Help with baby jester hat pattern 7 from baby jacquards book

[Debknits]

I'm hoping someone can help me out! This pattern indicates you do one ear flap, break the yarn and do the second ear flap. At the end of the second ear flap, I'm NOT supposed to break the yarn. At that point, the instructions for the joining row are: with smaller needles cast on 6 stitches, k16 from second ear flap, cast on 36 stitches, k16 across 1st ear flap, cast on 6 stitches.

Since the ear flaps are already on the smaller needles, I'm getting confused about what I'm doing on what needle.

Do I have both ear flaps on one needle? Then are the cast on stitches on another needle? Or, do I cast them on the end of the needle with the ear flaps, then knit through them before knitting through the sear flap...???

Very confused!

Any help most appreciated...thanks!!!!

[beeknit]

Once you have completed the 2nd ear flap (still using the small needles) you will add stitches onto this same needle, right beside this ear flap to complete the body of the hat. You continue to work with the smaller needles until after the 7 rows of garter st have been worked, then you change to the larger needles. I have added some info below in caps, hope this helps.

2nd Earflap: Work as given for 1st Earflap. Do not break yarn.

Next row: (Joining row). With smaller needles, cast on 6 (8-8-8) sts [THESE STS WILL BE FOR ONE SIDE OF THE BACK OF THE HAT]. K16 (18-20-22) from 2nd earflap [ONE EARFLAP IS NOW ON THE NEEDLE]. Cast on 36 (38-42-42) sts [THESE STS ARE FOR THE FRONT OF THE HAT]. K16 (18-20-22) across 1st Earflap [BOTH EARFLAPS ARE ON THE NEEDLES NOW]. Cast on 6 (8-8-8) sts [ THIS IS FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BACK]. 80 (90-98-102) sts in total. Place marker.

It does sound like you need to break the yarn on the second earflap, I will have our design team take another look at it. Good luck with your hat.