You may have met Grace Murray, prolific knitter of South American caps, in Knitting Traditions, Fall 2015. When I visited her just prior to publication, her needles were flying to finish Andean-Inspired Cap #286, and I felt like such a slug with no project in hand! So I decided to knit my version of a cap (called a chullo in the Andes) that was a fusion of Grace’s design and my favorite techniques—and that also incorporated the variegated yarn that I love but that neither Grace nor the highland knitters use.

A version of the scalloped edging (puntas) decorates caps from several regions of Peru; the little bird motifs (pajaritos) are found on both the chullos and arm warmers from the Peruvian village of Chinchero. Knitters in Peru and Bolivia use rows of purled, checkered edging below the patterning. The multicolored garter-stitch earflaps that adorn every one of Grace’s caps are distinctly Bolivian and lots of fun to make.

Finished Size 18¼“ brim circumference and 10½” tall, excluding earflaps.

Yarn JaggerSpun Maine Line 2/8 Wool (100% wool; 275 yd [251 m]/2 oz [56 g]): willow (light green; A), cinnabar (red; B), peacock (blue; C), and jade (teal; D), 1 skein each.
Ella Rae Lace Merino (100% superwash merino wool; 460 yd [421 m]/3½ oz [100 g]): #147 forest green, burgundy (E), 1 skein. Yarn distributed by Knitting Fever.

Needles Size 2 (2.75 mm): 12” circular (cir), 16” cir, and set of double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Markers (m); size E/4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook; tapestry needle.

Gauge 29 sts and 36 rnds = 4” in colorwork patt.

This hat is worked in the round from the bottom up. Earflaps are worked separately and seamed.