What words come to mind when you think about a fox? Devious… cunning… sly? Well maybe, but with its thick fur coat in a brilliant shade of burnt orange, the fox is one of the most beautiful wild creatures around. Straightforward to knit and with long earflaps to keep the wind out, this foxy hat is a wardrobe essential for the autumn.
Yarn
1 x 13/4 oz (50 g) ball—approx 191 yds (175 m)—Rowan Felted Tweed DK in shade 154 Ginger (A)
1 x 13/4 oz (50 g) ball—approx 98 yds (90 m)—Patons Fairytale Dreamtime DK in shade 51 White (B)
Small amount of Sirdar Country Style DK in shade 417 Black (C)
You will also need
Sizes US 9 (5.5 mm) and US 3 (3.25 mm) knitting needles
Yarn sewing needle
Large-eyed embroidery needle
2 small safety pins
Sizes
3–10 years (11 years and over)
Actual measurements
Approx 151/4 in/39 cm (18 in/46 cm) circumference
Gauge (tension)
17 sts and 24 rows to 4 in (10 cm) square over stockinette (stocking) stitch using yarn double on US 9 (5.5 mm) needles.
Notes
Before you begin knitting, prepare two separate balls of A; Ball 1 consisting of 161/2 yds (15 m) of doubled yarn and Ball 2 consisting of 21/2 yds (2 m) of doubled yarn.
For the hat and ears, use doubled strands of yarn throughout.
Main hat
(make 1)
Using US 9 (5.5 mm) needles, cast on 20(26) sts in Ball 1 of A, 26 sts in double strand of B, and 20(26) sts from main ball of A, using yarn double. (66/78 sts)
K 4 rows keeping to A/B patt as set.
Work 6(8) rows in st st beg with a k row.
Next row: K20(26) in A, k12 in B, join in Ball 2 of A, k2 in A, k12 in B, k20(26) in A.
Next row: P20(26) in A, p11 in B, p4 in A, p11 in B, p20(26) in A.
Next row: K20(26) in A, k10 in B, k6 in A, k10 in B, k20(26) in A.
Next row: P20(26) in A, p9 in B, p8 in A, p9 in B, p20(26) in A.
Break off B, cont in A only.
Work 10(12) rows in st st beg with a k row.
Large size only:
Next row: K5, [sl1, k2tog, psso, k10] 5 times, sl1, k2tog, psso, k5. (66 sts)
Next row: P
Both sizes:
Next row: K4, [sl1, k2tog, psso, k8] 5 times, sl1, k2tog, psso, k4. (54 sts)
Next and every WS row until stated otherwise: P.
Next RS row: K3, [sl1, k2tog, psso, k6] 5 times, sl1, k2tog, psso, k3. (42 sts)
Next RS row: K2, [sl1, k2tog, psso, k4] 5 times, sl1, k2tog, psso, k2. (30 sts)
Next RS row: K1, [sl1, k2tog, psso, k2] 5 times, sl1, k2tog, psso, k1. (18 sts)
Next row (WS): [P2tog] to end. (9 sts)
Break yarn leaving a long tail.
Thread the tail through rem sts, pull up tightly and secure.
Ears
(make 2 pieces in A and 2 pieces in B)
With US 9 (5.5 mm) needles and yarn doubled, cast on 12 sts.
Work 4 rows in st st beg with a k row.
Row 5: K1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, ssk, k1. (10 sts)
Row 6: P.
Rep last 2 rows twice more. (6 sts)
Row 11: K1, k2tog, ssk, k1. (4 sts)
Row 12: P.
Row 13: K2tog, ssk. (2 sts)
Row 14: P2tog. (1 st)
Break yarn and pull through rem st.
Tip
Before picking up stitches for the earflaps, fold the main hat piece together, so the two short ends meet at the center. Place a small safety pin at each side of the hat at the cast-on edge to mark the center of each earflap. Pick up an equal number of stitches on either side of the marker for each earflap.
Earflaps
(make 2)
With RS facing and using US 9 (5.5 mm) needles and a doubled strand of A, pick up and k 12(14) sts along cast-on edge for first earflap.
Row 1: K2, p8(10), k2.
Row 2: K.
Row 3: K2, p8(10), k2.
Rep Rows 2–3 three times more.
Row 10: K2, k2tog, k to last 4 sts, ssk, k2. (10/12 sts)
Row 11: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 12: K.
Row 13: K2, p to last 2 sts, k2.
Rep Rows 10–13 once more. (8/10 sts)
Large size only:
Row 18: K2, k2tog, k2, ssk, k2. (8 sts)
Row 19: K2, p4, k2.
Both sizes:
Next row: K2, k2tog, ssk, k2. (6 sts)
Next row: K2, p2, k2.
Next row: K.
Next row: K2, p2, k2.
Next row: K1, k2tog, ssk, k1. (4 sts)
K 3 rows.
Next row: K2tog, ssk. (2 sts)
K 3 rows.
Next row: K2tog. (1 st)
Break yarn and pull through rem st.
Work second earflap on other side of hat.
Nose
(make 1)
Using US 3 (3.25 mm) needles and C, cast on 10 sts.
Work 2 rows in st st beg with a k row.
Row 3: K2tog, k6, ssk. (8 sts)
Row 4: P2tog, p4, p2tog. (6 sts)
Row 5: K2tog, k2, ssk. (4 sts)
Row 6: [P2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 7: K2tog. (1 st)
Break yarn and pull through rem st.
Making up and finishing
For general information on putting your hat together, see here.
Join back seam of hat using the flat-seam technique.
Place one A and one B ear piece RS together. Oversew round two sides then turn ear RS out. Oversew lower edge. Make second ear in the same way. Stitch ears in position.
Using C, embroider a coil of chain stitch for each eye. Using C, embroider an arc of chain stitch across top part of each eye.
Oversew the nose in place. Using C, work a line of chain stitch from nose to garter stitch border of hat.
This project is from Fiona Goble's Knitted Animal Hats. To get more free projects like this one - direct to your inbox - sign up to our mailing list here.