This hat is very warm, especially if wool is used for the outer layer! It was designed for a friend who works with trees in a nursery, so he needed something warm for his hours outdoors in the winter.

It's different than most of the earlap hat patterns because the earflaps are not shaped the same in the front as they are in the back. They are shallower in the back, so the back edge of the hat sits lower and protects the neck better.

The stripes are only a suggestion -- add more, in more colors for a livelier effect! The design is well-suited for fair isle work as well, since the lining will cover the floats.

Written for a gauge of 5 sts and 7 rows per inch, this pattern can be knit on either a bulky or a mid-gauge machine. Finished size is approximately 21.5”-22” in circumference. Size could be adjusted with different yarns and tensions.

No ribber is needed, but you will want several claw weights on hand. The photograph and chart are in color, but the chart is perfectly usable if printed in black and white.