This pattern is my tried and true hat design. A spin-off of Far North Yarn Co.’s Alaska Ear Flap Hat, I have made probably about 50 hats over the past 7 years. Here is my pattern along with several photos of different hats I’ve made. I make the size small for an average head. That’s 72 stitches total.
Sizes XS, S, M, L
Ingredients:
Size 9 or 10 circular and doublepoint needles
1 skein bulky yarn. I love Lamb’s Pride.
Tapestry Needle
Pom pom maker (optional)
Ear flap (make 2):
With two double point needles cast on 2 stitches. Purl 1 row. Work back and forth in stockinette stitch. Every time you do the knit side (right side), increase in the front and back of the first and last stitch. This will create the triangle shape. Keep going until there are 16 stitches for the XS, 18-S, 20-M, or 22-L. Place these stitches on a holder.
Hat: With the circular needle, cast on 12-XS, 14-S, 16-M, or 18-L stitches for the back of hat; knit across stitches of the first ear flap making sure the right side is facing you. Cast on 20-22-24-or 26 stitches for the front; knit across second ear flap. There will be 64-72-80-or 88 stitches in all. Join stitches carefully without twisting. Knit 2 purl 2 on the front and back part of the hat (regular knit the ear flaps) for four to six rounds. This will make the nice ribbing and will prevent the hat from curling up.
Continue knitting until the hat is about 5.5 inches tall. I usually go with 32 rows from the edge of the hat.
Then start decreasing as follows:
Round 1: Knit two together, knit 6. Repeat for one round.
Round 2 (and all even rounds): Knit
Round 3: K 2 together, K 5 for one round
Round 5: K 2 together, K 4 for one round (this is where you should probably switch to the double points).
Round 7: K 2 together, K 3
Round 9: K 2 together, K 2
Round 11: K 2 together, K 1
Round 13: K 2 together
Gather remaining stitches with a darning needle and fasten off. Weave in all tails.
I just braided yarn together to make the ties for the flaps. You could also do a cord stitch where you have three stitches on a doublepoint. Knit to end of row and instead of turning the work, just push them back up to the end so the yarn wraps around the back. Knit in this way till it’s long enough. Braiding is faster and pretty.
Sometimes I add a pom pom. This is especially nice when making a stripey hat because you can include all the colors in the pom pom and it’s faster to make than one color.
Here’s a montage of some of the hats I managed to take photos of before giving them away.
Alaska Knit Nat 
do you have an idea of the gauge for that hat?
How many stitches to cast on for an adult male? How many cast ons for an adult
women? I ordered the yarn you suggested and can’t wait to begin making them😇
Hi Deanna, I typically make the xl size for my husband, which has 80 stitches overall, I believe. Happy knitting! -Natasha
I've never gauged any of my projects, but when I went back and measured two of my hats, one had 3.5 stitches to the inch and the other had 4 stitches to the inch.
i was wondering what mesurments the medium and large hats end up being.
This is hard to say since everyone knits with different tension. For myself, I knit the size small and my head is about 21 inches in circumference. I tend to make the size medium or large for my husband and his head is 24 inches in circumference. If I’m knitting with really bulky yarn, I’ll make him the size medium and if I’m knitting with a lighter weight yarn I’ll make the large size.
I hope this helps. Luckily hats don’t take too much time and yarn so if it isn’t the right size you can donate it to charity and try again.
Thanks for commenting,
Natasha
Hey, I’m confused about when you say knit on the ear flaps. Do you use both sides of your yarn (the tail and the one going back to the ball)?
Hi Ang, the ear flap should be on a separate piece from the work you are starting to cast on. After you cast on the initial stitches, using the yarn that’s attached to the ball you will start picking up stitches on the ear flap and knit along the whole flap. The first stitch you knit into on the flap may be loose because it has the tail you just cut, but keep knitting through and you can tug on the tail later to tighten up the stitch. Once you knit across the first ear flap, you’ll cast on the front stitches of the hat. Then repeat with with second ear flap.
