Flying Ace Aviator Hat

Flying Ace Aviator Hat by Cheryl Andrews

What Is Being Made

The Flying Ace Aviator Hat is an adult aviator-style hat available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. This knitted hat features the classic aviator design with double-thick ear flaps and ties, making it both functional and stylish. The pattern includes a lined head band for added warmth and insulation, ensuring comfort during cold weather wear. Crafters have the option to customize their hat with stripes, a graphed arrow design, or a decorative pompom to personalize their finished project.

Craft and Techniques

This is a knitting project classified as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond the basics. The construction involves working in the round using circular needles, a fundamental technique for hat knitting. The pattern incorporates increases for shaping the crown and the distinctive ear flaps, which are worked double-thick for durability and warmth. The design allows for optional colorwork, including stripes and graphed arrow motifs, giving crafters the opportunity to practice intarsia or stranded colorwork techniques if desired.

Stitches and Stitch Details

While the complete stitch list is not fully detailed in the provided content, the pattern utilizes fundamental knitting stitches and includes left increases as part of the shaping process. The gauge is 20 stitches by 27 rows over 4 inches, which is typical for worsted weight yarn and helps determine the finished size of the hat. Stitch holders or extra needles are used to manage stitches during construction, particularly when working the ear flaps and lining sections.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Flying Ace Aviator Hat requires worsted weight yarn in multiple colors:

• Main color (MC): Approximately 4 ounces and 190 yards of worsted weight yarn
• Contrast color A: About 1 ounce for lining and design work
• Contrast color B: A very small amount for design work and optional embellishments

The sample hats were knitted using Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted weight yarn, which is a blend of 85% wool and 15% mohair. The first sample combined Regal Purple, Limeade, and Sunburst Gold, while the second sample featured Deep Pine, Roasted Coffee, and Seafoam. This yarn choice provides warmth, durability, and a soft hand suitable for a hat worn close to the face.

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for size 6 needles in two configurations: a 16-inch circular needle for working the main body of the hat in the round, and a set of 5 double-pointed needles for working the crown decreases when the circumference becomes too small for the circular needle. Stitch holders or extra size 6 needles are needed to hold stitches temporarily during construction of the ear flaps and lining sections.

Design Notes

This pattern, designed by Cheryl Andrews, offers flexibility for personalization. Knitters can keep the hat simple with a solid color, add horizontal stripes for visual interest, incorporate a graphed arrow design for a more detailed aviator aesthetic, or top the hat with a pompom. The double-thick ear flaps and ties are signature features of the aviator style, providing both authentic period styling and practical warmth for the ears and neck area.