Katamari Hat Pattern

SIZE: Makes a generously sized adult hat. Based on an Earflap Hat pattern from Lion Brand, meant for Lion Brand Wool Ease yarn: two smaller sizes can be obtained using the smaller size directions on that pattern.

Materials: 2 balls DARK color Valley Yarns Florence 1 ball MEDIUM matching color Valley Yarns Florence 1 ball LIGHT/WHITE matching color Valley Yarns Florence (This is a feltable worsted weight wool yarn that knits up to roughly the gauge listed below. Size 7 circular needle, 16” long, and size 7 dpns. Gauge: roughly 18 sts + 24 rows = 4” (4.5 st per in) in Stockinette stitch (in the round, k every round. I actually did the project slightly over gauge, and it worked fine with yarn left over in each color.)

To decrease by one stitch: ssk (slip, slip, knit): Slip next 2 sts as if to knit, one at a time, to right needle; insert left needle into fronts of these 2 sts and k them tog.

HAT Using the DARK color of yarn, cast on 104 sts on circular needles, or cast on and divide sts evenly across dpns. Mark beg of rnd, and after every 26 stitches (dividing the round into quarters), if you need more guides. Rnds 1-8: Work 8 rounds Garter St (k one round, p the next). Rnds 9-10: Change to Stockinette St (k every round) and work 2 rows even. Rnd 11: Decrease 4 sts evenly spaced around – 100 sts. (100/4 is 25 stitches, so counting each ssk as stitch 1, count up to 25 stitches before doing the next ssk. If you do this with the first stitch of the round the ssks should be done right after you pass each quarter marker.) Rnds 12-15: Work 4 rows even. Rnd 16: Decrease 4 sts evenly spaced around – 96 sts. Rnds 17-19: Work 3 rows even. Rnds 20-27: Repeat last 4 rows 2 times more – 88 sts. Rnd 28: Dec 4 sts evenly spaced around – 84 sts. Rnd 30: Work 2 rows even. Switch to dpns somewhere in next 15 rows; your choice. Rnd 31-33: Repeat last 3 rows once more – 80 sts. Rnd 34: Dec 4 sts evenly spaced around – 76 sts. Rnd 35: Work 1 row even.

Rnds 36-49: Repeat last 2 rows 7 times more – 48 st remaining. (After rnd 36: 72 st, rnd 38: 68 st, rnd 40: 64 st, rnd 42: 60 st, rnd 44: 56 st, rnd 46: 52 st, rnd 48: 48 st.)

Rnds 50-53: Change to LIGHT/WHITE yarn. Repeat last 2 rows 2 times more – 40 sts at end of rnd 53. (Rnd 50: 44 st, rnd 52: 40 st.)

Rnd 54-55: Change back to DARK yarn, and repeat last 2 rows 1 more time – 36 st at end of round 55. Rnd 56: Decrease 4 sts evenly spaced around – 32 sts. Rnds 57-59 Change to MEDIUM color and repeat last row 3 times more - 20 st. Rnds 60-61: Change to LIGHT/WHITE and repeat last row 2 times more – 12 sts. Rnd 62: Decrease 3 sts evenly spaced around – 9 sts. Rnd 63: Repeat last row once more – 6 sts. Cut yarn leaving a 12" tail. Pull tail through remaining sts.

KATAMARI BAUBLES (make 6 of these)

For each bauble, cast on 48 stitches in LIGHT/WHITE yarn and divide evenly on dpns. Think of this as if it’s rnd 49 on the hat, above. Work rnd 50 (which involves decreasing 4 st evenly across row, yes, this is tight when done right after casting on with dpns, but it will work) – 44 st at end of rnd, and follow the hat pattern from rnd 51 to the end.

Gently steam block the bottom edges of the baubles by placing a damp tea towel over the bauble and using an iron to uncurl the edges. Don’t put the iron directly on the bauble. They won’t be as convex as the bauble built into the top of the hat, but when you sew them on with these flattened edges, they will become similarly rounded.

When baubles are dry, fold the first 8 rows of the hat up to form a cuff. If you have a suitable pot or bowl to put under the hat, do so, as it makes pinning and sewing easier. Using 4 of the baubles, pin each bauble on such that the top edge is parallel to one side of the bauble knit into the top of the hat, and bottom edge is at or just above the top of the cuff. Sew each bauble on with the LIGHT/WHITE yarn.

EARFLAPS Mark off 2 spaces, each roughly 17 st wide, on bottom fold of hat and just below baubles on opposite sides of hat. Space should be as wide as one bauble, or slightly wider; mark off more space if needed.

With RS facing, using DARK yarn, pick up and knit 17 sts (or more if your baubles seem to be wider than 17 st) along bottom fold in one of the marked off spaces. This is Row 1. Continue until 22 rows are knitted (Compare again with size of remaining baubles and knit some extra rows if needed), and then begin decreasing beginning and end of rows. When 3 stitches remain, put them on the same dpn, and use another dpn to do I-chain. Work I-chain, trying on hat occasionally, until it is long enough to go under your throat to or past the far corner of your jaw on the other side. Bind off last three stitches and leave a tail of at least 12 inches.

Do second earflap on the other side by the same method, making sure the I-chains at the end come out the same length. Sew a bauble onto the RS of each earflap with LIGHT/WHITE yarn.

TASSEL ENDS If desired, Take 3 or 4 strands of DARK yarn and pass through end of I-chain so that their ends meet. Tie overhand knot and trim ends (and tail of I-chain yarn) to make a 1.5 in tassel. Do same with end of I-chain on other side.

ABBREVIATIONS beg = begin(s)(ning) k = knit p = purl rem = remain(s)(ing) rnd(s) = round(s) RS = right side st(s) = stitch(es) tog = together WS = wrong side