Aviator hat for high-flying toddlers

This pattern is based off of several inspiration photos on Pinterest. Incredibly cute on a toddler (see last picture of my niece sporting the first attempt). This pattern is free to use for all non-commercial purposes. Enjoy!

 

Size:  infant/toddler (pretty stretchy to go for an older child, easily made larger--see note below)

Materials:

Size 6 DPNs or magic loop

Size F or G (size not critical) crochet hook

Half skein of brown yarn (worsted weight)

Half skein of white/cream yarn (worsted weight)

Hat:

Cast on 64 stitches (increase/decrease in multiples of 8), join to knit in the round

Knit 12 rows in garter stitch (knit all one row, purl next row)

Switch to knit all rows (stockinette stitch) until hat measures 4.5” from edge

Decrease rows

1: k6, k2tog

2: k5, k2tog

3: k4, k2tog

4: k all

5: k3, k2tog

6: k2, k2tog

7: k all

8: K1, k2tog

9: K2tog

Pass yarn through remaining stitches and tighten to bind off hat

Ear flaps (make two)

Note on placement: Position the two ear flaps a little behind the halfway mark on each side (for 64 stitches, I placed them so there were 20 stitches between the flaps at the front and 12 at the back)

For each flap, pick up 16 stitches (pulling loops to the outside/right side of hat)

Knit four rows (garter stitch)

Decreases: K2tog, knit to end, K2tog

Repeat this for each row until only 4 stitches remain

To create straps:

Knit 14 rows in this pattern:

Right side: K4

Wrong side: K1, p2, k1

To finish off: ssk (slip stitch decrease) and k2tog (2 st remain), pass yarn through remaining stitches to bind off, leave some yarn for finishes

Closure: If desired, you can sew a button onto one flap and then fashion a button loop of yarn on the other flap.

Contrasting white flap:

Pick up 20-22 stitches along the front of the hat between the two ear flaps

Knit all rows for 16 rows (or until flap is as long as the garter edging on the hats)

Bind off final row

Flip the white flap up and tack onto the hat using hat color (or buttons, if preferred)

Finishing (contrasting color):

To give the illusion of a lined hat, add a crocheted edging to the hat:

Slip stitch at one end of the white flap, then single crochet along the brim all the way around until you reach the other end of the white flap again.

Variations:

·         - The first one I made used a seed stitch for the ear flaps and hat border. It’s a cuter stitch, but makes a little bit of a ridge at the seam along the hat brim.

·         - I used a large wooden button on one hat and a crochet-made button on the other. Just be sure it's not a choking hazard!

·         - I was working from my stash, but I think a fluffy white yarn would make the white edging and flap really adorable.