Sam’s Hat

Size:
Adult: 22.5″ circumference
Child: 18″ circumference

Gauge:
Adult: 4 spi
Child: 5 spi

Materials:
Approximately 250 yards main color and 50 yards of contrasting color in any yarn that will give you the gauge (I used Manos with US 9′s for the adult size, and Cascade 220 with US 7′s for the child size); 16″ circular needle or set of double pointed needles to get gauge and a 24″ or 32″ circular needle one size smaller for the edging.

Earflaps (make 2):
With MC cast on 4 sts, and working in st st throughout, inc. 1 st at each end of every RS row until there are 18 sts. Place on holder.

Main Hat:
Cast on 10 sts. Knit across 18 sts of one earflap, cast on 34 sts, k across 18 sts of other earflap, cast on 10 sts – 90 sts. Join, taking care not to twist sts, and working in st st throughout continue as follows:

2 rows MC, 2 rows CC, 2 rows MC, 2 rows CC

Now work in 10 st repeat as follows:
Row 1: 1 st MC, 5 sts CC, 4 sts MC
Row 2: 2 sts MC, 4 sts CC, 1 st MC, 3 sts CC
Row 3: 3 sts MC, 3 sts CC, 1 st MC, 1 st CC, 1 st MC, 1 st CC
Row 4: 4 sts MC, 2 sts CC, 3 sts MC, 1 st CC

Continue working as follows:
2 rows MC, 2 rows CC

Break off CC and continue even in MC until hat measures 5 ½ ” (4 ½) from cast on edge.

Shape Crown:
Dec. row 1: *k2tog, k8; repeat from * across row
Work 1 row
Dec. row 2: *k2tog, k7; repeat from * across row
Work 1 row
Dec. row 3: *k2tog, k6; repeat from * across row
Work 1 row
Dec. row 4: *k2tog, k5; repeat from *across row

Work 1 row in CC

Dec row 5: *k2tog, k6; repeat from * across row.
Continue in this way, decreasing 10 sts every other row, working one less st between decreases every decrease row, until there are 10 sts left; cut yarn and pull through the remaining sts on the needle.

Finishing:
With smaller needle and RS facing, pick up and k 1 st for every cast on st along edge, and 1 st for every other row along ear flaps. Join and purl one row, knit one row. Cast off purl-wise. Make two crochet or braided chains and tassels and sew to center bottom of earflaps.