Golden Compass Hat (Happy Holidays Blogosphere!)

If you don't want to read my ramblings - scroll down for the pattern.

Last weekend, DH and I went to see "The Golden Compass" in the theatre. I quickly realized that there was a lot of interesting knitwear in the movie. One hat in particular really caught my attention. Here's a shot of it that I pulled from the web:



After the movie, I started thinking about how I could make a hat just like that for Claire and before long, I had one. Once it was created, I decided it might make a nice little holiday gift for the internet. It is very easy and very quick and if you still have some last minute 'shopping' to do, this might be the place for you.

Here's Claire's hat:

Tell me you don't want to squeeze her? Despite the gigantic stitches, it keeps her head really warm.

Here's another picture (I can't resist the outdoor shoot):



It is made from Rowan Big Wool (two strands held together). I used every inch of one ball for this hat. After I made it and started showing it around, people suggested that maybe an adult version would be nice. So, I whipped one of those up too. But...instead of using more super bulky yarn like Big Wool, I decided to figure out how much worsted would get me the same gauge (I don't know about you but I have an easier time getting my hands on worsted). Turns out that if you hold six strands of worsted together it will be the same gauge as two strands of super bulky held together. The fun part about using all that worsted is that you can play with the colours. Here's a bit of the adult hat:


Three strands cream, two strands light brown, one strand dark brown.

I'll put a pic of a human in it later but I assure you that the effect is exactly the same. I have a hard time a) getting myself into the frame when trying to do self portraits b) looking relaxed in a photo when I'm thinking about how to take it.

ETA: Here's the photo of the adult hat. It was taken on a mannequin head at my LYS:



Happy Holidays! I've written the patterns in four sizes. I'm sorry to be vague on the ages...I can only get my hands on tiny children to try it out. I can tell you that the smallest size fits two three year olds (and mine has a huge noggin) and one 18 month old (but not mine..she has a tiny noggin). If you make one, I'd love to see a picture:

Golden Compass Hat

Size: small (preschooler), medium (little kid), large (big kid), extra large (adult).
Materials:
Yarn: Approximately two 100g balls of worsted weight yarn (6 strands held together) or 1 (2, 2, 2) 100 g balls of super chunky weight yarn (two strands held together). Adult hat shown used 6 strands of SRK Northern Worsted (3 strands cream, 2 strands light brown, 1 strand dark brown) preschool hat illustrated used 1 ball Rowan Big Wool doubled (with no wastage).
Needles: One pair 15 mm needles
Gauge: 6 sts and 9 rows per 10 centimeters (4 inches)

If using super bulky yarn, work from both ends of the same ball (2 strands). If using worsted, separate yarn into small balls abou the size of your fist (hold 6 strands together).

Hat:
Using the cable method, cast on 26 (28, 30, 32) stitches
Work 16 (18, 20, 22) rows stocking stitch (knit a row, purl a row)
Divide stitches evenly between two needles. Fold knitting in half. Using three needle bind off, bind off all stitches (it doesn't matter if you don't use a third 15 mm needle as long as you keep the bind off really loose).

Ties:
Using spare yarn, cut 4 equal lengths if using super bulky and 12 strands if using worsted. Hold two strands together for super bulky weight. Hold 6 strands together for worsted weight. Fold strands in half and put fold through first stitch of 4th row of knitting. Put ends through loop made by fold and pull snug. Repeat with remaining strands in last stitch of 4th row of knitting. Make twisted cords with these strands for ties. To do this you might need a helper to hold your hat - twist each lenght of yarn as much as possible then lay the twisted lenghts on top of each other and let go. They should them twist onto themselves (you might have to help out toward the ends). Tie ends in an overhand knot and trim).

ETA: Alternate bind off:
In the movie there is a ridge at the back of the hat that you can see in several scenes. This pattern, as written, will not yield that ridge. The only reason I did it that way is because, in my world, you're supposed to do a three-needle bind off on the wrong side to hide that ridge (old habits die hard). If you would like to be authentic and have a ridge of your very own (it really is fetching), just start the stockinette of the hat with a purl row and then you'll end up binding off on a knit row instead of a purl row and that ridge will show up nooooo problem.