DIY Lotus Knit Earflap Hat: A Comprehensive Guide108

Winter is here, and what better way to keep your ears warm than with a cozy and stylish knit earflap hat? In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through the steps to create your own beautiful lotus-inspired earflap hat. With clear instructions and detailed photos, this tutorial is perfect for both beginners and experienced knitters.

Materials You'll Need:
Worsted weight yarn (approx. 200 grams)
Size 8 (5 mm) circular needles, 16-24 inches long
Tapestry needle
Scissors
Stitch markers (optional)

Gauge:
22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Abbreviations:
CO: Cast on
K: Knit
P: Purl
Sts: Stitches
Rnd: Round
Inc: Increase
Dec: Decrease

Instructions:

Band

CO 60 sts. Join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches. Knit in the round for 6 rounds.

Crown Shaping

Rnd 7: K19, M1, K20, M1, K20. (64 sts)

Rnd 8: Knit.

Rnd 9: K20, M1, K22, M1, K22. (70 sts)

Continue increasing in this manner every other round, placing the markers as you go.

Rnd 15: K28, M1, K24, M1, K28. (78 sts)

Rnd 17: K29, M1, K26, M1, K29. (86 sts)

Rnd 19: K30, M1, K28, M1, K30. (94 sts)

Rnd 21: K31, M1, K30, M1, K31. (102 sts)

Rnd 23: K32, M1, K32, M1, K32. (110 sts)

Rnd 25: K33, M1, K34, M1, K33. (118 sts)

Rnd 27: K34, M1, K36, M1, K34. (126 sts)

Rnd 29: K35, M1, K38, M1, K35. (134 sts)

Crown Decreasing

Rnd 30: K4, K2tog, K36, K2tog, K4. (128 sts)

Rnd 31-33: Knit.

Rnd 34: K3, K2tog, K34, K2tog, K3. (122 sts)

Rnd 35-38: Knit.

Rnd 39: K2, K2tog, K32, K2tog, K2. (116 sts)

Rnd 40-43: Knit.

Rnd 44: K1, K2tog, K30, K2tog, K1. (110 sts)

Lotus Petal Shaping

Rnd 45: K1, (K1, M1, K1) 12 times, K1. (134 sts)

Rnd 46-48: Knit.

Rnd 49: K1, (K2, M1, K2) 12 times, K1. (158 sts)

Rnd 50-52: Knit.

Rnd 53: K1, (K3, M1, K3) 12 times, K1. (182 sts)

Rnd 54-56: Knit.

Top Shaping

Rnd 57: K4, K2tog, K30, K2tog, K4. (176 sts)

Rnd 58-59: Knit.

Rnd 60: K3, K2tog, K28, K2tog, K3. (170 sts)

Rnd 61: K2, K2tog, K26, K2tog, K2. (164 sts)

Rnd 62: K1, K2tog, K24, K2tog, K1. (158 sts)

Rnd 63-65: Knit.

Rnd 66: K5, K2tog, K20, K2tog, K5. (152 sts)

Rnd 67: Knit.

Rnd 68: K4, K2tog, K18, K2tog, K4. (146 sts)

Rnd 69: Knit.

Rnd 70: K3, K2tog, K16, K2tog, K3. (140 sts)

Earflap Shaping

Rnd 71-73: Knit.

Rnd 74: K28, M1, K20, M1, K28. (150 sts)

Rnd 75: Knit.

Rnd 76: K29, K2tog, K22, K2tog, K29. (140 sts)

Rnd 77: Knit.

Rnd 78: K7, SSK, K16, SKP, K7. (130 sts)

Rnd 79-81: Knit.

Rnd 82: K6, SSK, K14, SKP, K6. (120 sts)

Top Closure

Rnd 83: K3, M1, K6, M1, K9, M1, K3, M1, K6, M1, K9. (134 sts)

Rnd 84: Knit.

Rnd 85: K1, P1, K5, P1, K7, P1, K3, P1, K5, P1, K7. (134 sts)

Rnd 86: Knit.

Rnd 87: K4, M1, K2, M1, K5, P1, K3, P1, K5, M1, K2, M1, K4. (142 sts)

Rnd 88: Knit.

Rnd 89: K1, P1, K3, P1, K3, P1, K5, P1, K3, P1, K3, P1, K1. (142 sts)

Rnd 90: Knit.

Earflaps

Left Earflap: Bind off 34 sts, starting at the center front. Transfer the remaining 108 sts to a stitch holder.

Right Earflap: Knit across the 108 sts from the stitch holder. Bind off 34 sts, starting at the center front.

Tie off both ends of the yarn.