by Allson MacAlister - www.knittingninja.com Designed/it byAlison MacAlister, with ntes/testinhotosbyDebbie and Lah Vrrell www.lileblogspotm Further errata thanks to starfall and further errata/photos by discosmurf on Ravelry. ERRATA:Dec.12th,2010: Body increases and dorsal fin addition have been dramatically re-written to, well... make sense. Minor edits have also been added to the teeth and tail sections.
Adult hat: Size 9 (5.5mm) & size 8 (5mm) DPNs (circular needles optional for last third of hat) Child's hat: Size 8 (5mm) & size 6 (4.5mm) DPNs (circular needles optional for last third of hat) Yarn: 2 Skeins Bernat Softee Chunky in blue-grey, or any substitute chunky/bulky weight yarn that meets gauge (14 sts and 24 rows = 4" in st st), small amount of red yarn in similar weight, and white yarnforteeth Optional: White felt for teeth, feece for lining, polyester fiberfill stuffng.
Body
Using larger needles, CO 10 st. Join in circle, being careful not to twist. Work st st for 5 rounds. \*(k1, m1) twice, kl, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 18 stitches K across for 3 rows. (kl, m1) twice, k5, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 26 stitches K across for 3 rows. (k1, m1) twice, k9, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 34 stitches K across for 3 rows. (k1, m1) twice, k13, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 42 stitches K across for 2 rows. (kl, m1) twice, k17, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 50 stitches K across for 2 rows. (k1, m1) twice, k21, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 58 stitches K across for 2 rows. (k1, m1) twice, k25, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 66 stitches K across for I row. (k1, m1) twice, k29, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 74 stitches K across for 1 row. (kl, m1) twice, k33, (m1, k1) twice, repeat \* once = 82 stitches
Continue increasing like this, with 4 more st in the center group on each round, until your piece is 82 st. Work 3 rounds in st st. On the next round, k41, then CO 12 stitches by backward loop method for one side of dorsal fin. Place stitch marker. CO 12 more stitches for other side of dorsal fin. K to end of round. Work 3 rounds in st st. Knit to 2 st before stitch marker, k2 tog, slip marker, ssk, knit to end of round. Knit 1 round straight. Continue with these 2 rounds, decreasing before and after the stitch marker on every other round until back to 80 st. Work 8 rounds in st st. Switch to smaller needles. Work 2x2 ribbing for 1-1/2 inches. Switch to red yarn and continue ribbing for 1-1/2 inches. This is the inside of the mouth. BO loosely.
Tail
CO 2 sts. Working in st st throughout, work 2 rows. On the third row, inc one into each st. Next k row, inc one st into each st (8 sts). Next k row, inc one st into first st, k2, inc one st into next 2 sts, k2, inc one st into last st (12 sts) K 29 rows. You should have 36 rows total. Next row, (k2tog, k2, k2tog) twice (8 sts). Next k row, k2tog four times (4 sts). Next k row, k2tog twice (2 sts). Next row; Purl. CO. Stuff loosely with polyfill stuffing (it's washable), sewing edge closed as you go. Attach the tail to the end of the body, using the photos for reference. After securing to the body, wrap a strand around the tail and pull somewhat tightly. This creates the groove between the tail fins. Secure the yarn and weave in all ends up to this point.
Ear-Fins
Eyeball and measure out 18 sts equally on each side, and place markers to mark those sts. For reference, there should be 2 sts in the front of the hat, 22 in the back, and 18 between each marker. Pick up the stitches on one side. In seed st: First row: k2tog, cont in pattern. Second row: p2tog, cont in pattern. Continue working these two rows until two sts remain, then BO. Make the second earffap thesameway.
Teeth
For the teeth, there are two options. Knit, which takes longer but produces nicer results, or cut out with felt, which is quick but teeth have a tendency to curl slightly. Felt teeth (as in adult hat pictured): simply cut out teeth to the shape you would like using white felt, and sew them onto the body CO edge of the hat.
Knit teeth (as in child's hats):
On the front of the hat, between the earfaps, measure out 5 sts per tooth. You may want to mark the teeth with stitch markers, using the photos for a guide. For each tooth, pick up 5 sts. P 1 row. K1, sl wyif, kl, kl, sl wyif, k1. Sl wyif, kl, sl wyif, pl, sl wyif, kl, sl wyif. K1, sl wyif, sl-k2tog-psso, sl wyif, kl. P2tog, pl, ssp. Sl wyif, sl-k2tog-psso. Cut yarn and draw through remaining st, pull tightly. If you wish, you may repeat this process in the back of the hat for back teeth.
Continuing to use smallr needles, pick up 80 st in k2p2 along the lower edge of the body color, matching the ribbing stitches, just above the red and teeth. Do 3 rounds of k2p2 ribbing. BO loosely. This is to give the impression that the red and the teeth are inside the mouth.
Finishing
Stitch up back of dorsal fin. For eyes, you can either sew on beads, buttons, or embroider them. Weave in all ends. If you used an acrylic yarn or otherwise wish to warm up the hat, line with feece. If needed, stuff dorsal fin and lower body/tail area very loosely with polyfll, and sew in with feect
Copyright Inforrmation
This pattern is @copyright 2008 The Knitting Ninja (Allison MacAlister). You may make copies of this pattern for personal use, but you may not sell this pattern. You may sell the hats you make, providing credit for the design is given to myself (Allison MacAlister/The Knitting Ninja). Any questions about this copyright can be emailed to allisonmacalister@gmail.com.
Like it? Hate it? Have a suggestion?
Please contact me with all pattern inquiries & issues at allisonmacalister@gmail.com. Thanks to Debbie & Leah Varrel/livnletlrn, Janis Neville/stafallz & Kate/isosmurf for their help with testing, editing, and fxing this pattern. I an still an utter design noob and these great people helped me make this pattern work.
