Earflap Hat Knitting Pattern

Earflap Hat in Plymouth Yarn Mega Cakes

What Is Being Made

This downloadable knitting pattern creates an adult-sized earflap hat using Plymouth Yarn Mega Cakes. The design features two functional earflaps that frame the face, combined with a classic crown structure. The hat is worked primarily in the round for efficiency and seamless construction, making it an ideal intermediate-level project for knitters looking to expand their skills beyond basic hat patterns.

Techniques Used

The Earflap Hat employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. The earflaps are initially worked back and forth in rows on a circular needle, using the technique of treating circular needles as straight needles for flat sections. The pattern incorporates kf&b (knit front and back) increases to shape the earflaps from a small cast-on to their finished width. Once the earflaps are complete, stitches are strategically cast on between them to create the main hat body, which is then joined and worked in the round. The crown shaping utilizes k2tog (knit two together) decreases in structured rounds to taper the hat smoothly to a point. This combination of techniques—flat and circular knitting, increases, decreases, and joining—makes the pattern well-suited for intermediate knitters developing well-rounded construction skills.

Stitches Used

The pattern relies on a limited but essential stitch vocabulary. Stockinette stitch (St st) forms the primary fabric throughout the hat, created by knitting every round when working circularly and alternating knit and purl rows when working flat. The earflaps feature a garter stitch edge (knit one, purl to last stitch, knit one on wrong-side rows) that frames the stockinette body, providing a finished appearance and preventing curl. Shaping is accomplished entirely through yarn-over-free increases using the kf&b method and left-leaning decreases via k2tog. These straightforward stitches create a clean, professional-looking hat with excellent drape and structure.

Materials and Gauge

The Earflap Hat requires one 150-gram cake of Plymouth Yarn Mega Cakes (shown in color 104). Needle requirements include a 16-inch circular needle in size US 15 for casting on and working the main hat body, along with a set of double-pointed needles in size US 11 or 13 for the crown decreases when stitches become too few for the circular needle. The pattern specifies a gauge of 2 stitches equals 1 inch over stockinette stitch, which is a relatively loose gauge typical of bulky and super-bulky yarn weights. This generous gauge ensures quick project completion and creates a fabric with excellent elasticity and warmth. The use of Mega Cakes yarn—a self-striping or variegated cake format—adds visual interest without requiring color changes or multiple yarn balls.