knitted earflap hat

i live in LA, and oh my god, has it been insanely warm here this winter. the rest of the country is living through the polar freeze or whatever they’re calling it, and i’m turning on my a/c in the afternoons because it’s so hot. i know, champagne problems but still. i miss the little bit of winter that we usually get. why else do i have scarves and mittens and boots if not for those LA days when it gets all the way down to the mid-50s?

i’m getting a bit of winter by heading to tokyo and kyoto for 10 days. before i departed for japan, i decided to knit myself a hat since i have exactly one (cute) hat in my closet.

i made this hat (daisy chain earflap hat by knit culture). it was like, $4 for the pattern, and a less than one day project, even though i had to start over twice (first time i forgot the 14 inch length for the end of the first earflap, the second, well, discussed below). it’s a very simple, fun hat (nothing more than rows of stockingnette/reverse stockingnette in the round). plus, the daisy chain yarn is just too adorable.*

if you decide to make it, and you should, here’s a few tips:

• make sure the earflaps are both facing the right way before you start to knit them together. i didn’t and had to restart, because otherwise one earflap was showing stockingnette, the other reverse stockingnette, which, no. not okay.
• the pattern doesn’t tell you to cut the yarn after making the first earflap. i’m assuming that’s what you’re supposed to do and that’s what i did, but it’s confusing when you read it. do not, however, cut the yarn after the second earflap. just keep going and cast on the new stitches.
• make the straps longer than 14 inches, or don’t be so exact with the 14 inches. i was and i wish they were a smidge longer.
• block the earflaps when you’re done. i didn’t because i’m lazy, but i think it needs it.

i love it and i’m sure it’s going to keep me all kinds of warm in the only winter i’m going to see this year!

*fair warning: if you start buying knit culture yarn, you will not want to stop and it will bankrupt you. all of their yarn is just so pretty and lovely and glittery, i want to make everything with it. that cozy blanket i’m making? yep, knit culture yarn. anyway, proceed at your own risk.