This hat has a rolled brim and, for maximum effect, should be long enough to come down low on the forehead. It is worked back and forth (not in the round) so the spots can be put in by stranding or intarsia. Each hat should be individual so I have NOT included a chart for the spots. Make up the spots as you go along, or duplicate stitch them in on the finished hat. The hat is done in stockinette but the ears are in garter stitch so that they don't curl.
For a bigger or smaller hat, add or subtract stitches in multiples of 5, and adjust decrease shaping accordingly.
Materials:
Sport weight yarn, MC is white, CC is black;
#6 needles; 4 stitch markers
Gauge:
5st = 1 inch (this is not critical)
With white, cast on 80 stitches and work in stockinette (K1 row, P1 row) for 1 1/2 inches.
Continue to work body of the cap in white, and start putting in large and small black spots at will. (Continue this spotting process until the cap is cast off.)
When cap is about 6 inches long, divide stitches by 5 as follows: *K16, place marker* across ending with K16
Decrease rows
Purl all even numbered rows
Row 1: *SSK, K12, K2tog, slip marker*
Row 3: *SSK, K10, K2tog, slip marker*
Row 5: *SSK, K8, K2tog, slip marker*
Continue decreasing in this pattern until 10 stitches remain on needle, then on RS, K2tog 5 times, cut yarn leaving a tail about 8 inches long. Thread through stitches on needle and fasten off. Sew up back seam.
Ears
Make one in black and one in white, or manipulate the black and white stands to make spotted ears.
Cast on 12 stitches and work in garter stitch (K every row) for 24 rows.
Begin ear shaping (continue working in garter stitch)
Decrease 1 stitch at beginning of every 4th row, twice.
Decrease 1 stitch at beginning of every other row, twice.
Decrease 1 stitch at beginning and end of every other row until 3 stitches remain on needle, then K3tog and fasten off.
Sew the ears to the hat body so that they will flop forward. Ears should be positioned just above the wearers' own ears.