Fornicating Deer Hat

I found the pattern for the hat with ear flaps as well as the chart for the deer on Ravelry.  It was quick and easy to knit.  I found the design infinitely amusing and, as it turns out, other people love it as well.  Now, to just find enough time to make a half a dozen more for Christmas gifts!

I used US Size 6 (4.0 mm) circular needles and Caron Simply Soft yarns.  For the strings from the ear flaps, I cut four strands of the main color and two of the contrast color, folded them in half, and connected them to the ear flaps, then braided them.

Hat:
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=4254&lang=us
Deer Chart:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fornicating-deer-chart

In the pattern for the hat, I used the maximum number of stitches in each section adding up to 96 stitches around, which allowed the deer chart to fit in exactly three times.  I didn't use the full chart, I knitted up to the end of the antlers, knitted around three more rows in the main color then started the decreasing with:

Row 1: *K10, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -88 sts
Row 2 and every even numbered row: Knit around
Row 3: *K9, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -80 sts
Row 5: *K8, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -72 sts
Row 7: *K7, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -64 sts
Row 9: *K6, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                    -56 sts
Row 11: *K5, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -48 sts
Row 13: *K4, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -40 sts
Row 15: *K3, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -32 sts
Row 17: *K2, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -24 sts
Row 19: *K1, K2tog, repeat from * to end.                  -16 sts
Row 21: K2tog around                                                  -8 sts

Break yarn, pull through remaining stitches and sew in the tail.