Baby Duckling Earflap Hat

This cute little duckling hat is easy to knit and the perfect gift for a newborn baby or toddler. The ear flaps are finished with braids and tassels, and styled to fit your baby comfortably.

Size: 0-6 (6-12, 12-18) monthsThese are roughly 14″, 16″, and 18″ head circumference.

Materials:

about 50g of DK weight yarn

small amount orange, black and white DK yarn

at least three DPNs and a matching 16″ circular needle size 4mm or whatever knits to gauge

one stitch marker

Gauge:19 sts = 4″ in stockinette stitch

Ear Flaps
CO 7 stitches.
Row 1: K1, P to last stitch, K1.
Row 2: K1, Kfb, K to last 2 stitches, Kfb, K1.
Repeat these two rows until there are 15 stitches on the needles.

Knit straight until piece measures 2.75″ (3″, 3.25″).
Cut yarn, leaving a 12″ tail, and leave the earflap on its DPN.
Repeat for second ear flap.

Hat
Using a cable cast on, CO 10 (12, 14) stitches on the circular needle. Knit the 15 stitches from first ear flap, then CO 24 (27, 30) stitches. K15 from second ear flap, then CO 10 (12, 14)

Join, being careful not to twist stitches, place marker and begin knitting in the round. As you knit around this first row, you’ll notice four gaps, on either side of each ear flap. When you get to those, K2tog to close them up. At the end of the round, you should have 70 (77, 84) stitches on the needles.

Continue knitting all rounds until hat measures 3″ (3.5″, 4″) from the cast-on row.

Then begin the decreases as follows, switching to DPNs o when the diameter of the hat is too small for your circular needle:

(Decrease) Row 1: *K8 (9, 10), K2tog, repeat from* to end
Row 2: K all sts
(Decrease) row 3: *K7 (8, 9), K2tog, repeat from* to end
Row 4: K all sts
(Decrease) row 5: *K6 (7, 8), K2tog , repeat from*to end
Row 6: K all sts

Decrease in this manner until there are 35 sts on the needles.
Then decrease in the same manner, omitting the “k all sts” rows, until there are 7 sts remaining.
Pull yarn through the last 7 sts with a tapestry needle, pull through to inside and weave in end.

Beak

With yarn (D) and 4.5mm needles cast on 40 sts and work 8 rows St st,

Next row knit 2 tog, knit 16, knit 2 tog, knit 2 tog, knit 16, knit 2 tog.

Next row purl 2 tog, purl 14, purl 2 tog, purl 2 tog, purl 14, purl 2 tog.

Continue in this manner until 2 stitches remain

Next knit 2 tog break yarn and thread through remaining stitch. Sew side seam and use a little yarn of same colour to slightly stuff, with black yarn embroider nostrils by french knot.

Eye (make 2)

With black yarn and 4.5mm needles cast on 11 stitches loosely. Knit 3 rows. Pass all sts, 1 at a time, over first st. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining stitch; pull to tighten.

Finishing:

Using photo as a guide place eyes and with a small amount of white add features.

Place beak and sew in place.

Braids:

Using all colours incorporated in hat, cut strands of yarn approx. 24 inches in length. ( at least 8 strands total)

Gather strands and find center.

Thread one end through center cast on stich of earflap , pulling even.

Separate strands into 3 equal sections and braid, making sure beginning is tight to earflap.

Secure ends with yarn or tiny pony tail elastic bands.

Trim ends even.

Six little ducks
That l once knew,
Fat ones, skinny ones,
Cute ones too,
But the one little duck
With the feather on his back,
He ruled the others
With his quack, quack, quack.