I do hope I was able to help you. If only I could show you, then you’d understand it’s much simpler than describing with words. If you still don’t quite get it, I recommend stopping by a local yarn shop (not a big box craft store) or even a senior center and asking a seasoned knitter.
Good luck and thanks for commenting,
Natasha
I get it now. I was using a long tail cast on! Aha
Looks great, going to have a go. Would the xs size suit s child? Thinking of 6 & 8 year olds who would love to make these for! Thanks 🙂
Hi Hannah, I think the xs size would work just fine, but I would use size 10 needles.
Thanks for your question,
Natasha
Cute hat!
It’s my first time knitting a hat with flaps, so I was curious when I make the flaps on the double pointed needles, do I cut the end yarn and hide it in the hat after it’s finished? or is there a special way to tie the last stitch!?
I can’t find any pictures of that step where the flaps are being added the to the casting on. I’m such a visual learner, and all, if not most knitting instructions assume readers just magically know these things!
Your help is appreciated!
Hi there,
That’s a great question and I’m sorry I don’t have a photo of this step. When you finish making each earflap you need to cut the yarn and later you should weave in the ends of the yarn into the inside of the hat using a darning needle. Here’s a great tutorial on how to properly weave in ends: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-p4qsiyuI8. Here is a video that shows how to knit the ear flap onto a hat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS0yh3LU_d4. Keep in mind the video has a different number of stitches for her hat pattern, but the technique is the same.
Hope that helps and thanks for commenting,
Natasha
Thanks so much! This is soooo helpful!
Now I can finally get a move on my xmas gifts…lol
You’re most welcome! Please let me know if you get held up in the process!
Hello the only problem I have is making the pompom.My pom is flat .How do you get yours so well shaped. Isabella
Isabella,
It sounds like you need to use more yarn for your pompom. I use a borderline ridiculous amount of yarn. I also end up trimming quite a bit of it away in order to shape it.
I hope that works for you. Thanks for commenting,
Natasha
Hi,
I’m a realtively novice knitter – I learnt the basics as a child and have come back to it to knit some stuff for my kids. They are wonderfulkly forgiving and love anything I turn out, no matter how it comes out 🙂
I love this pattern but went to the wool shop without it so got home to realise that my no3 son has chosen a beautiful bright orange yarn (his fav colour) with a woven in reflective streak (he’s just been doing keeping safe in the dark at Beaver scouts!) that is actually super bulky rather than bulky!
He is so looking forward to his hat and I don’t want to dissapoint him but my lack of experience means I don’t know how the difference in the bulky-ness of the wool will affect the size….can you help with a bit of advice?
if it helps the guage given on the yarn says 10x10cm is 8stitches and 12rows (it’s in german so I think I’ve got that right!) and recommends 10mm needles.
Catherine
Dear Catherine,
If you were to use super bulky yarn with a 10mm size needle, that would vastly alter the size of this hat. I’m afraid it would call for an entirely different pattern. I recommend something like this: http://www.neitherhipnorfunky.com/?p=186
Good luck and happy knitting!
Thanks for commenting,
Natasha
I’m making the darling earflap hat and trying to find the pattern for the cute hat pictured on this pattern on the last page (small picture) with a cable on the side.
Dear Jan,
You are the first person to ever point out that particular hat to me. I don’t have a pattern written up for it! All I did was follow my basic ear flap pattern, but on one side I p2, Cf4, p2 every four rows (just knit 4 for the other three rows). Then when I started decreasing I just winged it! I’m currently working on a similar pattern for much smaller needles, but it will be an exclusive pattern for allfreeknitting.com. I will try and let you know when it is published.
Thanks so much for your kind comment,
Natasha
Made this for my 5 month old grandson and it’s a little big, but adorable! Thanks!
You’re welcome Marian. Thankfully babies grow fast!
