Several people have asked for a pattern for the ear flap hats I've made. I'm including my version of the ear flap hat here, free for your enjoyment.

Karen's Ear Flap Hat Pattern

This pattern is a combination of a couple of different patterns I found online. I adjusted it to be used with worsted weight yarn.

Materials:
Worsted Weight yarn, 1 skein, about 4 oz. or about 200 yards (sample knit with Red Heart "Strata")
US Size 5, 16” circular knitting needle
US Size 5 double pointed needles (set of 4)
Tapestry Needle
Crochet Hook, about size F.

Guage: About 5 stitches/inch, although some flexibility is fine.

Sizes: Child's Medium (Women’s size medium, large)

Ear Flap:

Using 16” circular needle, cast on 4 stitches.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: k1, make 1 (m1) by knitting into the bar between stitches, knit to last stitch, m1, k1
Row 4: Purl

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until there are 20 sts on needle. End with row 4.
Break yarn, but leave ear flap on needle.

Make another ear flap.

Hat:

Row 1: Cast 5 (6, 8) stitches onto circular needle. Knit all sts from one ear flap. Cast on 28 (32, 34) sts. using backward loop method. Knit all sts from second ear flap. Cast on final 5 (6) sts using backward loop method. 78 (84) total stitches.

Join and mark beginning of round.

Row 2: Purl 5 (6, 8), knit ear flap stitches, purl 28 (32, 34), knit ear flap stitches, purl final 5(6, 8) stitches. Total stitches: 78 (84, 90)

Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

Knit in stockinette stitch until hat measures 6 (6, 6 ½)”, not including ear flaps. You can knit patterns into this section, or you can add stripes as desired.

Decrease Rows:

Row 1: Knit 11 (12, 13)) stitches, k2 tog. Repeat to end of row.
Row 2: Knit 10 (11, 12), k2 tog. Repeat to end of row.
Row 3: Knit 9 (10, 9), k2 tog. Repeat to end of row.

Continue this decrease pattern, switching to dpns (double pointed needles) when the hat gets too small for the circular needle. Quit when there are fewer than 10 stitches left.

Break yarn, leaving 6 inch tail. Thread yarn through remaining stitches, pulling tight. Hide all yarn ends.

Optional ending: Continue decreasing until there are 3 sts. and work an I-cord for about 3 inches. Slip 1 stitch, k2 tog., pass slipped stitch over remaining stitch. Fasten off and hide end. Tie I-cord into a knot.

Using crochet hook and starting in the middle of the back, single crochet around entire hat. Fasten off and hide ends.

Braids:
Cut 8 strands of yarn, about 1 yard long. Using tapestry needle, pull each strand through one of the 4 stitches you cast onto the bottom of the ear flaps. Divide doubled strands into 3 groups for each ear flap and braid to the end. Tie a knot in the end of braid and trim ends.