Introduction
Winter Comfort Ear Warmer is a cozy twisted knitted ear warmer with centrally running cable stitch pattern. This is a fantastic first project introducing knitters to knitting cable patterns. The ear warmer can be knitted in a few hours which makes it a great last-minute gift. The pattern is graded in two sizes: child and adult.
The project is worked flat and seamed at the end. It uses less than 50 grams of DK weight yarn and is the perfect project to use up those odd balls of yarn left-over from larger projects.
The project is best worked in natural animal fibers in lighter colours for cables to stand out.
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Hello Friends!
I am participating in 24 Days of Quickies hosted by Marly from Marly Bird blog! If you are looking for quick projects that can be whipped up in a day or two, look no further! There will be a plenty of crochet and knitting projects and amazing bonuses in form of Holiday Armadillo. You can find all details daily pattern offerings on the main blog post:
24 Days of Quickies Are Back — and Better Than Ever! | Marly Bird
As you may have guessed by now, I am offering the Winter Comfort Ear Warmer as a free download on 03/12/2025.
The pattern will be free to download from my Ravelry store with a coupon code:
24DQknit
Don’t forget to check back the main blog post daily so you won’t miss a pattern! 🙂
Skills required:
To create this easy knitted cable ear warmer you will need to master (or already know) these stitches and techniques:
Long tail cast on (CO), knit stitch (K), purl stitch (P), cables (C6B, C6F), bind-off (BO), blocking.
Skill level:
Finished measurements:
The final knitted cable ear warmer measurements (blocked):
Size child (fits 19″-20”): 44.5 cm x 10 cm (approx. 17.5” x 4”)
Size adult (fits 22″-22.5”): 52 cm x 11.5 cm (approx. 20.5” x 4.5”)
Materials and tools to knit cable ear warmer
Yarn:
To get the exact look as on the pictures of the knitted cable ear warmer, you will need:
We Crochet Gloss (70% Merino wool, 30% Silk | DK (light) weight| 50 g (1.76 oz) = 112.5 m (123 yds))
- Kenai (#27016) 1 ball (45 g used for adult size)
Other yarn alternatives:
Please always swatch when substituting yarn:
- VALLEY YARNS: Northfield
- KING COLE: Merino Blend DK
For further alternatives, please see:
Knit Picks / We Crochet Gloss DK | Substitutes
You can get your craft supplies here.
Tools and notions:
- 4 mm (US size 6) knitting needles or size to obtain the gauge
- Cable needle
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
Gauge:
Blocked Gauge:
26 sts x 27 rows = 4” [10 cm] over cable st pattern after steam blocking
The gauge is essential for this knitted cable ear warmer as it will impact the amount of yarn used and final size.
Gauge helps you to understand how the project turns out in terms of the final size. If you would like to achieve the exact size of the final project as in the instructions above, you gauge needs to match exactly to the above.
If you get more stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact needle size as per instructions, your final project will turn out smaller. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows than stated above using the exact needle size as per instructions, your final project will turn out bigger.
Gauge adjustments:
To make adjustments, if you get more stitches and/or rows, you can try using bigger needle size to get closer to the desired size. Conversely, if you get less stitches and/or rows, you can try using smaller needle size to get closer to the desired size.
It may take trial and error to try out a few needle sizes to achieve the exact size.
Alternatively, if you really don’t want to make several samples to achieve the desired size, you can try to alter your tension as you work the project. However, I would advise to try this out once you master the basics of knitting as it may be a bit tiresome to try to master the basics of knitting and focus on alternating your tension while working the project.
Stitch guide:
Slip purlwise: Slip the next stitch purlwise
Other Special techniques and Bind off:
Knitted cables:
- C3B: This cable is worked over 6 stitches; slip the next 3 sts on cable needle and hold in back, knit 3, knit 3 from cable needle
- C3F: This cable is worked over 6 stitches; slip the next 3 sts on cable needle and hold in front, knit 3, knit 3 from cable needle.
Abbreviations:
| Abbreviations used in knitted cable ear warmer: | |
| approx.- approximately | p- purl stitch |
| BO- bind off | rep- repeat |
| C6B- cable 6 back | RS- right side |
| C6F- cable 6 front | yrh- yarn round the hook |
| ch- chain | sl p- slip purlwise |
| cn- cable needle | st(s)- stitch(es) |
| CO- cast on | WS- wrong side |
| k- knit stitch | yrh- yarn round the hook |
Notes:
- Similar super DK (light) weight yarns may be substituted; please check gauge
- The ear warmer is worked flat from bottom up
- The project is seamed at the end creating a twist.
- The cable row pattern is worked over 8 rows.
Instructions:
Knitted Cable Ear Warmer
Child size:
CO 26.
Row 1 (RS): K across to last st, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 2 (WS): K1, P across to last st, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Stitch pattern
Row 1: K2, P2, C6F, K6, C6B, P2, K1, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 2: Knit knit stitches and purl purl stitches to last st, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 3: K2, P2, K18, P2, K1 bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: K2, P2, K3, C6B, C6F, K3, P2, K1, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 6: Rep Row 2.
Rows 7: Rep Row 3.
Row 8: Rep Row 2.
Rows 9-120: Rep Rows 1-8.
Row 139: Bind-off.
Fasten-off.
Adult size:
CO 30.
Row 1 (RS): K across to last st, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 2 (WS): K1, P across to last st, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Stitch pattern
Row 1: K3, P3, C6F, K6, C6B, P3, K2, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 2: Knit knit stitches and purl purl stitches to last st, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 3: K3, P3, K18, P3, K3 bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 4: Rep Row 2.
Row 5: K3, P3, K3, C6B, C6F, K3, P3, K2, bring yarn forward, slip 1 purlwise.
Row 6: Rep Row 2.
Rows 7: Rep Row 3.
Row 8: Rep Row 2.
Rows 9-136: Rep Rows 1-8.
Rows 137-138: Rep Rows 1-2.
Row 139: Bind-off.
Fasten-off.
Finishing:
Weave in ends and block the knitted cable ear warmer to final measurements.
Seaming and creating a twist:
- Lay ear warmer horizontally with RS facing.
- Fold in half lengthwise from bottom edge to top edge, (RS will now be inside fold).
- Holding each of the 2 short, folded sides (one in each hand) bring short sides together, (folding horizontally). Ends will look like opposite/mirrored interlocking V shapes.
- Insert 1 folded side of 1 V in center of opposite V, overlapping V-shaped halves. There are now 4 layers.
- Using long tail, join in preferred method through all 4 layers. Seam will be hidden inside the twist. Weave in ends, turn RS out.
I would love to see and share your work on social media, use #wintercomfortearwarmer or #exquisitecrochetuk.
Pattern support: exquisite.crochet.uk@gmail.com
Further resources:
Pattern video tutorial for this knitted cable ear warmer:
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For even more free pattern inspiration from your favourite crochet designers, make sure to check out:
You can purchase the add free PDF version of the pattern at LoveCrafts here and Ravelry here.
Did you enjoy the Winter Comfort Ear Warmer pattern? Why not try my other warm accessories patterns:
Thank you so much if you got this far in the pattern! I hope you got inspired for your own version using different colours. I can’t wait to see it! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram and let me know in the comment section below how you got on with it! As always, if you have any pattern query, the quickest way to get it answered is by emailing me on the pattern support email address above.
Happy knitting!
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