This asymmetrical earflap hat is an unconventional spin on an aviator hat. My original inspiration was an iconic image of pioneering aviatrix, Amelia Earhart, used in Apple’s Think Different poster series.

I love the mischievous look in her eyes! I borrowed the shape for An Unconventional Aviator from that design.

This post contains affiliate links. The yarn for the sample was generously provided by SHOKAY.

I wanted to design an earflap hat that emphasized Amelia’s creative spirit (did you know she briefly had her own clothing line?), so I steered away from the typical neutral colors you would see in an aviator pattern and choose bright cerulean yarn.

I included a stitch pattern with eyelet details that add a touch of femininity (and also work as adjustable button holes).

I finished the hat off with two amazing gunmetal buttons I picked up at M & J Trimming.
I hope you have as much fun crocheting this hat as I did!

An Unconventional Aviator

Crochet Pattern by Underground Crafter

This asymmetrical earflap hat is an unconventional twist on the classic aviator design.

 

Finished Size

• Teen/Adult: 20” (51 cm) hat circumference.

Materials

• • SHOKAY Orient (75% yak/25% bamboo, 3.5 oz/100 g, 245 yd/224 m) – 2 skeins in Cerulean, or approximately 290 yd (265 m) in any light weight yarn.
  • US G-6/4 mm crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge.
  • Yarn needle.
  • 3 locking stitch markers or pieces of scrap yarn.
  • 2 sew-through or shank buttons. (I used 2 gunmetal gray buttons from M&J Trimming!)

Gauge

• Through Rnd 7 in pattern = 4” (10 cm) diameter. For best results, always check your gauge.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern

• ch – chain
• dc – double crochet
• ea – each
• pm1 – place marker 1
• pm2 – place marker 2
• pm3 – place marker 3
• rep – repeat
• Rnd(s) – Round(s)
• RS – right (front) side
• sc – single crochet
• sc2tog – single crochet 2 sts together (decrease) – (Insert hook in next st, yo and draw up a loop) twice, yo and draw through 3 loops on hook.
• sk – skip
• sl st – slip stitch
• sp – space
• st(s) – stitch(es)
• * Rep instructions after asterisk as indicated.

Pattern Notes

• Hat is worked in the round.
• Earflaps are worked flat in rows.

Pattern Instructions

Hat

• Beginning at crown, start with magic adjustable ring. (Planet June has a great magic ring tutorial here).
• Rnd 1: Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), 7 dc in ring, pull the yarn tail tightly to close ring, join with sl st top of first ch 3. (8 sts)
• Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in ea st around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (16 sts)
• Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next st, *2 dc in next st, dc; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (24 sts)
• Rnd 4: Ch 1, starting in first st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 2 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (32 sts)
• Rnd 5: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 3 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of ch 3. (40 sts)
• Rnd 6: Ch 1, starting in first st, *sc in next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (48 sts)
• Rnd 7: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 5 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (56 sts)
• Rnd 8: Ch 1, starting in first st, *sc in next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (64 sts)
• Rnd 9: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 7 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (72 sts)
• Rnd 10: Ch 1, starting in first st, *2 sc in next st, sc in next 8 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first sc. (80 sts)
• Rnd 11: Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 9 sts, *2 dc in next st, dc in next 9 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. (88 sts)
• Rnd 12: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; rep from * around to last 3 sts, ch 3, sk 3, join with sl st to top of first sc.
• Rnd 13: Ch 3, *3 dc in ch-3 sp, dc in next st; rep from * around to last ch-3 sp, 3 dc in ch-3 sp, join with sl st to top of first ch 3.
• Rep Rnds 12-13 7 more times, or until hat measures 7.5” (19 cm) or desired length from crown.
• Rnd 14: Ch 1, sc in same st and in next 15 sts, pm1 in last st worked (16^th st), sc in next 45 sts, pm2 in last st worked (61^st st), sc in next 27 sts, pm3 in last st (88^th st), join with sl st to top of first sc, fasten off.

 

Short earflap with button band

• With RS facing, join with sl st to marker 2.
• Row 1: Ch 1, sc in same st and next 10 sts, 2 sc in next st. (13 sts)
• Row 2: Turn, ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 3, sk 3 sts, sc in next st; rep from * across.
• Row 3: Turn, ch 3, *3 dc in next ch-3 sp, dc in next st; rep from * across.
• Rows 4-13: Rep Rows 2-3 5 more times.
• Row 14: Turn, ch 1, sc in same st and in ea st across.
• Rows 15-18: Rep Row 14. Fasten off.

Long earflap

• With RS facing, join with sl st to marker 1.
• Rep Rows 1-3 as for short earflap.
• Rep Rows 2-3 30 times or until 21” (53 cm) from edge of hat or until desired length. Fasten off.

Edging

• With RS facing, join with sl st at marker 3, ch 1, sc in same st and in next 14 sts, sc2tog (in next st and along side of earflap). Working along earflap, sc in side of next 2 rows, *2 sc in side of next row, sc in side of next row;** rep from * across to last row of earflap, 2 sc in side of last row, turn to work around short edge of earflap, 2 sc, sc in ea st across to last st, rep from * to ** across long edge to last 2 rows, 2 sc in side of next row, sc2tog (in side of earflap and on next st on hat), sc in ea of next 30 sts, sc2tog (in next st and along side of earflap), sc in side of next 2 rows, rep from * to ** across to last row of 4 rows of earflap, sc in side of next 3 rows, 2 sc in next st, working along the short edge of earflap, 2 sc in next st, sc in next 11 sts, 2 sc in next st, working along long edge of earflap sc in side of next 5 rows, rep from * to **, along to last row of earflap, sc2tog (in side of earflap and next st on hat), sc in next 13 sts, join with sl st to top of first sc, fasten off.

Finishing

• Position button on shorter earflap on RS of Rows 14-18, with yarn needle and yarn, sew button in place. Sew other button to top of crown. With yarn needle, weave in ends on inside of hat. Spray block if necessary.

© 2015 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use the pattern to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2015/04/20/free-pattern-an-unconventional-aviator. Thanks for supporting indie designers!