by Susan Buchanan

This pattern was inspired partly by an online knit blogger's Thrum Mitts knitalong, and partly by a friend who's moving from Memphis to Utah and is horrified by cold weather.

We came up with this idea on a road trip, except that she was sure it would be the ugliest knit thing ever, and I thought it wouldn't be so bad. She's been converted, and I was pleasantly surprised.

This pattern really only takes about 50 yards of yarn (the rough calculation) and so it can be made with any scraps of worsted weight yarn left lying around. For the fleece, I used one bat from a needle felting set. When I tried to weigh it, it didn't even register on the kitchen scale, so I've included a photo of the fleece on top of a CD case for reference.

model: Susan Buchanan photos: Pamela Martin

MATERIALS

[MC] Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted [85% wool, 15% mohair; 190yds/171m per 4 oz. skein]; color: #23 Fuchsia, #23; 1 skein
[CC] Bits of unspun wool fleece, or one small batt (see photo at right for size reference)

1 pair US 8/5mm straight needles
1 US H8/5 mm crochet hook
Tapestry needle

18 sts/24 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch

Sew each Earmuff together with one Earmuff Lining, using mattress stitch for the sides of each piece and grafting for the tops and bottoms of each piece. Be sure the loose, fluffy ends of all pieces of raw fleece are contained inside the resulting small pillows.

Attach one crochet chain to bottom of each Earmuff, using the yarn tail at the ends of the chains to sew securely. Weave in rem tails.

Using rem crochet chain and tapestry needle, thread entire crochet chain through top of each Earmuff, making a loop (see photos for reference). On the back of one Ear piece, tie yarn tails together securely and weave in ends. This chain can be adjusted in length to accommodate larger or smaller heads.