Garter Stitch Earflap Hat

Garter Stitch Earflap Hat by Laura Chau

What Is Being Made

The Garter Stitch Earflap Hat is a classic knitted hat designed for children and adults, featuring optional earflaps for added warmth. This project produces a fitted, rounded cap available in four sizes: Child's Small (16 inches circumference), Child's Medium (18 inches), Adult Medium (19.5 inches), and Adult Large (21.5 inches). The hat combines textural interest with functional design, making it suitable for everyday wear across multiple seasons.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental techniques that make it accessible yet skill-building. The hat is knit in the round, a core circular knitting method that eliminates seaming and creates seamless fabric. Knitters begin with a cast-on worked on 16-inch circular needles, then progress to double-pointed needles during the crown shaping phase when stitch counts decrease. The pattern incorporates crown decreases to shape the top of the hat into a fitted closure, a technique essential for hat construction. The optional earflaps add dimensional interest and demonstrate how to work attached components on a finished piece.

Stitches Used

The hat showcases two primary stitch patterns that create visual and textural contrast:

• Garter Stitch: Created by alternating purl and knit rounds, this reversible stitch produces horizontal ridges. The pattern specifies nine garter ridges at the hat's base, establishing a decorative ribbed cuff that frames the face.
• Stockinette Stitch: Formed by knitting every round, stockinette creates the smooth, classic fabric that comprises the main body of the hat. This stitch is worked from the completion of the garter stitch section until the crown decreases begin.

Materials and Tools

The Garter Stitch Earflap Hat requires worsted or aran weight yarn, offering flexibility in fiber choice while maintaining consistent gauge. Yardage requirements scale with size: Child's Small requires approximately 150 yards, Child's Medium needs 175 yards, Adult Medium calls for 200 yards, and Adult Large requires 225 yards. Knitters need a 5 mm/US 8 16-inch circular needle for the initial cast-on and body work, and 5 mm/US 8 double-pointed needles for the crown decreases when working with fewer stitches becomes necessary. Additional supplies include a stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends. The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches and 28 rows over a 4-inch square in stockinette stitch, ensuring proper fit across all size options.