"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!