Redstone Earflap Hat -- a loom kit pattern

Redstone Earflap Hat Loom Knitting Pattern

Project Overview

The Redstone Earflap Hat is an intermediate-level loom knitting pattern designed by Dayna Scoles. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating a warm, structured hat with functional earflaps using a round loom. The design is ideal for knitters who have mastered basic loom techniques and are ready to tackle more complex shaping and construction methods.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a classic earflap hat suitable for adult wear. The hat features two earflaps that provide extra warmth and coverage, making it practical for cold weather. The design uses a round loom construction method, which produces a seamless tubular fabric ideal for hat crowns and cylindrical garments.

Loom and Equipment

The Redstone Earflap Hat is worked on a 48-peg, 5/8" gauge purple Knifty Knitter adult hat round loom. This specific loom size and gauge are essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions and fabric density specified in the pattern.

Yarn Requirements and Materials

The pattern calls for 90 yards of Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun yarn in the Tomato colorway. This yarn is classified as #5 bulky weight, making it a chunky option that works up quickly on the loom. The bulky weight creates a dense, warm fabric perfect for winter headwear. The specific colorway mentioned—Tomato—provides a rich, warm tone suitable for the Redstone aesthetic.

Stitches and Techniques Used

The Redstone Earflap Hat employs several fundamental loom knitting stitches and techniques:

• E-wrap stitch (k): A basic stitch that creates stockinette-like fabric on the loom, formed by wrapping yarn around pegs in an "e" shape
• U-knit stitch (u): Another foundational loom stitch that produces different fabric texture and is worked by creating a "u" shape with the yarn
• Purl stitch (p): Used to create reverse stockinette or textured sections, adding visual interest and variety to the fabric
• Slip stitch (s): Allows the knitter to skip designated pegs, useful for shaping and creating pattern variations without adding new stitches
• Make 1 increase (m1): An increase technique that creates new stitches by moving an existing stitch from an outer peg to an adjacent peg, then e-wrapping the newly empty peg. This method produces a seamless increase ideal for shaping hat crowns and earflap transitions
• Chain Cast On (CCO): A specialized casting technique used in this pattern to add stitches to empty pegs in the middle of a row. This method is essential for joining the two earflaps to the main hat body, allowing the knitter to seamlessly integrate the earflaps into the overall construction

Construction and Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern assumes the knitter is comfortable with basic loom knitting operations including casting on, binding off, and working in the round. The intermediate classification reflects the added complexity of the earflap construction, the mid-row cast-on technique required to join the earflaps, and the shaping increases needed to properly form the hat crown. The pattern provides detailed definitions and step-by-step instructions to guide knitters through these more advanced techniques.

Pattern Format

The Redstone Earflap Hat is provided as a downloadable PDF, making it convenient for digital access and printing. The PDF format includes written instructions, stitch definitions, and procedural steps with references to accompanying pictures for visual guidance through the construction process.