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Description

Igloo is a ponytail earflap Hat. Its brim, earflaps and ponytail tunnel are worked in moss (seed) stitch, whilst the rest of the Hat is worked in stocking stitch. The crown is smooth and fitted and has a short tunnel that allows a ponytail to sit comfortably.

Availability

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Yarn
100g/174yd/160m
Worsted weight, single ply or plied yarn.

Needles & Notions
Set 4.5mm/UK7/US7 DPNs/Circular or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker as necessary
Tapestry needle

Sample details
Shown in Frog Tree Alpaca Worsted[174yd/160m per 100g; 100% Alpaca]

Shown in size 24in/61cm on model with 24in/61cm circumference head

Gauge
18 sts x 24 rows to 4in/10cm on 4.5mm needles over Stocking Stitch

Sizes
To fit size: 20 [22, 24] in/50.75 [56, 61] cm
Finished size: 18.5 [20.25, 21.75] in/47 [51.5, 55.25] cm
Not sure which size to make? Check my handy size and measuring guide!

Skills required

Circular Cast-on

Knitting in the round

Increases & Decreases

Standard Bind-off

Blocking a Hand Knit Hat

Abbreviations

K: knit

P: purl

rpt: repeat

R/rnd(s): rounds

st(s): stitch(es)

kfb: knit into front then back of next stitch

M1: pick up the horizontal loop between next 2 sts, place it onto the left needle then knit into the back of it

k2tog: knit next 2 sts together

ssk: slip next 2 sts knitwise, then knit these 2 sts together through the backs of the loops

How to

Using Circular Cast-on method, cast on 7sts

Crown

Row 1: *Kfb; rpt from * to end [14 sts]

Join in the round, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker to indicate start of round as necessary.

Rnd 1: *K1, M1, K1; rpt from * to end [21 sts]

Rnd 2: *K1, M1, K2; rpt from * to end [28 sts]

Rnd 3: *K1, M1, K3; rpt from * to end [35 sts]

Rnd 4: *K1, M1, K4; rpt from * to end [42 sts]

Rnd 5: *K1, M1, K5; rpt from * to end [49 sts]

Rnd 6: *K1, M1, K6; rpt from * to end [56 sts]

Rnd 7: *K1, M1, K7; rpt from * to end [63 sts]

Rnd 8: *K1, M1, K8; rpt from * to end [70 sts]

Continue in this manner, increasing 7sts per round, until you have 84 [91, 98] sts

Next work 3 [4, 5] rounds of stocking stitch.

Tunnel Shaping

This section is worked flat, across all the stitches, to create a hole for the tunnel.

Row 1: Cast off 2 sts, knit to end [82, 89, 96 sts]

Row 2: Cast off 2 sts, purl to end [80, 87, 94 sts]

Row 3: k2tog, knit to last 2sts, k2tog [78, 85 92 sts]

Row 4: Purl all sts

Row 5: k2tog, knit to last 2sts, k2tog [76, 83, 90 sts]

Row 6: Purl all sts

Row 7: kfb, knit to last st, kfb [78, 85, 92 sts]

Row 8: Purl all sts

Row 9: kfb, knit to last st, kfb [80, 87, 94 sts]

Row 10: Purl to end then cast on 2sts, turn [82, 89, 96 sts]

Row 11: Knit to end then cast on 2sts [84, 91, 98 sts]

Rejoin work to continue knitting in the round.

Body

Now continue working stocking stitch in the round until work measures 5.25 [5.75, 6.25] in/13 [14.5, 16] cm from tip of crown.

Next Rnd: K 82 [91, 96], K2tog [1, 0, 1] times [83, 91, 97 sts]

Now work Moss (Seed) st as follows:

Rnd 1: *K1, P1; rpt from * to end

Rnd 2: *P1, K1; rpt from * to end

Work Moss (Seed) stitch band for approximately 1.5in/3.75cm

Earflaps

Next Rnd: Cast off 12 [13, 13] sts, work 15 [17, 19] sts in pattern (1st ear-flap), cast off 30 [31, 32] sts, work 15 [17, 19] sts in pattern (2nd ear-flap), cast off 11 [13, 14] sts.

With right side of work facing, rejoin yarn to 1st ear-flap and work as follows:

Rnd 1: ssk, work in pattern to last 2sts, k2tog

Rnd 2: work in pattern (no decrease)

Repeat these 2 rounds until 3sts remain, then:

A) cast off for a regular ear-flap finish, or

B) work in pattern for 9.5in/23.5cm (or desired length) for tie cord on ear flaps then cast off.

2nd earflap

Rejoin yarn to wrong side of work. Starting with a purl row, work exactly the same as first earflap.

Tunnel

With right side of work facing, pick up and knit 4sts along the base of the tunnel 'hole' (where you cast on the extra sts to rejoin in the round), 7sts up the left side of the tunnel, 4sts across the top (where you cast off), and a further 7sts down the right side [22 sts]

Now work Moss (Seed) stitch until tunnel measures 1.5in/3.75cm (or desired length). Cast off loosely.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. A gentle wash and blocking is required to help the decrease lines settle in and lay flat.