Live Long and Keep Warm (AKA The Spock Hat)
“You know what would rock? A SPOCK TOUQUE! Like, it would be black, and cut right across your forehead (like his bangs) and his skintone ears would be the part that covers YOUR ears!” --tripperfunster
And from that simple request was born…
Materials:
US Size 9 (5.5mm) DPN's or long circular for Magic Loop (or size needed to make gauge)
US Size 4 (3.5mm) needles
Approx 150-200 yds black worsted weight yarn
Approx 25 yds flesh-colored DK or sock yarn
Scrap amount of brown DK/sock yarn
Darning needle
Gauge:
18 st and 18 rows = 4" in unstretched 2x2 rib. Gauge isn't SUPER important because there is a lot of horizontal ease due to the ribbing, and the overall length can be easily adjusted based on how long your head is. Ideally the hat should end just below the nape of the neck when worn with the crown right at the top of the head (as opposed to further back on the head as most caps-see pictures)
Abbreviations:
m1: make one knit stitch (pick up bar between stitches by slipping the left needle under it from back to front, and knit into the front of stitch)
m1p: make one purl stitch (pick up bar between stitches by slipping the left needle under it from back to front, and purl into the front of stitch)
ssk: slip, slip, knit
k2tog: knit two together
p2tog: purl two together
Main body of hat
Leaving 6 inches of tail, CO 8 st evenly on DPN's (or magic loop), join work.
1: (k1, m1), repeat around
2: k across
3: (k1, m1p), repeat around
4: k1, p1 in pattern around
5: (k1, m1, p1, m1p), repeat around (64 stitches)
Work in the round in k2, p2 ribbing until the hat hits your eyebrows when the crown of the cap is worn fairly forward on the head (approximately 6 inches). At this point close up the small hole at the crown using the CO tail.
RS 1: K2, then BO 26 in pattern, (k2, p1, m1p, p1, k2, p2), repeat ing around until ending on the original K2 of this row. 5 purl st have been added, one in every other purl section around the back of the head. From here on in, the piece is worked flat, and every RS row should begin and end with a k2.
WS 2 (and all even rows after): K the k's, and P the p's
3: (k2, p3, k2, p1, m1p, p1), repeat around. 4 st increased in purl sections.
5. As row 2
7: As row 2
9: (k2, p1, p2tog, k2, p3), repeat around. 5 st decreased.
11: (k2, p2, k2, p1, p2tog), repeat around. 4 st decreased.
13: As row 2
15: (k2, p2tog, k2, p2), repeat around. 5 st decreased.
17: (k2, p1, k2, p2tog), repeat around. 4 st decreased.
19: As row 2
21: BO in pattern.
Note: length can easily be adjusted for longer/shorter heads; just knit a few more or less rows between the increases and the decreases (rows 3 and 9)
Ears
On smaller needles with sock yarn, CO 5 and purl one row.
RS 1: K2, m1, k1, m1, k2
WS 2 (and all even rows): p across
3: k3, m1, k1, m1, k3
Repeat in this fashion until 15 st are on needle, ending with a WS row
Work 4 rows St st, so next row is a RS row
1: ssk, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog
2: p across
Repeat last 2 rows until 3 st remain on needle
1: k, k2tog
2: k2tog, draw yarn through.
Repeat above to create an identical ear-shaped panel, then sew the two together with WS facing to create ear. I filled the ear with a little batting (you could use spare yarn!) so that it attached to the hat. Embroider on ear detailing as show in pictures.
Repeat all ear instructions for second ear, reversing embroidery.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Put hat on, and pin ears in place so they cover your own ears, then sew the ears into place using the sock yarn.
Live Long and Prosper!