Whether you want to look like Princess Leia or just keep your ears warm, this hat is perfect for you! This is really three patterns in one. Once you knit the main part of the hat, there are three hairstyle options to choose from—all the options are based on Leia’s hairstyles in the Star Wars movies. Use this hat to ward off the chilly weather, or as part of a costume!
Intermediate
Average adult or child’s large
Unstretched hat is 17¼” (44 cm) in circumference
Knit Picks Gloss HW (70% Merino wool, 30% silk; 100 g/164 yd): 2 skeins in #24739 Fedora
Size 8 (5 mm) 16” circular needle, or four double-pointed needles
Four size 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles
Tapestry needle
Size G crochet hook, for picking up stitches if necessary
Nine stitch markers
Stuffing for the buns
24 stitches = 4” (10 cm) in 1x1 rib stitch
HAT
With the size 8 circular needle, CO 104 sts.
Join and work around in (k1, p1) rib for 4.5” (11 cm).
DECREASES
Rnd 1: *K2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, pm; repeat from * for thirteen total times—91 sts.
At this point, start knitting onto DPNs as follows:
Rnd 2: *K2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on first needle—18 sts.
Start second DPN as follows:
*K2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on second needle—18 sts.
Start third DPN as follows:
*K2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on third needle—18 sts.
Start fourth DPN as follows:
*K2tog, p1, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * three more times on fourth needle—24 sts, or 78 total sts.
Rnd 3: *K2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on first needle—15 sts.
*K2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on second needle—15 sts.
*K2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on third needle—15 sts.
*K2tog, k1, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * three more times on fourth needle—20 sts, or 65 total sts.
Rnd 4: *K2tog, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on first needle—12 sts.
*K2tog, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on second needle—12 sts.
*K2tog, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * two more times on third needle—12 sts.
*K2tog, p1, k1, p1, sm; repeat from * three more times on fourth needle—16 sts, or 52 total sts.
Rnd 5: *K2tog, k1, p1, remove marker; repeat from * two more times on first needle—9 sts.
*K2tog, k1, p1, remove marker; repeat from * two more times on second needle—9 sts.
*K2tog, k1, p1, remove marker; repeat from * two more times on third needle—9 sts.
*K2tog, k1, p1, remove marker; repeat from * three more times on fourth needle—12 sts, or 39 total sts.
Rnd 6: *K2tog, p2tog; repeat from * on all needles—26 total sts.
Rnd 7: *K2tog, p2tog; repeat from * on all needles—13 total sts.
Rnd 8: *K2tog, p2tog; repeat from * on all needles, knit last st—7 total sts.
Cut a long tail. With a tapestry needle, pull the yarn through all sts and pull closed. With a tapestry needle, weave in yarn.
BUNS (MAKE_2)
With size 7 DPNs, CO 15 sts.
Work St st for 18” (46 cm).
DECREASE
Row 1: Ssk, k11, k2tog—13 sts.
Rows 2, 4, 6, and 8: Purl.
Row 3: Ssk, k9, k2tog—11 sts.
Row 5: Ssk, k7, k2tog—9 sts.
Row 7: Ssk, k5, k2tog—7 sts.
BO. Weave in ends with a tapestry needle.
With a tapestry needle, sew the ends together, filling with stuffing as you go. Roll into a spiral (bun) with the seam hidden inside. Sew together every few inches so the spiral stays together. Either pin onto the hat (if you want to use more than one option) or sew onto the hat so they will cover your ears.
BRAIDS (MAKE_3)
With size 7 DPNs, CO 4 sts.
Knit in I-cord for 25” (64 cm).
BO.
Braid all 3 I-cords together and sew the ends together to make a circle.
This can be sewn on the hat so that the braid circles the head like a headband, or pinned onto the hat so that the braid can be altered or left off of the hat altogether.
BUN
With one size 7 DPN, CO 9 sts. Divide over 3 DPNs and join.
Rnds 1, 3, 5, 7: Knit around.
Rnd 2: *Kf&b; repeat from * around—18 sts.
Rnd 4: *Kf&b; repeat from * around—36 sts.
Rnd 6: *Kf&b; repeat from * around—72 sts.
Rnd 8: *K5, kf&b; repeat from * around—84 sts.
At this point, you may want to add another DPN and rearrange the stitches so that there are 21 sts on each DPN. Place a marker between the first and second stitch on the first needle to keep track of the beginning of each round.
Knit around for about 3” (8 cm)
DECREASE
Rnd 1: (K2tog) around—42 sts.
Rnd 2: (K2tog) around—21 sts.
Rnd 3: (K2tog) around, ending k1—11 sts.
Cut a long tail. Thread the tail through a tapestry needle and pull through all stitches loosely. Stuff the bun with stuffing and pull the tapestry needle tighter until it is almost closed. Weave in ends.
BRAIDS (MAKE_2)
For each braid, make 3 I-cords.
With size 7 DPNs, CO 4 sts.
Knit in I-cord for 15” (38 cm).
BO and weave in ends.
Braid all 3 I-cords together and sew the ends of the braids together so that they don’t come apart. Sew the two ends together so that each braid is shaped like a teardrop.
Sew the bun onto the top of the hat, and sew both teardrop braids to the hat just under the bun.
