10. The Alpine Twisted Cable Earflap Trapper

Introduction

The Alpine Twisted Cable Earflap Trapper blends practical cold-weather protection with refined mountain design. Contoured earflaps protect against biting winds, while miniature rope cables run vertically up the crown.

What This Idea Means

This design incorporates short-row shaping or dropped cast-on construction directly into the ear sections, avoiding drafty gaps and keeping the hat securely in place.

How to Make It

  • Yarn: Worsted-weight Peruvian Highland Wool / Alpaca Blend (approx. 190m / 100g).
  • Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) and US 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles and DPNs.
  • Gauge: 21 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 inches in cable pattern.
  • Construction:
    1. Knit left and right earflaps separately on DPNs starting from 6 stitches, increasing outward with garter borders until each flap is 22 stitches wide.
    2. Cast on 16 stitches for the back neck, knit across flap 1, cast on 36 stitches for the front forehead, knit across flap 2, and join in the round (96 stitches total).
    3. Establish cable pattern: *C4F (cable 4 front), P2, K2, P2; rep around*.
    4. Work vertical repeats for 6.5 inches from the front forehead line.
    5. Decrease gradually within the purl gutters to maintain the integrity of the 4-stitch cables until the final cinch.
    6. Optional: Braid 10-inch woolen cord ties directly from the tips of the earflaps.

Tips and Variations

  • Need to Make: Work the earflap edge stitches as slipped icord selvages for a clean, non-curling border.
  • Variation: Line the inside of the brim and earflaps with matching micro-fleece or silk velvet for extra comfort in freezing conditions.