super bulky helmet hat recipe

i made 2 in the last 2 days. quick and easy. although there is a beautiful girl modeling the hat, it is made for my big, grown-up noggin.

materials: 1 skein Malabrigo Rasta (i used piedras)
tools: 10.5 needles, 16" flexible dp and dp set of 4
gauge: 2.5 st/inch
size: 22"

make earflaps: on 16" dp needle, cast on 5 stitches.
*knit 1 row.
*purl 1 row.
*k1, make 1, k3, make 1, k1.
*purl 1 row.
*k1, make 1, k5, make 1, k1.
*purl 1 row.
*work in stockinette stitch for 6 rows.
*set this one aside and make another.

make hat:when 2nd earflap is complete break yarn and slide it to the righthand side of the dp needle. cast on 15 stitches. knit the stitches from the 1st saved earflap and cast on 21 more stitches. place a marker and begin knitting.
*when hat measures 6.75" from the bottom of the hat (not the earflap) begin decreasing for the crown. when the knitting gets awkward, switch to the double pointed wooden needles.
decrease:
*(k7, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k6, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k5, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k4, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k3, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k2, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k1, k2tog) 6 times.
*(k2tog) 6 times. 6 stitches remain.
*cut a yarn tail of about 8 inches and use that, with a large needle, to close up the top hole-run the needle through the 6 remaining loops. push the needle to the interior and knot off.

finishing: turn inside out and, using the large needle, weave all tail ends into knitted fabric and trim. earflaps might need a little steam blocking.