Magic Sea Captain Watch Cap: Solid, Colorblock, and MYOM (Make Your Own Marl) Versions

Live your own life aquatic with this awesome Zissou inspired watch cap.

The proportions seem all wrong, but when placed on the wearer, they magically become all right.

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Magic Sea Captain Watch Cap Solid/Color Block

Sizes: Newborn/Baby, (Toddler/Kid, Tween/Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large, Adult X-Large). Will stretch to fit up to 20 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24+).

Dimensions: 4 (4, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 5.75)” wide, flat/unstretched. Will stretch to fit up to 20 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24+).

Yarn:    
A: StyleCraft Special Chunky (100% Acrylic, 157 yards/144m) in Lipstick
B: Malabrigo Twist (100% Merino Wool. 150 Yards) in Cookie
C: Premier Serenity Chunky Prints (100% Acrylic, 109 yards) in Majesty
CColorblock: 2 strands of gray worsted held together (mystery acrylic)

Total Yardage:  75 (100, 125, 150, 175, 200)

Needles: Size 9/5.5 mm circular (16”length) and size 9/5.5 mm DPN for the crown.

Notions: 1 stitch marker.Yarn needle for weaving in ends, Pom-pom if desired.

Gauge: See Dimensions above.

Abbreviations:

• BOR: Beginning of round       
• C/O: Cast-on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2Tog: Knit 2 stitches together
• P2Tog: Purl 2 stitches together

Pattern Instructions:

Cast-on 56 (56, 64, 72, 80, 88)

Place BOR marker and join in the round.

Hat Body: *K2, P2* for every round until the hat measures 7 (9, 11, 12, 13, 14)” from the cast-on, slipping BOR marker at the start of every round.

Solid Version: Work with the same yarn for the entire hat.
Color Block/Stripe Version: Work until hat measures approximately 1/3-1/2 total desired length, work contrasting color block section for 1/3 of desired length, work remaining length with original color. OR, work color sections until you run out of yarn, work with any number of colors until you reach your desired length.

NOTES: the above measurement will give you a fold-over brim of 3-5” when worn with the crown of the hat meeting the crown of the head. This measurement will vary somewhat between individuals, as head size and shape is unique. If you wish to have a longer (or shorter) brim: adjust your total length.

Don’t Panic! If you are running low on yarn (or don’t want a huge fold up brim) you can shorten the body before the decreases. Because of the stretch, the hat will still need to be a little long.  Here are some minimums to work with: 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9)”.

Magic Sea Captain Watch Cap Crown Decreases

Crown Shaping Section Basic Gathered Decreases: switch to DPN when needed.

C1: *K2, P2, K2, P2tog* (49, 49, 56, 63, 70, 77 stitches at end of round)
C2: *K2, P2, K2, P1*
C3: *K2, P2tog, K2, P1* (42, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66 stitches at end of round)
C4: *K2, P1*
C5: *K2, P1, K2tog, P1* (35, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55 stitches at end of round)
C6: *K2, P1, K1, P1*
C7: *K2tog, P1, K1, P1* (28, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44 stitches at end of round)
C8: *K2tog* (14, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 stitches at end of round)

Finishing:

            Cut a tail: 10”. Pull through the remaining live stitches. Fasten on the inside.

Weave in ends. Lightly block. If desired: attach pom-pom like a BOSS.

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MYOM (Make Your Own Marl)Version

Sizes: Newborn/Baby, (Toddler/Kid, Tween/Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large, Adult X-Large). Will stretch to fit up to 20 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24+).

Dimensions: Flat/Unstretched, unfolded: 5 (5, 5.5, 6, 6.5, 7)” will stretch to fit up to 20 (20, 21, 22, 23, 24+).

Yarn:    
D: Red Heart  Amore (100% Polyester, 198 yards) in Latte and Peaceful
E: Red Heart With Love (100% Acrylic, 370 yards) in Boysenberry and Random Stash Yarn (100% Acrylic, 100 yards used) in Orange
Notes: When choosing a yarn, you can make your Marl contrast as high or low as you want. I decided to make my MYOM high contrast. You could even hold the same color double if you want (but it won’t be a marl). You can change one color out at a time to make a fade. There are no rules. This is YOUR project.

Yardage:  Yarn Held Double: Yardage for each strand:75 (100, 125, 150, 175, 200)
Total Yardage: 150 (200, 250, 300, 350, 400)

Needles: Size10/6 mm circular (16”length) and size 10/6 mm DPN for the crown.

Notions: 1 stitch marker.Yarn needle for weaving in ends, Pom-pom if desired.

Pattern Instructions:

With two strands of worsted yarn held together, cast-on 56 (56, 64, 72, 80, 88)

Place BOR marker and join in the round.

Hat Body: *K2, P2* for every round until the hat measures 7 (9, 11, 12, 13, 14)” from the cast-on, slipping BOR marker at the start of every round.

NOTES: the above measurement will give you a fold-over brim of 3-4” when worn with the crown of the hat meeting the crown of the head. This measurement will vary somewhat between individuals, as head size and shape is unique. If you wish to have a longer (or shorter) brim: adjust your total length.
Don’t Panic! If you are running low on yarn (or don’t want a huge fold up brim) you can shorten the body before the decreases. Because of the stretch, the hat will still need to be a little long.  Here are some minimums to work with: 5 (6, 6, 7, 8, 9)”.

MYOM Watch Cap Crown Decreases

Crown Shaping Section Basic Gathered Decreases: switch to DPN when needed.

C1: *K2, P2, K2, P2tog*
C2: *K2, P2, K2, P1*
C3: *K2, P2tog, K2, P1*
C4: *K2, P1*
C5: *K2, P1, K2tog, P1*
C6: *K2, P1, K1, P1*
C7: *K2tog, P1, K1, P1*
C8: *K2tog*

Finishing:

            Cut a tail: 10”. Pull through the remaining live stitches. Fasten on the inside.

Weave in ends. Lightly block. If desired: attach pom-pom like a BOSS.

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Cinna’s Notes: I know a 2×2 rib hat isn’t a NEW idea. People have been knitting ribbed hats for eternity, there are hundreds of patterns similar to this one. But this is MY version. Its extra, extra long, its chunky weight, it has an easy slightly gathered top that stretches right along with the body of the hat. The hat folds up to give you a wide brim and keeps your head, and ears, SUPER warm in windy weather. Even the sizes are somewhat flexible; the Little Kid size fits my Medium Adult head VERY SNUGLY. Its almost like magic, that a hat measuring 5 inches across will fit and be wearable on a head 4x its unstretched size.

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Pom pom or plain, it is a fun hat to make: to keep or to share. My inspiration for this hat was actually a crochet hat I made for a friend’s baby, also in red. The crochet hat was too small, it didn’t have enough stretch to it! I loved how adorable the red ribbed hat looked, like a part of costuming from the Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou! I recreated the long ribbed hat in knit, becoming the Magic Sea Captain Watch Cap! Since the Toddler/Kid version fits ME, I KNOW it will fit my friend’s one year old. (Hats still need to be mailed at time of publication)