I found a small amount of aran yarn in my stash and wondered what I could make. One of the Ravelers had mentioned that she would like a pattern for a hat and scarf for her daughters build a bear - so here it is.
The hat is knit in rows and made in one piece for the rib, then divided into three pieces for the backs, and front to make a gap for the ears then joined again to shape the top. The hat has a back seam.
Bears ears are a bit tricky to fit a hat around but thankfully the knitting stretches around them ok. I don't much like the hats that don't have gaps as they can look a bit too bulky.
You will need
about 50g of aran weight yarn
needles size 4mm and 5mm (US 6 and 8)
cable needle
Abbreviations
k: knit, p: purl, sts: stitches, m1: make 1 by picking up loop between sts and knitting into the back, alt: alternate, tog: together
c4b: slip next 2 sts onto cable needle and leave at the back of work, k next 2sts, then 2st from cable needle
Hat
Using smaller needles cast on 76sts
Work k2, p2 rib for 13 rows
Increase row: rib 9, m1 (rib 19, m1) 3 times, rib 10 (80sts)
Change to larger needles
Next row: (k1, p2, k4, p2, k1) 8 times
Divide for ears (wrong side facing)
Next row: (p1, k2, p4, k2, p1) 2 times, turn. Leave remaining 60sts on holder or keep on left hand needle
Continue on 20sts for right back
Row 1: (k1, p2, c4b, p2, k1) 2 times
Row 2: and all alt rows: p1, k2, p4, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3
Row 3: (k1, p2, k4, p2, k1) 2 times
Row 5: as row 3
Row 6: k3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3
These 6 rows form the cable pattern. Repeat pattern once then repeat rows 1 and 2. Leave sts on holder.
Re-join yarn to remaining sts wrong side facing
Next row: k1, (k2, p4, k2, p2) 3 times, k2, p4, k3 turn. Leave remaining 20sts on holder or keep on left hand needle
Continue on 40sts for front
Row 1: k1, (p2, c4b, p2, k2) 3 times, p2, c4b, p2, k1
Row 2: and all alt rows: k1,(k2 p4, k2, p2) 3 times, k2, p4, k3
Row 3: k1, (p2, k4, p2, k2) 3 times, p2, k4, p2, k1
Row 5: as row 3
Row 6: k1,(k2 p4, k2, p2) 3 times, k2, p4, k3
These 6 rows form the cable pattern. Repeat pattern once, then repeat rows 1 and 2 Leave sts on holder.
Re-join yarn to remaining 20sts wrong side facing
Continue on 20sts for left back
Next row: K3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p1
Row 1: (k1, p2, c4b, p2, k1) 2 times
Row 2: and all alt rows: k3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p1
Row 3: (k1, p2, k4, p2, k1) 2 times
Row 5: as row 3
Row 6: k3, p4, k2, p2, k2, p4, k3
These 6 rows form the cable pattern. Repeat once then repeat rows 1 and 2. Do not fasten off yarn
Shape top
Working across all sts of left back, front and right back continue as follows (right side facing)
Row 1: (k1, p2tog, k4, p2tog, k1) to end 64sts
Row 2: (p1, k1, p4, k1, p1) to end
Row 3: k1, (p1, k4, p1, k2tog) 7 times, p1, k4, p1, k1 57sts
Row 4: (p1, k1, p4, k1) to last st, p1
Row 5: k1, (p1, c4b, p2tog) 7 times, p1, c4b, p1, k1 50sts
Row 6: k2tog, (p4, k2) 7 times, p4, k2tog
Row 7: p1, (k4, p2tog) 7 times, k4, p1 41sts
Row 8: k1 (p4, k1) to end
Row 9: p1, *(k2tog) 2 times, p1** repeat from * to ** 8 times 25sts
Row 10: p2tog, to last st, p1 13sts
Row 11: k2tog to last st, k1 7sts
Fasten off yarn leaving a tail, thread yarn through remaining 7sts and secure with a few sts continue to sew back seam.
Sew medium pompom onto top of hat
Finish all ends
Scarf
Using larger needles cast on 16sts
Row 1: k4, p2, k4, p2, k4
Row 2: and all alt rows: k6, p4, k6
Row 3: k4, p2 c4b, p2, k4
Row 5: as row 1
Row 6: k6, p4, k6
These 6 rows form the cable pattern.
Continue in pattern until scarf is 25” long
Gather each end of scarf.
Attach a small pompom to each end