Baby Earflap Hat in Caron Simply Soft and Simply Soft Brites - Downloadable PDF

Baby Earflap Hat Knitting Pattern – Caron Simply Soft & Simply Soft Brites

This free downloadable PDF knitting pattern from Caron guides knitters through creating an adorable Baby Earflap Hat using Caron Simply Soft and Caron Simply Soft Brites yarns. Designed for infants and toddlers, the hat is worked in a two-color combination that gives it a playful, eye-catching look. The pattern is rated Easy, making it an excellent project for beginner knitters looking to build confidence while producing a practical, charming accessory.

Sizes Available

• 6/12 months – fits head circumference of 17" [43 cm]
• 18/24 months – fits head circumference of 18" [45.5 cm]
• 4 years – fits head circumference of 19" [48 cm]

Instructions are written for the smallest size, with changes for larger sizes noted in parentheses throughout the pattern, making it straightforward to follow whichever size you need.

What Is Being Made

The finished project is a knitted baby and toddler earflap hat — a cozy, close-fitting hat featuring two structured earflaps that extend down from the sides to help keep little ears warm. The earflaps are worked separately and then joined together at the brim before the main body of the hat is knitted upward. The two-color design uses Contrast A: Watermelon (B9604) from Caron Simply Soft Brites for the earflap and brim section, and Contrast B: Dark Country Blue (39711) from Caron Simply Soft for the upper body of the hat, creating a bold and cheerful color contrast.

Techniques Used

• Working flat on straight needles – the earflaps and hat body are knitted back and forth in rows
• Casting on mid-row – stitches are cast on within a row to join the earflaps and form the brim
• Increasing with Kfb (knit front and back) – used to shape the earflaps as they grow wider
• Needle size changes – the pattern switches from smaller (U.S. 7 / 4.5 mm) to larger (U.S. 8 / 5 mm) needles at key construction points to achieve the correct gauge and fabric texture
• Stitch holder usage – the first earflap stitches are placed on a stitch holder while the second earflap is worked, then both are joined in a single joining row
• Two-color knitting – yarn color is changed from Contrast A to Contrast B partway through construction
• Decreasing – P2tog (purl two together) is used in the size 18/24 months adjustment row to manage stitch counts

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch – used throughout the earflaps and the brim/joining section; created by knitting every row, this stitch produces a ridged, stretchy, and reversible fabric that lies flat without curling
• Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) – used for the upper body of the hat after switching to the larger needles and Contrast B yarn; worked by alternating knit rows on the right side and purl rows on the wrong side, creating a smooth, classic knitted fabric
• Kfb (knit front and back) – a simple increase stitch used to shape the earflaps
• P2tog (purl two together) – a decrease stitch used in a specific size adjustment row

Materials Required

• Caron Simply Soft Brites (6 oz / 170 g; 315 yds / 288 m) in Watermelon (B9604) – 1 ball for all sizes (Contrast A)
• Caron Simply Soft (6 oz / 170 g; 315