This hat is based on the brain slugs from Futurama. The pattern is designed to be customized for individual head size, so it’s really more of a formula than a pattern, which is why I have not included gauge information. Amount of yarn will vary by hat size desired, between 50-100 grams of main color and small amounts of black and white yarn for embellishment. I forgot to mention this on the pattern: make sure when you measure the head circumference you remember to subtract 1-3 inches, because ribbed hats fit better with some negative ease.

Dec 2011: It has been pointed out to me by a couple of different knitters that my formula is hard to follow. I knit several hats in different sizes and it worked for me, but I am revising the pattern to include specific head sizes with more specific directions to address the problems some people were having.

Errata: Still haven’t had time to update the pattern to address the formula problems. For most numbers divisible by four, the pattern will work as stated, but the stitch count for round 7 is divisible by 6 and the stitch count for round 8 is divisible by 8, so sometimes you may end up a couple of stitches short depending on the initial number of stitches you cast on, in that case, just make sure to add a couple of stitches in on round 8 so that everything evens out. I have figured out a more exact wave pattern, but haven’t had time to include it yet.