Big shout out to Laeia of @craftymed on Instagram for the pattern name suggestion. I had many suggestions for “wishbone” but was getting more butterfly vibes whenever I looked at this stitch pattern & absolutely love the name.

While I mostly knit with super bulky yarn, I have been wanting to add a lightweight ear warmer to my patterns and products for quite some time & I’m so happy with how this one turned out. The repeat of the stitch pattern is much easier to knit than it might appear, and it works up quite quickly!

You can purchase a downloadable .PDF version of this pattern here or continue below for the FREE pattern.
Materials:
- Approximately 78 yds Worsted/Aran Weight yarn. I used WeAreKnitters – The Petite Wool. My testers used Yarn Bee Soft and Sleek, Bernat Super Saver, and Malabrigo Rios/Mecha.
- US 9/5.5mm knitting needles & cable needle
- Darning needle
- Scissors
- Row Counter (optional)
You can use the code MGMLSHKX7 to get $12 off at WeAreKnitters! Using this code also sends me $12 from WAK (at no extra cost to you) and is apart of the WAK Friends referral program.)
Gauge:
2″ x 2″ = 9 stitches x 11 rows. Gauge was obtained by knitting flat in stockinette stitch.
Notes:
This ear warmer is knit flat and seamed at the end. Pattern is sized and written for an average adult head (~22.5″). The length of the ear warmer may be adjusted by knitting more or less rows in the pattern repeat.
Abbreviations/Stitch Terms
CO – cast on
K – knit
P – purl
SL1WYIB – slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn held in back
C6F – cable 6 front: slip 3 stitches onto the cable needle & hold in front, knit the next 3 stitches from the left needle, knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle.
C6B – cable 6 back: slip 3 stitches onto the cable needle & hold in back, knit the next 3 stitches from the left needle, knit the 3 stitches from the cable needle.
ST(S) – stitches
BO – bind off
Pattern
With 5.5mm knitting needles, CO 21 sts using the long tail method.
Cable Set-Up:
Row 1: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 2: K9, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, K9
Row 3: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 4: K3, C6F, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, C6B, K3
Cable Repeat:
Row 5: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 6: K9, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, K9
Row 7: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 8: K9, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, K9
Row 9: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 10: K9, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, K9
Row 11: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 12: K3, C6F, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, C6B, K3
Repeat rows 5 – 12 eleven more times – or until ear warmer comfortably wraps around your head – for a total of 100 rows.
Finishing Rows:
Row 101: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 102: K9, P1, SL1WYIB, P1, K9
Row 103: K3, P6, K1, P1, K1, P6, K3
Row 104: BO all sts, cut yarn leaving a long tail for seaming.
NOTE: If knitting fewer or additional rows, make sure you BO with the right side (front) of your work facing you.
Seaming:
I prefer the mattress stitch for an invisible seam, but you can use whichever seaming technique you prefer.

I hope you enjoyed making this lightweight ear warmer! I would love to see and share your work so use the hashtag #ChrysalisEarWarmer and tag me (@kitzknitz) in your posts!

[The pattern and photographs in this document are property of KitzKnitz. This pattern is for personal use only. You are welcome to sell the finished products made from this pattern, but please reference KitzKnitz when doing so. You may not use photos from this blog post as your own or republish this pattern as your own.]
I love this pattern and will try come in and find the yarn I like for it. Thank you!
Diane Anderson
Thank you! I hope you enjoy making it!
Such an amazing patern thank you so much for sharing will be starting this tonight, see how many I can make before Christmas, everyone in my family will have toasty ears.
I am now making the third Chrysalis. As soon as I wear it, I have to give it away and make another.
Fortunately, I’ve stopped making too many errors and don’t have to reach down to redo the cable the right way as often as I did on the first one. I blame the lack of light. 😬
Thank you for the perfect holiday gift. 🥰
Hi! I love the look of this pattern but unfortunately I’m not understanding it. What is the “Cable Repeat” after row “4”? Go to row “12”? But then what? It says to repeat rows “5-12” eleven times, so we only do the cable sequence once?
Thanks,
M.Klem
Sorry! Totally my fault! I didn’t read the pattern properly!
Thanks,
M.Klem