Easy Knit Leftover Yarn Hat With Ears

I do a lot of knitting and end up with lots of leftover partial balls of yarn.

I am always looking for ways to use it up so it does not end up in the garbage or taking up space in my yarn stash.

This hat uses bulky yarn and knits up quickly.

It is simple to make and fun to wear.

Step 1: Gather Your Yarn & Knitting Needles

Search through your yarn stash to find colors that look good together.

I used all bulky yarn for this project.

You also need a pair of 5 mm (US 8, UK 6) knitting needles

Step 2: Start With an Inch or Two of Ribbing

Pick your first color of yarn

Cast on 68 sts for an adult sized hat

(For small adult/teen use 60 sts - For a child use 52 sts )

K2, p2 to the end of the row

Continue working in rib stitch until the ribbing is the length that you desire, or until your yarn runs out.

Step 3: Now for the Fun Part of the Project

Start by adding another color of yarn

Then you get to play

You can knit using stocking stitch (K 1 row, P 1 row), plain knitting (K every row) or use any stitch pattern you like.

Change yarn at the end of a row to whatever color you want to use next

Continue playing in this way until your hat measures 8" (including the ribbing) for adult size

(7 1/2" for teen/adult size) (6 1/2 " for child size)

Cast off all of the stitches

Step 4: Sew Up the Seam

Once you have sewed the seam on the wrong side of your hat, fold the hat in half with the seam in the middle as shown in the picture

Then sew the top of the hat together to form a rectangle

Weave in the loose ends and turn your hat right side out.

Step 5: Make Your Ears

Thread a darning needle using a piece of yarn that has a smooth texture, like plain bulky yarn

Count 10 stitches from the top of your hat and insert the darning needle, picking up stitches at an angle as show in the picture

Turn the hat over and do the same thing down the back of the hat

Pull the two ends of the yarn together to gather the corner of your hat into ears.

Tie the two pieces of yarn together and weave the ends into the hat

Step 6: Enjoy Your New Hat!