purlJam

# The Galactic Bounty Hunter Helmet (Beanie)
**Difficulty Level:** Intermediate
**Date:** October 26, 2023

## Description
A worsted-weight beanie inspired by the iconic helmet of Boba Fett. This pattern uses stranded colourwork for the helmet's horizontal visor band and "kill stripes," while the vertical section of the T-visor is added using duplicate stitch (Swiss darning) at the end for a crisp, professional finish.

## Sizes
**Adult Medium/Large**: To fit head circumference 56–59 cm.
Finished Hat Circumference: 52 cm (unstretched).
Finished Height: 22 cm.

## Materials
**Yarn:** Worsted Weight (UK: Aran). Wool or wool blend recommended.
*   **MC (Main Colour):** 70g Moss Green (faded military green)
*   **CC1:** 20g Dark Grey (for brim/ear seal)
*   **CC2:** 10g Black (visor)
*   **CC3:** 10g Dark Red/Burgundy (visor trim)
*   **CC4:** 5g Mustard Yellow (stripes)

**Needles:**
*   4.0 mm (US 6) circular needles, 40 cm length (for ribbing).
*   4.5 mm (US 7) circular needles, 40 cm length (for body).
*   4.5 mm (US 7) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for crown shaping.

**Notions:**
*   Stitch marker.
*   Tapestry needle.

## Tension (Gauge)
20 stitches and 24 rounds = 10 cm x 10 cm in Stocking Stitch on 4.5 mm needles.
*Technical Note: Check tension specifically on the colourwork section. If your colourwork is tight, size up to 5.0 mm needles for the body.*

## Terminology & Abbreviations (UK English)
*   **k:** knit
*   **p:** purl
*   **st(s):** stitch(es)
*   **k2tog:** knit 2 stitches together (decrease)
*   **MC:** Main Colour
*   **CC:** Contrast Colour
*   **rem:** remaining
*   **Duplicate Stitch:** A method of embroidery over knitting (Swiss Darning) to cover stitches with a new colour.

---

## Instructions

### 1. Brim
Using **4.0 mm** needles and **CC1 (Dark Grey)**, cast on **104 sts**.
Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful not to twist.

**Round 1–12:** *k2, p2; repeat from * to end of round.
*(Brim should measure approximately 5 cm).*

### 2. Lower Helmet Body
Switch to **4.5 mm** needles (or size needed to obtain tension).
Change to **MC (Moss Green)**.

**Round 13:** Knit all sts. `[104 sts]`
**Round 14–22:** Knit all sts in MC.

### 3. The Visor Band (Stranded Colourwork)
*Note: Carry floats loosely on the wrong side. Catch floats every 3-4 stitches for long spans.*

**Round 23 (Setup):** Knit 42 MC, Join CC3 (Red), k1 CC3, Join CC2 (Black), k18 CC2, k1 CC3, Break CC2 and CC3, Join MC (from other side or carry), k42 MC. `[42 + 1 + 18 + 1 + 42 = 104 sts]`

*Technical Editor Note: To avoid carrying Red/Black all the way around the back of the head, you may use the intarsia-in-the-round method, or simply carry the MC across the visor section, trapping it every 3 stitches.*

**Round 24–27:** Knit 42 MC, k1 CC3 (Red), k18 CC2 (Black), k1 CC3 (Red), k42 MC.
**Round 28:** Knit 42 MC, k20 CC3 (Red), k42 MC.
**Round 29:** Knit all sts in MC.

### 4. Upper Helmet & Kill Stripes
**Round 30–35:** Knit all sts in MC.

**Round 36 (Kill Stripes):**
*   Knit 15 MC.
*   *Join CC4 (Yellow), k2 CC4, k2 MC; repeat from * 3 times (creates 4 yellow dashes).*
*   Knit in MC to end of round.

**Round 37–38:** Knit all sts in MC.

**Round 39 (Kill Stripes):** Repeat Round 36.

**Round 40–44:** Knit all sts in MC.
*(Work should measure approximately 16 cm from cast-on edge).*

### 5. Crown Shaping
Switch to DPNs when the circumference becomes too small for the circular needle.
*Inline Math Validation: 104 sts / 8 sections = 13 sts per section.*

**Round 45:** *k11, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[104 - 8 = 96 sts]`
**Round 46:** Knit all sts.
**Round 47:** *k10, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[96 - 8 = 88 sts]`
**Round 48:** Knit all sts.
**Round 49:** *k9, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[88 - 8 = 80 sts]`
**Round 50:** Knit all sts.
**Round 51:** *k8, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[80 - 8 = 72 sts]`
**Round 52:** Knit all sts.
**Round 53:** *k7, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[72 - 8 = 64 sts]`
**Round 54:** Knit all sts.
**Round 55:** *k6, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[64 - 8 = 56 sts]`
**Round 56:** *k5, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[56 - 8 = 48 sts]`
**Round 57:** *k4, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[48 - 8 = 40 sts]`
**Round 58:** *k3, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[40 - 8 = 32 sts]`
**Round 59:** *k2, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[32 - 8 = 24 sts]`
**Round 60:** *k1, k2tog; rep from * to end. `[24 - 8 = 16 sts]`
**Round 61:** *k2tog; rep from * to end. `[16 - 8 = 8 sts]`

### 6. Finishing
1.  Cut yarn leaving a 20 cm tail. Thread tail through remaining 8 sts, pull tight to close hole, and secure on the inside.
2.  **The "T" Visor (Critical Step):**
    Using a tapestry needle and a length of **CC2 (Black)**, perform Duplicate Stitch (Swiss Darning) to create the vertical line of the visor.
    *   Find the centre of the black horizontal band (Round 24-27).
    *   Work duplicate stitches downwards from the centre of the band for approximately 10-12 rows (covering Rounds 13-22).
    *   Outline this vertical black strip with a single column of duplicate stitch in **CC3 (Red)** if desired for extra detail.
3.  Weave in all loose ends on the wrong side.
4.  Wet block lightly to smooth out the colourwork tension. Do not stretch the ribbing.