Knitted toque with earflaps

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Adult-size hat is worked in stocking stitch, with band of ribbing, then edged with crochet. Standard abbreviations are used. Recommended for knitters with some experience.

You need:
• Patons Rumor (80 g) 84 per cent acrylic/15 per cent alpaca/1 per cent polyester yarn as follows: 1 ball each No. 69044 Flannel Heather, Main Colour (MC); No. 69040 Spanish Heather, Colour A (A); and No. 69525 Fern Heather, Colour B (B)
• One pair of 6 mm knitting needles OR whichever needles you require to produce the tension given below
• 6 mm crochet hook
• Stitch holders
• Tapestry needle

Tension:
13 sts and 18 rows = 10 cm (4 ins) in stocking stitch. Work to exact tension with specified yarn to obtain satisfactory results. To save time, take time to check tension.

To make:
Earflap (make 2)
With MC, cast on 3 sts.
Row 1 (right side): Knit, inc 1 st in each of first 2 sts. 5 sts now on needle.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: K1, m1, knit to last st, m1, k1.
7 sts now on needle.
Row 4: Purl.
Rep last 2 rows 7 times more, break MC. 21 sts now on needle.
Next: With A, rep last 2 rows twice.
25 sts now on needle.
Next row (right side): Knit; slip sts onto st holder.

Toque
Joining row: With A, cast on 3 sts, move needle with sts to right hand, then, with wrong side facing, purl across 25 sts of one earflap on st holder; move needle with sts back to left hand, then cast on 10 sts; move needle with sts to right hand, then, with wrong side facing, purl across 25 sts of rem earflap on st holder; cast on 3 sts. 66 sts now on needle.
Row 1 (right side): K2, [p2, k2] to end of row.
Row 2: P2, [k2, p2] to end of row.
Rep last 2 rows of [k2, p2] ribbing once more.
Next: With B, work 2 rows ribbing.
Next: With A, work 2 rows ribbing, break A and B.
Next: With MC, work even in St st until work from joining row measures 14.5 cm/5-3/4 ins, ending with right side facing for next row.

To shape crown:
Row 1: K1, [k6, k2tog] 8 times, k1.
58 sts now on needle.
Row 2 and alt rows: Purl.
Row 3: K1, [k5, k2tog] 8 times, k1.
50 sts now on needle.
Row 5: K1, [k4, k2tog] 8 times, k1.
42 sts now on needle.
Row 7: K1, [k3, k2tog] 8 times, k1.
34 sts now on needle.
Row 9: K1, [k2, k2tog] 8 times, k1.
26 sts now on needle.
Row 11: K1, [k1, k2tog] 8 times, k1.
18 sts now on needle.
Row 12: Purl, break yarn.
Thread end through rem sts, draw up tightly and fasten off securely.

To finish:
Sew centre-back seam.
Make edging: With B and crochet hook, and with right side facing, sl st to toque edge at centre-back seam, ch 1, work sc evenly around entire edge, sl st to first sc and fasten off.
Make pom-pom: With 1 strand each of MC, A and B together, wind 20 times around 3 fingers of one hand; thread 30 cm/12-ins length of MC through loop at middle finger, then tie tightly, leaving long ends untrimmed. Cut loops at
each side, then trim to smooth, round pom-pom. Thread long ends through to wrong side of toque crown and tie.
Make braids: Cut two 76 cm/30 ins strands each of MC, A and B. Fold in half and, with crochet hook, pull loop through edge at centre of one earflap, then pull ends through loop to join. With 3 groups of 4 strands each, make braid, 20.5 cm/8 ins long; at bottom, tie with overhand knot, trimming tassel to 5 cm/2 ins. Repeat for second braid.

Designer's tip
To omit earflaps, cast on 66 sts with A, work as given for toque, then finish with crocheted edging and pom-pom.

Photo by Jack Piatkowski