This free ear warmer knitting pattern has a beautiful texture, and because it is knit flat in a yarn with a slow hue change, you wind up not only with multiple colors in the stitch but also on either side of the seam. I gathered up the seam when I sewed it so it’s a design feature, not an ugly bug! Wear it with the seam up front for some visual interest, or with the seam in the back for a more subtle look.
This ear warmer also has a slightly wavy edge on both sides. It still looks neat because of the slipped stitch that begins every row.
Finished Size: 4 1/2″ wide at widest point x 20″. It is easily adjustable in circumference!
Materials:
.8 oz/22 g/70 yds of worsted weight (CYCA 4, Medium) yarn. Model shown in Red Heart Roll With It Melange in Paparazzi colorway (amazon link)
Knitting needles size 8/5.0mm or size needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 20 sts x 28 rows = 4” in patt st
Notes: Slip all stitches at beginning of rows purlwise
Abbreviations:
Beg – beginning
K – knit
P – purl
Rep – repeat
RT – right twist
Sk – skip
Sl – slip
St – stitch
Special Stitches:
Right Twist – Sk next st on left-hand needle and leave it there, knit the next st but do not push it off, knit the skipped st, push both sts off the left-hand needle.
Ear Warmer:
Cast on 22 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, (RT) twice, [k4, (RT) twice] 2 times, k1.
Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, p4, (k4, p4) twice, k1.
Rows 3 – 6: Rep Rows 1 – 2 twice.
Row 7: Sl 1, k across.
Row 8: Sl 1, k4, (p4, k4) twice, k1.
Row 9: Sl 1, k4, [(RT) twice, k 4] 2 times, k1.
Rows 10 – 13: Rep Rows 8 – 9 twice.
Row 14: Rep Row 8.
Row 15: Sl 1, k across.
Row 16: Rep Row 2.
Rep Rows 1 – 16 for pattern until work measures 20” or desired length. I ended mine on a Row 16 because originally I felt the pattern should be even across the seam, but honestly with it gathered, I don’t think is a deal breaker if you end elsewhere.
Bind off leaving a long tail for sewing.
Finishing:
With a tapestry needle, sew the cast on and bound off edges together. Use a running stitch up the seam and pull tightly to form the gather. End off and weave in all ends.
