It’s official… temps dropped below 50 degrees here in good ol’ Tulsa… so Fall is HERE!

Let’s all get out our knitting needles and warm up those rusty fingers with a simple yet very awesome accessory – EARMUFFS!  Great for keeping the cold wind out of your ears while taking an exhilarating jog around the block, walking your dog, or just walking from your car to the grocery store.

This earmuff band won’t muss your hair like a full-on hat, but it will still give you the protection you  need to keep your ears from being cold and sad.  Plus it’s a vintage pattern… and I LOVE vintage patterns, don’t you?!  It’s my gift to you for the Official Opening of the Knitting Season  🙂

Here it is…

Knitted Earmuffs

1960’s Original Knitting Pattern
Transcribed from Original pattern by: AMY FELKER – www.woolfsclothing.com http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolfsclothing

DISCLAIMER: The text of this pattern is transcribed directly from the original pattern book – Hats Hats Hats from Bernat, Book No. 165, published in 1969. The only changes I have made are to formatting, terminology or needles size to match with today’s American standards. Photo is from original pattern book.

Materials:

Original Yarn: BERNAT BIG BERELLA BULKY (4 oz. balls) – 1
Knitting Needles: 1 pair straight needles – size 10 ½ (Canadian Needles No. 2) OR ANY SIZE NEEDLES THAT WILL GIVE THE STITCH GAUGE GIVEN BELOW

Gauge: 4 sts x 4 1/2 rows = 1”

Size:  Size is not given in the original pattern book, but is pictured on an adult. Size may be adjusted as you knit – shorten or lengthen the center section to give your desired size.

Pattern Stitch:

Row 1: K 1, * P 1, K 1, repeat from * to end of row.
Row 2: P 1, * K l, P l, repeat from * to end of row.
Repeat these 2 rows for pattern stitch.

Directions:

Starting at center back, cast on 9 sts.
Work in pattern st for 1 ½ inches, ending with Row 2.
FIRST EARLAP:
Row 1: Work 3 sts in pattern st, put a marker on needle, work in pattern st to end of row.
Row 2: Work in pattern st to 1 st before marker, inc 1 st in next st, work to end of row.
Row 3: Work to marker, inc 1 st in next st, work in pattern as established to end of row.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 four times more — 19 sts.
Work in ribbing as established for 5 rows.
DEC ROWS:
Row 1: Starting at front edge, work 3 sts, K 2 tog, work to end of row.
Row 2: Work in pattern as established.
Repeat these 2 rows 7 times more — 11 sts.
Work even in pattern as established for 4 ½ inches. [this is where you could adjust the length for larger or smaller size]
SECOND EARLAP:
Row 1: Starting at front edge, work 3 sts in pattern, inc 1 st in next st, work in pattern to end of row.
Row 2: Work in pattern as established.
Repeat these 2 rows 7 times more — 19 sts.
Work in ribbing as established for 4 rows.
DEC ROWS:
Row 1: Starting at front edge work 3 sts, put a marker on needle, K 2 tog, work to end of row.
Row 2: Work in pattern to 2 sts before marker, P 2 tog, work in pattern as established to end of row. Repeat these 2 rows 4 times more — 9 sts.
Work in pattern for 1 ½ inches.
Bind off in ribbing.

FINISHING:  Sew seam. Steam/Block.

Hope you love your new Earmuffs!  Want more amazing Vintage Patterns – or some of my Originals – check out my Etsy shop.

Happy Autumn, and Happy Knitting!

~amy