I really wish my cousin would go for more color in his wardrobe, but this was specifically requested to be in (boring) grey.

This is another version of clevelandmineral’s hat. (https://reddit.com/r/knitting/s/Ihqzf58FCh)

Knit for my cousin. He is in the telecommunications business, and I used the OG telecom language, Morse code, to add his company’s name above the brim.

Earflaps:

CO 32 over 2 needles w/ Judy’s CO

(K1, (P2,K2) to last st, K1)x2

(K1, M1L, (P2,K2) to last st, M1R, K1)x2

Continue w/ one increase each end of each needle (4 sts increased per round) until 64 sts total per round, continue straight until measures approx 1.5 in.

Knit 4 rounds w/ increases (80 sts tot), cut yarn and place flap on spare DPN’s.

Knit 2 flaps thus.

Brim:

CO 32 sts provisionally for back of hat, and 48 for front, placing half of flap sts (40 ea.) between (160 per round tot). Knit 2x2 rib for approx 2 in. BO.

I kept the ribbing slightly shorter this time, to have more room for colorwork.

Pick up provisional stitches and remaining earflap sts. Brim lining knit w/ alpaca on US 1 needles

Once the lining matched the ribbed brim in length, I turned the work, folded up the brim, and knit each active stitch together with the back loop of the ribbing’s BO.

Then start colorwork (continuing with US 1 needles). See photo of charts.

Once I’d completed hat body, I closed by splitting sts into 8 groups, knitting to final pair of each group, then k2tog. I did this every round until 8 sts remained, then cinched shut.

During the decrease rounds above, I altered colorwork to 1x1 stripes, staggering colors between rows.

Ties are 4x4 strands twisted.