Tusken Raider Hat aka Sand People

Confessions of a Star Wars lover: When I was little, Star Wars (what is known to some as the FIRST one which is really the fourth episode) played quite often on cable TV. The one thing that scared me more than anything has ever scared me-past or present-was that brief glimpse of the Tusken Raider standing over Luke making that horrible sound raising his pole above his head. Sometimes, I find that my life calls me to be a Tusken Raider…I admit, that when I find a really big stick, I do, on occasion, lift it above my head and give my very best Tusken Raider impersonation. I get mad when no one knows what I am doing. Ya’ll need to get your geek on.

So, yes, although this project was traumatizing in that these things terrified me, it was also liberating because I own those stitches….Tusken Raiders no longer have a power over me. :P

This pattern is for personal use only, and no selling of projects is allowed (unless, of course you have permissions from all those powers that be, and in that case you are my hero) .

Worsted:  I used Red Heart Super Saver (I know yarn snobs will tsk tsk at me, but I prefer using red heart when making embellishments that stand up-it's just stiff like that. Cream (or light brown) for the main hat part (this you could probably get away with a softer yarn, but I didn't, orangish/brown (or a darker brown), black, white, grey

H hook

Tapestry needle

2, 1”-1.5” buttons

special instructions:

Adult (hat circumference 21.2”) This is just the pattern that fits my head so I use it when making hats-you can use whatever hat base pattern you want that fits your size-just do it all in the creamy or light brown color.

1.       Magic ring, 12 dc in ring; join

2.       Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in same dc, *2dc in each dc around; join

3.       Ch 2, 2dc in next dc, *dc in next dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, join

4.       Ch 2, dc in next dc, 2dc in next dc, *dc in next 2 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, join 48

5.       Ch 2, dc in next 7 dc, 2 dc in next dc, *dc in next 8 dc, 2 dc in next dc; repeat from * around, join (53 dc=21.2”)

6.       Ch 2, dc in each dc around; join

7.       Repeat round 6 until hat is 7.5-8” in height (or desired height) when folded (from top to bottom)  If you like, you can add a sc row around bottom for a finished edge.

Ear Scarves (2)

(same color that you used for hat) Fold hat in half.  Each ear scarf will start 5 dc from the center point of the hat (this will put them slightly off center so that they are more centered towards the back of the hat).  Have front of hat facing you (if you have a side that you like better, this should be your front.  I always have my turning points in the back.  Count 5 dc from each center point, place a stitch marker at each of these points

1.       Join with sl st into stitch marker, Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in next 12 dc

2.       Ch 2 (counts as dc), dc in each dc across

3.       Repeat round 2; 29 more times or until your ear scarf measures 18.5 inches (or more or less depending on how long you want it-just be sure to make your second scarf the same length as your first.

Finishing: After you finish your second ear scarf, sc around the edge of hat and ear scarves, putting 3 sc in the corner of each ear scarf to make a nice corner.

Place a button  (that is small enough to fit through a dc but large enough to not slip off a dc) on the last  round of dc on hat.  To attach the ear scarves, you should put one ear scarf corner onto button then place the other ear scarf corner onto other button.  You can play around with placement of the ear scarves because you can use them to cover your face also, depending on how you place them on the buttons.  This is a very practical  (as well as a geeky necessity) hat!

Mouth

1.       With black, chain 11, sc in 2^nd chain and each chain across

2.       Turn, dec, sc in 6 sc, dec

3.       Turn, dec, sc in 2 sc, dec

4.       Turn, dec, dec

5.       Sc around the edge of mouth, putting 3sc in the center of each corner.

“teeth” With White

1.       Chain 7, sc in 2^nd chain, in next stitch( YO, insert hook, pull up loop) 4 times PUFF stitch made, sc in next stitch, PUFF in next stitch, sc in last stitch

2.       Ch 1, turn, sc in each sc

3.       Ch 1, turn, PUFF in 1^st sc, sc in next stitch, PUFF in next stitch, sc in next stitch, PUFF in last stitch, finish off, leaving tail for sewing

With orangish brown (or dark brown)

1.       Chain 33, join, ch 1, sc in each chain around

2.       Ch 1, 2 sc in sc, sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc, 2 sc in next 10 sc, join

3.       Ch 1, Sc in 5 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in 9 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in 10 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc join

4.       (this last row will be the front of the mouth-round 1 is the part you will sew onto hat using photo for placement) Ch 2, BPDC around each sc.  Join.   Finish off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Sew the ‘teeth’ onto the mouth part-but leave just a tad of the mouth part hanging over.  Sew the three sides of the ‘teeth’ onto mouth looking at photo for a guide.

Eyes (believe it or not these stinkers took me the longest to figure out how to make them look good)

1.       With black, magic ring, 6 sc in ring, join

2.       Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc; join(12 sc)

3.       Ch1, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * around; join (18 sc), finish off black.

4.       With gray, turn black to wrong side and join in FL only, sc around; join

5.       Ch 1, sc around; join

6.       Repeat round 5

7.       Repeat round 5

8.       Repeat round 5

Silver Cones (make 6-two to be placed on either side of mouth and four on the head)

Working in rounds do NOT join for the silver cones

1.       With gray, magic ring and 3 sc in ring

2.       2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc

3.       2 sc in next, sc in next 2 sc

4.       Sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc

5.       Sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc

6.       *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc; repeat from * two more times

7.       Sc in 8 sc, finish off leaving tail for sewing.  Look at photo for placement.