Hermione's House Elf Hats: Question

[entropymail]

No: HPFGUIDX 80559

Just a quick question: 

I know I must be missing something, but why does Hermione leave the
hats she's knitted for the house elves all around the Gryffindor
common room? Don't the clothes have to be given to the elves by their
master for them to be freed? In that case, wouldn't Dumbledore have to
give them to the elves, or else they wouldn't count? What have I missed?

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