I improvised a top-down hat with earflaps to avoid picking up stitches.

• CO 6 (Judy’s magic cast-on)
• Increase to 96 sts
• K for several inches
• BO 30 sts, k24, BO 18 sts, k24
• Knit that last 24 onto a new straight needle, leaving the first 24 on the circ as a holder.
• Complete each ear flap on 24 sts as follows
• sl1, k1, p20, k2 (24 sts)
• sl1, k1, k20, k2 (24 sts)
• Repeat next two rows until only 5 sts remain
• sl1, k1, p to last 2, k2
• sl1, k1, ssk, k to last 4, k2tog, k2
• sl1, S2KP (reduce middle 3 sts to 1), k1
• switch to black yarn and size 6 dpns for I-cord

Diana crocheted the yellow details for me. She ended up using an F hook after trying and failing with D and E hooks (too small for the yarn we used).

I improvised the eyes with size 6 DPNs and black yarn

• CO 8 (Judy’s magic cast-on)

• Knit all the way around

• Kfb all the way around

• Knit all the way around

• k1, kfb, k4, kfb, k1, k1, kfb, k4, kfb, k1

• BO