I want to make this hat:
http://sunshineknitdesigns.com/earflap_hat.htm
but I’ve never worked short rows and I don’t really fully understand the charts needed to work this pattern. I need to make an ear flap hat and this was the closest pattern to what my friend wants. Please help me!!!
Short rows are just knitting some of the sts instead of all the sts in a round or row. There’s a video for them on the Advanced Techniques page and there’s an articlewith pictures that explains wrap and turn. That should help you figure it out.
Row 1 of Chart A you would k1, w&turn, leaving the other sts alone, then purl back on the next row. Row 3 you k2 p2, w&t and rib across the sts on the next row. I’m not great with a charth though and have never seen one that has w&t on it, so I could be off. But just start it and see how it goes.
Here’s another pattern that you might see if it’ll work okay, you can do it in k2 p2 ribbing. It starts with the flaps, so you don’t have to incorporate them into the hat by short rows.
Thank you! I watched the video and it looks really complicated (or perhaps I’m complicating it in my mind, I’m not sure). I’m making this hat for a man, and while I love the pattern you also posted, it looks to girly to me. I want it to be ribbed so that it has some stretch to it, but I haven’t been able to find another pattern that would work other than this one. Just so unsure about the short rows and those darn charts. I guess I’ll do what I can to figure it out. Thanks again for your help!
The one I linked to can be done in ribbing; maybe it just looks girly cuz it’s on a girl…?
You can practice the short rows by just casting on about 20 sts and following the tutorial and video until that gets easier for it. Then take those same sts and try it in k2 p2 ribbing.
Yeah, it might look girly 'cause it’s on a girl, good point!
I think I will practice with the video like you said, just looks complicated I guess, though I usually figure things out fairly well. I appreciate your replies!
is there any way that this pattern could be made so that it was ribbed, including the ear flaps? Would someone be willing to really spell it out for me?
I can’t figure out the chart on this one: http://sunshineknitdesigns.com/earflap_hat.htm
so I think I give up on that one! Blah! But I want the pattern for the top link, to look similar. I greatly appreciate any and all help that I get!
To stay in ribbing you knit the knits and purl the purls, even when you inc or dec. So to change the flap to ribbing it would start like this -
CO 6. set up row k1, p1 3 times, (if you want 2x2 ribbing it’s k2 p2 k2).
Row 1 (RS): kfb, work in rib to last st, kfb - that’s where k the knits and p the purls comes in.
Row 2 (WS):work in ribbing.
Repeat these two rows until you have 18 (20, 22) stitches
Then work in pattern for 18, 22 or 26 rows for long earflaps. For short ones, do less rows. End with a RS row.
Follow the next paragraph about cutting the tail for the first flap and not for the 2nd one. Then you go into casting on for the lower edge of the hat itself. You will need a total number that’s even for k1p1 ribbing or one that’s divisible by 4 for k2 p2 ribbing. This includes the sts from the flaps as well as the number you cast on. The numbers in the pattern - 76 (84, 92) - would be fine, though they say to k2tog to join in the round. You don’t have to join that way, but if you want to, then CO 1 more st. They also say to k2tog at the gaps where the earflaps are joined, but that’s not really necessary. You can take the tails from the one flap to close any holes there might be.
Then just knit in your rib pattern. On Dec round one, it works to do 6 sts in the rib pattern, then you can p2tog or k2tog, depending on 1x1 or 2x2 rib.
Thank you so much! You have been a huge help!