A Practical Animal Cracker Hat
Based on Ron Weasley's hat from the Animal Cracker scene in the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban movie, knit to be more practical for winter wear. Pattern by Becca Evans. Copyright 2009 under Creative Commons license.
Size: Pattern makes a women's large/men's medium hat, to fit a head 23-24". For smaller or larger, change your needle size.
Materials:
116 inhU size6 cirula neede if youprermagic lp,uene4nhcirid of dpns and shorter circ) 1 skein Cascade 220 or similar worsted wool in each of these colors: -Dark green -Plum -Dark yellow -White or cream You will use nearly a full skein of the green and less than half of a full skein of the other four colors.
Pattern notes:
Earflaps are worked flat, back and forth. When the first earflap is complete it is set to the side. When the second is complete, the front of the hat is cast on using backwards loop, the first earflap is knit in, and the back is cast on using the same method. From there the body of the hat is worked in the round, up toward the crown.
PATTERN
Earflaps: In MC (the dark green, in this case) CO 5 sts onto a dpn. Row 1 [RS]: K5. Row 2 [WS]: Kfb, p3, kfb Row 3 [RS]: Kfb, k5, kfb Row 4 [WS]: Kfb, p7, kfb Row 5 [RS]: Kfb, k9, kfb Row 6 [WS]: Kfb, p11, kfb Row 7 [RS]: K across Row 8 [WS]: Kfb, p13, kfb Row 9 [RS]: K across Row 10 [WS]: Kfb, p15, kfb Row 11 [RS]: K across Row 12 [WS]: K2, p15, k2 Row 17 [RS]: Kfb, k17, kfb Row 18 [WS]: K2, p17, k2 Cut your yarn. Set the earlap aside, leaving stitches on hold on the dn Using another double pointed needle, make another earflap. Body: Knit across second earflap using $16^{\circ}$ circular needle, CO 47 sts using backward loop method (this is the front of the hat), knit across first earflap, CO 23 sts using backward loop (for the back of the hat). Place a stitch marker and join to work in the round, making sure not to twist. P2 row. K 8 rows in stockinette st, in MC. Work 20 rows of chart across all sts (chart can be found on last page of patern). Once chart is complete, begin decreases.
Decreases:
Note- When working decreases, switch to dpns when it is difficult to work stitches on circular needle. Row 1: [K14, K2Tog] around Row 2: Knit all sts Row 3: [K13, K2Tog] around Row 4: Knit all sts Row 5: [K12, K2Tog] around Row 6: Knit all sts Row 7: [K11, K2Tog] around Row 8: Knit all sts Row 9: [K10, K2Tog] around Row 10: Knit all sts Row 11: [K9, K2Tog] around Row 12: Knit all sts Row 13: [K8, K2Tog] around Row 14: [K7, K2Tog] around Row 15: [K6, K2Tog] around Row 16: [K5, K2Tog] around Row 17: [K4, K2Tog] around Row 18: [K3, K2Tog] around Row 19: [K2, K2Tog] around Row 20: [K1, K2Tog] around Row 21: [K2Tog] around Cut a long tail, draw it through the remaining seven stitches and pull tight. Pull yarn end to inside of hat and weave in. Weave in all other ends. Block, laying flat to dry.
Tassels:
Cut 6 pieces of each color, about 3 times the length you would like your tassels to be. Separate into 3 piles, 2 pieces of each color in each pile. Fold in half. Using a crochet hook, pull the folded part of one bundle through the bottom tip of one ear flap, creating a loop. Pull the ends through the loop, creating a larks head knot. Braid loosely, and knot about an inch or two from the bottom. Trim ends. Repeat for second earflap. For crown, pull loop through a stitch or two at the very top of the hat and form braid as for earflaps. Wear, eat animal crackers, and roar like a lion.
Chart is repeated around, using traditional fair isle techniques. Allsts are knit. Be sure to keep floats loose or the hat will pucker.
