... Girl Needs a Hat

I am ever so slightly addicted to this show called Wonderfalls that debuted on Fox in 2004. Only 4 episodes aired before the show was canceled, but a DVD with the entire first season (13 episodes) was released. It is a standard at our house, my daughter and I love it. It becomes apparent after watching the first half of the season that there was a knitter (and possibly crocheter) amongst the crew, as the most wonderful knitted pieces made cameos in the show here and there. One of my favorites was the hat Jaye wore in two episodes, Totem Mole and Caged Bird, the 12th & 13th episodes. My thumbs were busy pressing the rewind and pause buttons on my DVD remote from trying to figure out which yarn might have been used in the original hat. It at first appeared to be made of recycled silk, but I wasn't sure, the texture seemed thicker and loftier. But I could not figure out just which yarn was used. A while back I had cast on for the Unbiased bag with recycled silk alternating with Noro Silk Garden every two rows, but the project had been hibernating for a while. When trying to come up with yarn ideas for the hat it occurred to me that the yarns I used for Unbiased might work quite well for this hat if held together and I think it comes pretty close to the original from the show. The more I look at the scenes from these episodes the more I am wondering if Manos del Uruguay's 100% wool might look good also, with some tweaking of gauge of course.

So without further ado, I give you ....

Girl Needs a Hat


Gauge: 3 sts and 4 rows over 1”

Needles: US Size 11 DPNs

Sizes: S (M, L) - Finished measurements: 19"(21", 23"). For a tighter fit measure your head then subtract 1-2 inches.

Yarn:
Mango Moon Recycled Silk
Noro Silk Garden in Coordinating color




Ear Flaps: Ear flaps are knit as below for Medium and Large sizes. If making the small hat, you may choose to make slightly smaller flaps by repeating rows 1 &2 six times instead of seven, leaving you with 15 sts for each flap.

With size 11 needles and one strand of each yarn held together CO 3 stitches.
Row 1: Purl
Row 2: kfb, knit to last st. kfb
Repeat rows 1 &2 seven more times (17 sts.)
Purl one more row.
Break yarn and leave flap on DPN

Repeat above for second flap.

Hat Body:
Using new DPN cast on 3(4, 5) sts. , then knit across all 15(17, 17) sts of the first flap (RS facing out). CO an additional 13(14, 19) sts, then knit across all 15(17, 17) sts of second flap (RS facing out). CO 3(4, 5) more sts.

You will now have 49(56, 63) sts total; distribute evenly over DPNs. Place Marker (if needed) and join in the round, being careful not to twist work.

Knit in stockinette stitch (knit every round) for 3 ½ inches. Begin decreases in crown.

Crown:
Work decrease rows as follows:
Row 1 (Dec): *k5(6, 7), k2tog*, repeat from * to * to end. 42(49, 56) sts
Rows 2 and 3: knit
Row 4 (Dec): *k4(5, 6), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to end. 35(42, 49) sts
Row 5 and 6: knit
Row 7 (Dec): *k3(4, 5), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to end. 28(35, 42) sts
Row 8 and 9: knit
Row 10 (Dec): *k2(3, 4), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to end. 21(28, 35) sts
Row 11: knit
Row 12 (Dec):*k1(2,3), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to end. 14(21, 28) sts
Row 13: knit
Row 14 (Dec): For small only skip to instructions for row 18. For medium and large:*k(1,2), k2tog*, repeat from *to* to end. (14, 21) sts
Row 15: knit
Row 16 (Dec): For medium only skip to instructions for row 18. For large only:*k1, k2tog*, repeat from *to* to end. 14 sts
Row 17: knit
Row 18: k2tog, repeat to end. 7 sts all sizes

Break yarn leaving 6 " tail, pull tail through remaining 7 sts. and secure. Weave in ends.

Ear Flap Tassels:
Make tassels for the two ear flaps as follows:

-Cut 7 strands of yarn measuring 26" for each tassel (14 strands total)
-Using a spare crochet hook insert the hook at the bottom of flap from front to back.
-Holding 7 strands of yarn together fold them in half making a loop and wrap loop around the end of the hook.
-Pull loop through flap and insert strand ends through the loop, pull tight.
-Loosely braid strands and knot, pulling tight and leaving a 4-5" tail of strands at the end.

Repeat for second flap.

Top Tassel:
-Cut 12 strands of yarn measuring 23" for the top tassel
-Secure to the top of the hat as you did with the flap tassels
-Loosely braid strands and knot, pulling tight and leaving a 3" tail of strands at the end.