The Knitting Fiend

Basic Hat.

• Cast on 8 stitches with waste yarn. Knit 1 row.
• Distribute 8 stitches on four double pointed needles and join being careful not to twist. Knit 1 round; break yarn.
  
• Attach hat yarn with fairly long tail; knit 1 round. Attach a safety pin to mark beg/end of round.
• *kfb; repeat to end of round. -- 16 stitches.
• *kfb, k1; repeat to end of round -- 24 stitches.
• knit all stitches.
• () Increase rapidly as follows:
1. *kfb, k2; repeat to end of round -- 32 stitches.
2. *kfb, k3; repeat to end of round -- 40 stitches.
3. knit all stitches.
4. Continue in the pattern established, alternating 2 increase rounds and 1 plain round until there are a total of stitches on your needle. End with plain round. (Notice, the number of stitches knit between 'kfb's increases by 1 each increase round.)
• Increase more slowly by alternating 1 increase and 1 plain round. These are the next two rows to establish the pattern.
1. *kfb, k; repeat to end of round -- stitches.
2. knit all stitches.
• Continue in pattern established until there are stitches; end with a plain round.
• On next round, work an increase round, but work only of the 8 increases, distributing the skipped increases evenly. -- stitches.
• Work without increasing until hat measures inches from crown to hem. Finish round, place hat on a string and test fit.
• Option: Plain hat: when the hat measures 1" shorter than the length you prefer, change to smaller diameter needles and work 1 x 1 ribbing, garter stitch or some other non-rolling trim. (If you are working garter stitch, decrease 1 stitch every 10 stitches on first row. Garter stitch spreads.) If you like a roll hat, knit about 1 1/2" more in stockinette. It will roll on it's own. Bind off.
• Option: Ear flaps. When the hat is about inch shorter than the length you prefer, make two stitch wide earflaps using short rows^1. Then attach I Cord ties. (Instructions for flaps and I-cord follow.)
• Thread a tapestry needle with yarn tail and anchor the 8 stitches in the first round. Then remove waste yarn. Pull tail, then weave in on wrong side of hat. Weave in all loose ends, and block as suggested for your yarn.

Optional Earflaps:

• Starting at the round marker, knit stitches. Turn Work.
• Purl Turn Work.
• Knit Turn Work.
• Purl Turn Work.
• Continue in pattern established, working 1 stitch fewer each row until you work a row with only 2 stitches. (This will form a pointy earflap.)
• Knit stitches, (if you used yarn-over short rows, you will need to knit the yarn overs together with stitches as you come to them.)
• You are now at the center of the next earflap. Try the hat on and see if you like the location. If not, adjust by knitting or ripping back a few stitches.
• Work another earflap following the directions for the first flap.
• Knit , sealing yarn-overs or wraps as you go. Break yarn.
• Work I-Cord. Using double pointed needles, cast on 3 stitches with waste yarn. Knit 1 row.
• Do not turn work. Hold needle with in your left hand, with the knit side facing you. Yarn is dangling on the left. Grab yarn, pull tight, and knit 1 row. Repeat this step a few times. You will notice a cord begins to form. Break yarn.
• Attach hat yarn, and continue as before, never turning work. Knit until cord measures inches from waste yarn. (If you aren't sure how long you want these, don't worry. You can either knit extra or unravel later on.)
• Find an earflap point. Recall there were two stitches in the final "point" row of the earflap. Slide earflap stitches so the needle points are between the two stitches that create the "point" of the earflap. With knit side of hat facing you, slide the 3 I cord stitches onto the left needle tip. Begin to knit attached I-cord; to do this, you knit the first two I-cord stitches, then work an ssk to seam together the third I cord stitch to a hat stitch. ( You can see details of how to attach the I cord in my halter pattern. Also, if you worked any yarn over short row, you will eventually come across some yarn overs. Work yarn-overs and stitches together by working a "slip icord stitch, slip hat stitch, slip both stitches back to left needle, then knit 3 stitches together.") Continue until you have knit the I-cord together with the first of the two stitches that creates the point of the earflap. Begin to knit detached I cord, and continue until the second cord is the same length as the first. Break yarn; anchor. Then, remove waste yarn and anchor the other I-cord edge. (Tip added 6/6/2006: When attaching over the sloping part of the earflaps, you may want to use thicker needles. MonkeyJunkie went up 3 sizes!)
• Cast on 3 stitches. Knit 1 row of I cord. Slide stitches onto left needle tip and begin to knit attached I cord over the back edge of the hat. continue until all live hat stitches have been knit off. Knit 1 more row I-cord. Bind off. Tack down edges behind the long chord.
• Weave in any loose ends, block, wear.