Stripey Ear Flap Hat

It occurred to me that I have not blogged the pattern for the extremely funky and cool ear flap hat that I'm wearing in the picture (for which I did make up the pattern). Why deprive the world of such a cool hat! Modelled here by my mother :)

Materials: DK (light worsted) weight yarn in 6 colours (which we shall call A, B, C, D, E and predictably, F). Probably about 25g of each, this was a stash busting exercise for me.

4mm circular needle and 4mm straight needles.

Ear flaps (make 2):
Using A, cast on 7 stitches.
Row 1: K1, P to last stitch, K1
Row 2: K1, KFB (knit into front and back of stitch, creating 2 stitches), K to last 2 stitches, KFB, K1.
Repeat rows 1 & 2, change to B.
Using B, repeat rows 1 & 2 (13 stitches), change to C.
Using C, repeat rows 1 & 2 (15 stitches).
Row 3 - K1, P13, K1.
Row 4 - K.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 (so 6 rows have been worked in colour C in total). Change to D.
Using D, repeat rows 3 & 4. Change to E.
Using E, repeat rows 3 & 4 twice (so 4 rows total have been worked in E). Change to F.
Using F, repeat rows 3 & 4 (2 rows total). Change to A.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 twice (4 rows total). Change to B.
Using B, repeat rows 3 & 4 (2 rows total). Place work on a spare needles. (I generally weave in ends here, saves time and effort later).

Place first ear flap on circular needle (always make sure that the right side of the ear flap is facing outwards) - attach colour C and knit across stitches of ear flap (15 stitches), then cast on a further 38 stitches. Place the second ear flap on the circular needles and knit across those 15 stitches, then cast on a further 32 stitches, and join up with the first ear flap (you'll have 100 stitches total on the circular). I also find it handy to place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.

The pattern for the main body of the hat is as follows:
K19, (P2, K2) repeated 8 times, P2, K49.
I also changed colours as follows (starting with the colour you cast on the main body of the hat with):
Colour C - 6 rows
Colour D - 2 rows
Colour E - 4 rows
Colour F - 2 rows
Colour A - 4 rows
Colour B - 2 rows
Work the same row as many times as each colour dictates until hat measures 17 cms from the cast on edge of the main body (You might want to measure your own head for this - mine is ENORMOUS).

Decrease row 1 (keeping the colour change pattern as for the main body - you may also want to change to 4mm double pointed needles): (K2 tog, K8) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 2: K
Decrease row 3: (K1, K2 tog, K6) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 4: K
Decrease row 5: (K2, K2 tog) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 6: K
Decrease row 7: (K2 tog, K1) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 8: K
Decrease row 9: (K2 tog) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 10: K
Repeat row 9.
Cut yarn leaving about 20 cm. Thread needle then thread remaining stitches through, tie tightly. You can opt to plait some of the yarn you used in the knitting to make funky tassles for the ends of the earflaps - just plait about 30cm of yarn together, secure at one end and fasten the other end to the ear flap by sewing.
Voila! Cool stripey hat to amaze your friends and relatives.

Progress on the sock and the mohair cardi continues - nothing really exciting to report, but hopefully photos after the weekend.