Natasha
Did you follow directions for the extra small listed here or did you modify? I have 1 yr old granddaughters I want to make this for…
Your hats are lovely and this is by far the simplest pattern I’ve found for an ear-flap hat. I have a question though… My best needles for magic loop are only size 4. So if I use those and worsted-weight yard, by how much would to recommend increasing the stitch count to obtain roughly the right size (for the large)? I realize I’m going to be making a lot more work for myself by being stubborn and using my small needles, but I like the magic loop method for hats so much, and I don’t want to buy more needles if I don’t have to.
Thanks for your help!
Dear Amber,
Size US 4 needles are significantly smaller; I’ve never knit a hat with that size of needle. I can’t really give you a good recommendation as that would require completely rewriting the pattern. Ravelry has lots of great free patterns that use that needle size. I would take a look on there and see if you can merge one of their patterns with mine. I found one hat that called for 152 stitches. That would mathematically work with this pattern since it’s divisible by 8, but as for the size of the earflaps and ribbing, you’d need to count up from my pattern to get the proportions right.
Best of luck,
Natasha
Help – I sent my daughter to buy the yarn and she purchased worsted weight (4) as she was more interested in the color. Can I do anything to adjust the pattern.
Hi Marie,
I would wither double up the worsted yarn and knit the regular pattern with 72 stitches on size US 10 needles or I would knit with one strand of worsted on size US 9 but follow the pattern using 80 stitches.
Best of luck,
Natasha
What and awesome pattern– so versatile and fun to customize depending on for whom I am knitting the hat. Thank you SO very much for sharing! Best wishes, Anna
You’re welcome, Anna! It’s one of my favorite patterns to knit for the same reasons you mentioned.
Thanks for your kind comment and happy knitting,
Natasha
Absolutely love this pattern. I made it with Loops and Threads Chrisma variegated and it came out self striping. Very attractive. I decided on the braids for ties which looks better than I cord. The placement of the ear flaps is perfect with just enough difference between front and back to for well. Made a couple for Christmas presents. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful pattern. Love it!!!
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for your kind words. This is one of my favorite patterns. I’m so happy you found it helpful. I have never tried it with variegated yarn before. What a good idea!
Happy holidays,
Natasha
Thanks for the pattern – I liked having to work out the needle size according to the yarn chosen – pictures on my personal blog
https://wordpress.com/post/daglessblog.wordpress.com/19
turned out well & he loved it – thank you
Dear Jill,
Thanks for sharing your post with me and for trying my pattern. I love the colors you chose!
Best,
Natasha
Thanks Natasha
Entirely Daggo’s (hubby) choice 😉
Trying another pattern – will post later
Cheers
Jill
Hiya! Thank you for sharing this pattern! I’m just wondering if the XS would be suitable for a 3-4 year old?
Hi Bree,
It really depends what size yarn you use. I’ve made both xs and S for a 3-4 year old. If you’re using thicker yarn, I would try size s.
Best,
Natasha
Thank you for responding! I’m using the Stylecraft Special Chunky yarn, would you recommend xs or s with that?
Thank you so much!!
I am not familiar with that brand but if it’s chunky I would try knitting the xs on size 10 US needles.
Best of luck!
Awesome, thank you for that 🙂
Thank you for the pattern Natasha.
You’re welcome Cheryl!
Hello,
This is my second time making this beanie, but it’s been at least a year and I can’t recall how I began the earflaps.
Which increases do you recommend on the first increase for the ear flaps when there’s only 2 stitches? (Yes, I’m stuck already!)
Thanks!
Hi Nicole,
These days when I make this pattern I’ve started with casting on four stitches. This makes it a little easier to work with. Then when it comes to the first increase row I knit in the front and back of the first stitch, knot two and knit in the front and back of the last stitch. I recommend trying it this way and seeing if it makes more sense.
Thanks for your comments and questions,
Natasha
I have a few questions about your pattern.
– an average size head . . . is that an adult or a child’s?
– how many grams in your skein . . . 50, 100, 170?
– how long to make the braids or I Cord?
Thank you for your time and attention in regards to this matter.
