Kat's "Two-Sticks" Ear Flap Ski Hat

At last!!!!! If like me, you have spent ages trawling the net for a hat pattern that does not require circular needles or the dreaded DPNs (yanking out clumps of your hair in the process) then you have come to the right place!

I have taken all the best bits from the patterns I have found and made the ultimate - only two sticks required - hat complete with ear flaps! It seems only fair to share it and hope that it saves others like me any further hair loss.

Well what are you waiting for?! Get on with it.......
ABBREVIATIONS:
k = knit

p = purl

beg = begin

k2tog = knit 2 together

RS = right side

WS = wrong side

sl = slip

St st = Stockinette

sts = stitch(es)
WS = wrong side

SIZE: Small, Medium, Large.

Finished Circumference 19¼ (20¼, 22¼) inches.

Note: The numbers in brackets are for the bigger sizes! Where you see one number, it applies to all sizes.

YOU WILL NEED:

5mm Needles. Yup, that's it; just 1 pair of 5mm needles - can you believe it?!!!
Chunky wool in whatever colour you would like. The pattern is written as if it's all one colour - just change wool wherever you would like to add stripes of colour.

The design also works in Aran with no need to change size, though it makes a thinner hat.

Earflaps (make 2)
Cast on 3 sts. Work in k1, p1 rib until you have an 8 inch length for the tie.

******K1, p1 rib is just knitting one then purling one then knitting one again, then purling one again and so on until you reach the end, then doing the same on the wrong side.***********

Row 1: inc1, K1, inc1 – 5 sts.
Row 2: Knit row
Row 3: inc1, K3, inc1 – 7 sts.
Row 4: Knit row
Row 5: inc1, K5, inc1 – 9 sts.
Row 6: Knit row
Row 7: inc1, K7, inc1 – 11 sts.
Row 8: Knit row

Continue as established, increasing 2 sts of each row until there are 23 sts; ending on a WS row.
Slip stitches onto a spare needle or holder.
Make a second Earflap the same, adding this to the spare needle/stitch holder.

Joining it all up:
Cast on 6 (8, 10) sts then knit across 23 earflap sts. Then cast on another 19 (19, 23) sts, knit across 23 stitches of second earflap and then cast on 6 (8, 10) sts – 77 (81, 89) sts.
Work even in St st until piece measures 5 (5½, 6) inches above joining row, end with a RS row.

Next Row: Purl, decrease 5 (1, 1) sts evenly across row – 72 (80, 88) sts.

Decrease for top:
Row 1 (RS): *K6, k2tog; rep from * across row – 63 (70, 77) sts.
Row 2 and WS rows: Purl.
Row 3: *K5, k2tog; rep from * across row – 54 (60, 66) sts.
Row 5: *K4, k2tog; rep from * across row – 45 (50, 55) sts.
Row 7: *K3, k2tog; rep from * across row – 36 (40, 44) sts.
Row 9: *K2, k2tog; rep from * across row – 27 (30, 33) sts.
Row 11: *K1, k2tog; rep from * across row – 18 (20, 22) sts.
Row 13: K2tog across – 9 (10, 11) sts.
Row 15: K2tog across, end k1 (0, 1) – 5 (5, 6) sts.

And finally:

Cut the wool, leaving a good length tail; enough to sew down the seam. Thread the tail through remaining sts and pull tightly together to secure.

Sew him up and slap him on yer head!!!!!!!!!!! Beautiful.

Kat xx