How to Knit Earflap Hats
The style of knit hat known as an earflap hat, also known as a chullo, that has become popular worldwide has origins in the Andes mountains of South America. Fashionable and quick to knit as a gift, a hat with ear flaps with keep you cozy in the cold winter months. A knitter with solid basic to intermediate skill will be set to make this adult-sized hat.
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Things You'll Need
- 150 yards worsted weight yarn
- US size 8/5mm double-pointed needles
- US size 8/5mm 16" circular needle
- Tapestry needle or crochet hook
- Stitch marker
Instructions
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1
Create a gauge swatch, knitting 16 stitches and 24 rows in stockinette stitch. Measure the swatch size, it should be 4" square. Change needles and re-knit as necessary until the swatch is the recommended size.
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2
Work the ear flap sections one at a time. Cast on 6 stitches. Purl one row. Turn work. Knit front and back, knit until the last stitch, knit front and back. Turn work. Knit two, purl until last two stitches, knit two. Repeat these two rows until you have 20 stitches. Continue to work 10 more rows, alternating a solid knit row with a row where you knit 2 stitches, purl until last two stitches, then knit two. Leave work on the needle, do not bind off. After the first flap is knitted, break yarn with a long enough tail to weave in later. Knit the second flap, but do not break yarn.
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3
Cast on 20 stitches. Knit the stitches of the first ear flap. Cast on 20 stitches. There will be 80 stitches in total. Place stitch marker. Join to knit in the round, taking care not to twist stitches. Knit in the round for six inches
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4
Start working decreases at the beginning of the next round. Knit six, knit two together. Repeat to the end of the round (70 stitches). Knit the next round. Work decrease rounds alternating with knit rounds, decreasing the number of stitches between decreases by one each new round until 20 stitches remain. Switch to double-pointed needles when the work becomes too small for the circular. Work decrease rounds without a knit round in between until five stitches remain (two rounds).
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5
Break yarn, leaving a long enough tail to weave into the work. Use the crochet hook or tapestry needle to feed the yarn through the last five stitches. Pull tightly, then weave the end inside the cap. Using the hook or needle, weave in all other yarn ends.
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Tips & Warnings
Top the hat with a pom-pom and add braids to the ends of the ear flaps for a fun look.
Use yarn with large sections of multiple colors to create a striped look on the hat.
More advanced knitters can incorporate textured and multicolored stitch patterns into the basic hat pattern.
