"Federation Mutoid" Hats

My basic hat pattern - with a poof top.

My hat is very snug but a perfect fit. I wanted the top to be more cylindrical than perfectly fitted to my skull shape, and I got the top just how I wanted it. My British friend says that this hat reminds him "of the black helmets that the federation mutoid women wore in Blake's Seven" - but I rarely understand what he is talking about. ;)

Materials:
- Lion Bran Wool, 1 skein - but I used only about two-thirds a skein. You will need perhaps 100 yards of worsted weight wool.
- 4mm and 5mm 16" circular needles or dpns
- 5mm dpns
- tapestry needle to weave in the ends

Gauge:
4.5 sts/inch
6 rows/inch
Gauge is for stockinette stitch knit in the round.

Pattern:
CO 80 sts on 4mm needle with the cable cast on method. (Cast on more or less stitches in multiples of 8 if you head circumference varies. Mine is 21.5" round. For example, if your head is 20" round, you might want to cast on only 72 sts instead. If your head size is 23", you might want to cast on 88 sts.)

Work K2xP2 ribbing for 1.5 inches.

Switch to 5mm needles and knit in stockinette stitch (knit every row) for 6 inches total (those 6" includes the ribbing). (Knit for more or less than 6" if your head size varies. Mine is ~11" over the top of my head from ear top to ear top.)

Decreases (you will need to switch to dpns when you have too few stitches):

Row 1: *K6, K2tog, repeat from *

Row 2: K all sts

Row 3: *K5, K2tog, repeat from *

Row 4: K all sts

Row 5: *K4, K2tog, repeat from *

Row 6: *K3, K2tog, repeat from *

Row 7: *K2, K2tog, repeat from *

Row 8: *K1, K2tog, repeat from *

Row 9: *K2tog, repeat from *

Row 10: *K2tog, repeat from *

Thread yarn through remaining 5 sts and close the hole at the top. Weave in ends. Ta da!

Keeping Boyfriend's Ears Warm Since 2006

I knit a simple stockinette cap for my boyfriend last winter. He wore it frequently, especially when shoveling snow; however, I knew I could create a better-looking, better-fitting hat for him. This past Christmas, I included two skeins of Mission Falls 1824 wool in his stocking, and I told him that I'd knit him any type of hat he preferred, and he asked for a ribbed cap.

I present to you the Boyfriend Hat:

Yarn: Mission Falls 1824 Wool, 100% merino superwash, 2 skeins (with about a fifth of a skein leftover), color 004 - a beautiful charcoal grey
Needles: US size 8 (5mm) sixteen-inch circulars and dpns
Pattern: My own, see below
Design/knit time: January 5-12, 2007, which included ripping and re-knitting the crown a couple times

I'm proud of my hat. I love the ribs and the decreases. I also love this yarn. It's yummy - super soft and spongey. Best of all, my boyfriend likes it (yay!).

My pattern is very basic, but I think the decreases are alluring, so here's my pattern to share....

The Boyfriend Hat

This pattern is designed and owned by me. Feel free to use the pattern for personal use, but please do not reprint or distribute this without my permission.

Note: I had to re-write the pattern due to problems using Blogger to edit this post when I fixed the picture links.

Cast on 100 stitches on the circular needles (or use the double-pointed needles for the entire hat) and join to knit in the round. I used a cable cast on because I like how it looks. If knitting for a larger or smaller head circumference, add or subtract multiples of ten stitches (for example, 110, 120, or 90 stitches), and work the pattern the same.

Every row until the decreases: *K3, P2; repeat from * until the end of row

Knit the above ribbing pattern for 5.5" inches before starting the decreases for a hat that just barely covers the tops of ears (like in the pictures). Knit at least another inch for a hat that covers the ears. Larger and smaller heads might need a longer or shorter hat before the decreases.  For reference, my boyfriend's head (in the pictures) has a 23.5" circumference.

Decreases:

Row 1: *K3, P2, K2tog, K1, P2; repeat from * until end of row (90 sts remain)

Row 2: *K3, P2, K2tog, P2; repeat from * until end of row (80 sts remain)

Row 3: *K3, P2, P2tog, P1; repeat from * until end of row (70 sts remain)

Row 4: *K3, P2, P2tog; repeat from * until end of row (60 sts remain)

Row 5: *K3, P1, P2tog; repeat from * until end of row (50 sts remain)

You have now decreased every other rib out of the ribbing pattern. (If you are using a sixteen-inch circular needle, remember that you will need to switch to double-pointed needles when you cannot fit the stitches on your needle any longer.)

Row 6: *K2tog, K1, P2; repeat from * until end of row (40 sts remain)

Row 7: *K2tog, P2; repeat from * until end of row (30 sts remain)

Row 8: * K2tog, P1; repeat from * until end of row (20 sts remain)

Row 9: *K2tog; repeat from * until end of row (10 sts remain)

Row 10: *K2tog; repeat from * until end of row (5 sts remain)

Cut yarn, weave through remaining 5 stitches to close hole at top, and weave in the ends. You now have a ribbed hat perfect for your very own boyfriend (or husband... or friend... or relative... or yourself).

This pattern on Ravelry: here.