Teddy Bear Hat Knitting

A hat with teddy bear ears is an adorable thing - you just need the right bear hat knitting pattern to get you started.

Any basic hat knitting pattern will work as the base of your bear hat knitting pattern - a stocking hat, a tam, or an earflap hat are all good choices.  Knit them according to pattern in the color of your choice - there are many warm and cozy shades of brown or cream, and black, white or ivory are good choices as well.

Thick, fluffy, furry yarns can be a fun choice for a bear hat knitting project like this. If they're too cumbersome to knit on their own, try carrying them along with a more sedate base yarn in a close or complementary color.

Here are some ideas on adding ears to your bear hat knitting pattern, inspired by the classic "Kittyville" hat by K. Schmidt.

Try on the hat, and mark the best location on the surface of the hat for the bear ears, using paper clips or other stitch markers.  Measure and record the distance from the center of the top of the hat to the chosen site, so you can make sure both ears are balanced.

Based on the size of the hat and/or your head, determine the best width for the ear, in either inches or stitches. Beginning at the marker closest to the top of the hat, and moving down toward the hat brim, slide stitches from the hat base onto your needle. Pick up the number of stitches that equals your chosen ear width.

For the back, furry side of the ear, use the same yarn as you used in the base of the bear hat. Work two rows even, then begin using "knit two together (k2tog)" or other decreases to shape the ear into a gentle semicircle - keeping track of your decreases and stitch count will make it easier to duplicate this semicircle. Break off the yarn and weave in the end.

Choose a different, lighter yarn (such as light brown or pale pink) for the front, inside lining of the ear. Go back to the base of the ear you just knit, making sure you are on the front side of the hat, and pick up the same number of stitches you did for the first side of the ear.  Repeat the pattern of decreases you did for the back side of the ear. 

You now have two semicircles attached at their bottoms to the base your hat. Using your base fur color yarn, you can sew the two together with a simple whip stitch, or you can knit them together, adding a row or two to surround the inside lining of the ear with fur color before casting off.

Repeat with the other ear, using your previous measurements to ensure proper placement, and voila, your very own bear hat knitting pattern!