Mandy's Panda Hat

My best friend Mandy loves Pandas. Her nickname is even Panda. A few years ago she asked me to help her make a panda hat. We went out and bought the yarn and then I moved away before we ever got around to making it. When I moved back recently, she found the yarn and we finally got to work. After we both knit on the hat for about a week and a half it was finally finished. We decided on a roll brim, but a K2, P2 rib would also look just as good on this cute little hat.

Materials

1 Skien Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions Brushed - Ivory

1 Skien Yarn Bee Cameo Bulky - Black (technically you only need a few yards of this so scrap would do if you have it)

1 Circular US 10/6mm needle

Set of 5 US 10/6mm dpns

Crochet Hook or Embroidery Needle

Gauge

Approx. 16 stitches = 4 inches

Head Circumference = 23.5 inches

The Hat

Cast on 80 stitches, knit one row and join in the round being very careful not to twist.

For the rolled brim: all you do now is knit every stitch round and around until the hat length (including the rolled brim, not from cast on edge) is equal to the length of your hand (or the recipients hand).

For a ribbed brim: K2, P2 rib for 1.5 - 2 inches. Then knit all stitches until the full piece from cast on edge is equal to the length of your hand (or the recipients hand).

The Crown

Switch from the circular needle to the dpns, 20 stitches per needle. Place markers in the middle of each needle so that each section has 10 stitches.

Row 1: *Knit 8, K2tog* repeat to end of round (72 stitches)

Row 2: Knit all stitches

Row 3: *Knit 7, K2tog* repeat to end of round (64 stitches)

Row 4: Knit all stitches

Row 5: *Knit 6, K2tog* repeat to end of round (56 stitches)

Row 6: Knit all stitches

Row 7: *Knit 5, K2tog* repeat to end of round (48 stitches)

Row 8: Knit all stitches

Row 9: *Knit 4, K2tog* repeat to end of round (40 stitches)

Row 10: Knit all stitches

Row 11: *Knit 3, K2tog* repeat to end of round (32 stitches)

Row 12: Knit all stitches

Row 13: *Knit 2, K2tog* repeat to end of round (24 stitches)

Row 14: Knit all stitches

Row 15: *Knit 1, K2tog* repeat to end of round (16 stitches)

Row 16: Knit all stitches

Row 17: *K2tog* repeat to end of round (8 stitches)

Snip yarn leaving a decent tail. Thread the tail through the remaining stitches, making a small circle. Weave in all ends.

The Ears

Pick up and knit 11 stitches, 2 inches from the crown of hat. Knit every stitch fro five rows. For the next 8 rows, knit across until 3 stitches remain, k2tog, knit 1. When only three stitches remain bind off. The ears may seem pointy, but when you weave in the ends they will become rounded. Repeat for the second ear.