Sock Monkey Hat

You know I have a thing for sock monkeys.  There are lots of different patterns for sock monkey hats on ravelry.  I decided to write my own... I know I'm biased, but I think it is darn cute!

I worked on these on the way to Arizona and on the way home.  Knitting the hat takes about the same amount of time as finishing them.  It is very fun to make... kind of addictive!

I ised cascade 220 scraps to knit these... and a size 6 needle.
Here is the pattern...
Cast on 84
Knit 2 purl 2 rib for 5 rows.
I used a rag wool as a nod to the original sock monkey.
Use your first color for stripes.
The stripes are each 5 rows.  You will knit 5 rows of stripes (25 rows) before you start decreasing.
Decrease rows
Knit 8, k2 tog
knit
knit 7, k2 tog
knit
knit 6, k2 tog
Change colors, knit
knit 5, k2 tog
knit
knit 4, k2tog
knit
Change colors  knit 3, k2 tog
knit
knit 2, k2 tog
knit
k 1, k2tog
k2 tog, run a needle through the remaining stitches
Pick up 10 stitches on each side of the hat.  Knit 4 rows of garter stitch.
Knit 1, k2 tog, knit 6, ssk, knit 1
Knit 1, k2 tog, knit 4, ssk, knit 1
Knit 1, k2 tog, knit 2, ssk, knit 1
Cast off.
For the earflap, pick up 10 stitches on each side of the hat.
Garter stitch 4 rows
Decrease as you did for the ears until you have 4 stitches left.  Use the remaining 4 stitches for i cord.  Knit 4 inches of i cord.
Make 3 pompoms.  Attach them to the top of the hat, and the 2 icords.
You are almost done.  Add a mouth with red and white felt using a running stitch.  (refer to the picture)
Add 2 black stitches for the nose and 2 buttons for eyes.  Enjoy!

I'm going to post this pattern on Ravelry too.  Make sure you add your pictures of your finished hats!