This hat is the third in a series of patterns inspired by teachings in Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ Women Who Run with the Wolves. This time, I drew inspiration from Estés’ retelling of a Japanese tale, Tsukina Waguma or “The Crescent Moon Bear,” in which a young woman travels to the cave of an incredibly intimidating and ferocious bear. She makes several journeys to the cave, leaving food and quickly retreating, until “one dark blue night,” she musters the courage to stand her ground and ask for what she seeks--one hair from a moon-shaped patch on the bear’s chest--which she is granted. The young woman returns, triumphant, to the old healer who has sent her on this quest. She believes this single hair is the magic ingredient in solving the problem that plagues her. She holds it forth, but the healer tosses the hair into the flames. The young woman is in despair until she realizes the true lesson of her quest: that using her determination, courage, and patience, as she did with the crescent moon bear, will help her to confront the challenge at hand.

The moon phase motif of this colorwork hat is meant to capture the magic of a dark blue night--when the moon shines brightly overhead, the frosty air sparkles with possibility, and we succeed in summoning accumulated wisdom from deep within ourselves so that we can apply it to our own healing. Choose colors to conjure a wintery night sky, or select a palette of your signature colors.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.

The purchase price of $8 US accurately reflects the time, energy, expertise and effort that has gone into creating this pattern. Sales of my knitting patterns help to support the cost of maintaining my audio podcast, and I am very appreciative of your purchase.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
height: 9” (23cm)
ribbing circumference 20 (21)” 51 (53cm)
crown circumference 22” (56cm) for both sizes

YARN
Approximately 250 yards (229m) fingering weight yarn, (100% wool content recommended), in three colors, as specified below.
The sample pictured was knit with approximately 250 yards (229m) Rauma Finull PT2 (100% Norwegian wool)
Color A: 4127 Petrol Heather (25g)
Color B: 4387 Dark Steel (25g)
Color C: 0450 Deep Yellow (16g)

NEEDLES
US 2 (2.75 mm) 16” circular
US 3 (3.25 mm) 16” circular
US 3 (3.25 mm) set of dpns or your preferred needle for small circumference knitting
(or size needed to obtain gauge)

GAUGE
28 sts and 29 rnds = 4” (10cm) on larger needles over colorwork pattern in stockinette stitch after blocking

NOTIONS
stitch marker
tapestry needle