin the earflap to the ironing board so the hat is held securely while you make the braid.
