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Chullo Hat Knitting
You
may not have heard of chullo hats, but you've almost certainly seen
them. A chullo hat (sometimes "chullu hat", "ch'ullu hat", or "llama
hat") is a colorful, finely knitted conical hat from South America,
especially Argentina and Peru. The hats are usually quite tall, with a
pom-pom at the top, and usually with broad earflaps with long dangling
ties. Because of the cone shape, one size will easily fit any size
head. These hats have become very popular among young men and women for
their unique look and their warmth and comfort.
The
most extraordinary thing about chullo hat knitting patterns is the
intricate color detail. Many are a veritable rainbow of color, arranged
in intertwining rows. Some chullo hat knitting patterns use only a few
natural colors but make up for it with incredibly detailed designs.
True chullo hats are made with slender yarn at an extremely fine gauge,
sixteen stitches or more to the inch, and the amazing color work is a
testament to the patience and skill of the South American knitters who
make them.
Most
chullo hat knitting patterns
available on the world wide web do not try to replicate this very fine
gauge - they are more likely to be eight stitches to the inch, or even
four stitches to the inch, and with fewer colors. There are many
different designs available, covering an enormous spectrum of different
looks, so keep searching if the first few chullo hat knitting patterns
you find don't call out to you.
The
construction in
most chullo hat knitting patterns is very similar. In most, you'll
begin with the earflaps, constructing them separately on straight
needles and then beginning a circular round at the top of the earflap
on a circular needle. You'll continue even for an inch or three,
starting whatever design pattern you have chosen.
The
tricky part is coordinating the tapering decreases (which create the
conical shape) with the intricate pattern repeats. You must pay very
careful attention to your pattern here, because the smallest error will
become very visible in your finished chullo hat - be prepared to frog
or tink your knitting more than once!
The
hat can be topped off with a large or small tassel or pom-pom in a
contrasting color. The rim of the hat and earflaps can be finished with
applied I-cord, and the earflap ties can be made from I-cord or crochet
chains.
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