Hello Maria, this pattern is for an adult. I have used this pattern for hundreds of hats in many different yarns so I don’t have an exact weight to my skeins. I typically use one skein per hat. As for the I-cords, I make them about 10 inches long. Hope this helps! Thanks, Natasha
Thank you so much for getting back to me and so quickly 😄
Yes the info you shared is a big help.
This is probably a dumb question, but should I still be knitting one row purling one row for the main body of the hat, or should it be all knit stitch after joining the earflaps and casting onto the circular needles?
Thanks!
Not a dumb question if you’re not familiar with knitting in the round. When you knit in the round, since you never actually reach the end of a row, you’re actually knitting into the back of each round, thus creating a stockinette stitch without the need to purl. It’s like magic! Once you knit in the round, you just keep knitting around and around and it looks just like when you knit one row, purl one row when on straight needles.
Thanks for your question,
Natasha
Thanks for the pattern
You’re welcome, Sandra!
I made the hat and it looks great, but how do you attach the braids so they don’t show or look bulky?
Hi Deborah – so glad you enjoyed this pattern! I usually take my unbraided yarn, fold it in half, thread the loop through the bottom corner of the ear flap, then loop the ends through that loop. Then I braid it and tie it off when it’s the length I want. Hope this helps and happy knitting! -Natasha
One more question. How many strands do you use? I used one of each color, so my braid was kind of thick. I used the tail of yarn on the ear flap and sewed the braid on with that. It looks ok, but I do it your way with the next hat. Thank you for your prompt answer! I’m going to try your bagel recipe next!
Love the pattern and knitting in the round, especially with my 9 and 12 in. needles. I need some help with attaching the flaps and the added on stitches for the front and back. I have enough yarn ends to tie up a dog!
May this hat be knit for sale if you are listed as the pattern author?
Hi Debbie – thanks for asking me, but you’re welcome to sell these without having to credit me for the pattern. Enjoy! -Natasha
Oh thank you!! That is very kind!!
Thank you for your easy to work pattern! I found one years ago but seem to have misplaced it. LOL. Having many grandchildren that seem to always to come visit with NO hat, I can’t wait to get started!!! Thanks again and have a great day!!!!
You’re welcome Dianne! Happy knitting. -Natasha
Eager to try this pattern! Love all your posted pictures that whet my ideas!
are the neeldes size 9 and 10 in mm or american…
Hi Carol, I knit with US needle sizes. -Natasha
This is perfect for what I’m looking for, but I’m just wondering: do you block your hats when you finish them or use them as they are?
Hi Emma – I’ve never blocked my hats. I just wear them as soon as they are done. But it really depends on your stitching. If you have uneven stitches or stitch really tightly, you might benefit from blocking. Happy knitting! -Natasha
Sorry very late to this party!!
But can you confirm the size needles to use in mm? My conversion chart shows a size US10 is 3.25mm needles – is that right for a chunky yarn?
Hi Julie – yes, I typically use a US 10 for chunky yarn with this pattern. Happy knitting! -Natasha
So excited to try this pattern. When increasing on the ear flaps, you say knit in the front and back of first and last stitch. Are you increasing 2 on each knit row or 4?
Hi Linda, you are increasing the ear flaps 2 stitches on each knitted row. Happy knitting! -Natasha
I am quite curious how you did the steelers hat
Hi Tonda, I’m afraid I don’t remember it was so long ago! I’m sure I followed my basic hat pattern and just hand stitched the Steelers design on it. Sorry I’m not more of a help. -Natasha
Can this be knit with worster weight yarn?
Can I make this with worster weight yarn? I am donating these to a police department for needy families so some is not crucial as they will be for a variety of people.
Thank you so much for sharing this delightful hat! I want to knit it for a 3 month baby. Any suggestion on the size?? Regards from Argentina.
Hi Emilita, I would consider using US size 7 or 8 needles, worsted weight yarn and casting on 64 stitches overall. I haven’t knit this for a baby in about 10 years so I’m afraid I don’t remember anymore! Best of luck, Natasha