Ratchet and Clank | ...somewhere between the stitches...

For the first time in YEARS, we decided not to travel or have guests for Thanksgiving, so my DH and my two precious boys got to spend the entire day together, stuffing ourselves silly. And because I didn’t have to worry about entertaining or even setting the table, the men in my life and I even got to run around outside in the beautiful autumn sunlight. And this is what we did:

As a celebratory gift, I have finally completed the pattern for the Ratchet and Clank Hats, and I offer it to you here for FREE! The hat is designed to fit kids between the ages of 2-4. My boys are a few months shy of 3, and I’m fairly certain that they’ll be able to wear the hats next winter as well. They’re a little big, but absolutely wearable.

Ratchet and Clank Hats

A PDF file can be downloaded here for free!
Ratchet and Clank Hat Pattern

Size: Ages 2-4 (Updated to add: My sons are now 5 years old. The Ratchet hat still fits (yay!), but the Clank hat is too short and doesn’t cover his ears. I would recommend making the Clank hat longer–5.5 inches–before beginning the decreases) if you would like the hat to be worn longer!

These hats were made for my soon-to-be three year old twin boys at their Daddy’s request. They are definitely fun hats for little ones to wear, although I’m pretty sure that they’re more fun for my husband, who absolutely loves to take the boys out wearing them.

Materials
Worsted weight yarn in various colors
For Ratchet: brown, yellow, and tan
For Clank: light gray, dark gray, emerald green, red
No. 8, 16” circular needle
No. 8 dpn
No. 4 dpn
Tapestry needle
Poly-fil for Rachet’s ears

Ratchet’s Aviator Hat
With brown yarn, CO 97 st on No. 8 circular needle.
Place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
Round 1-5: Garter stitch around
All even rounds (WS): Knit around
Round 7-15 (odd rows only/RS): k1, m1, k14, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k14, m1, k1, m1, k14, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k14, m1, k1, m1, k14, slip1, k2togtbl, psso, k14, m1, k1
Round 17-until 16 st remain (odd rows only/RS): continue with pattern established above, but without the increases. So for Round 17: k15, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k29, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k29, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k15 [6 st decreased]; Round 19: k14, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k27, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k27, slip 1, k2togtbl, psso, k14 [6 st decreased], etc.
When 16 stitches remain, k2tog around [8 st]. Break yarn, and using a tapestry needle, weave the tail through the remaining stitches. Pull tightly to close hole at top of hat.

Ratchet Ears
With yellow yarn, CO 36 st on No. 8 dpn. Divide stitches evenly on 4 needles, and being careful not to twist stitches, join in the round.
Round 1-3: Knit around.
Round 4: k2tog, k32, ssk (34 st)
Round 5-7: Knit around.
Round 8: k2tog, k30, ssk (32 st)
Round 9-11: Knit around.
Round 12: k2tog, k28, ssk (30 st)
Round 13-15: Knit around.
Round 16: k2tog, k26, ssk (28 st)
Round 17 and 18: Knit around.
Round 19: k2tog, k24, ssk (26 st)
Round 20 and 21: Knit around.
Round 22: k2tog, k22, ssk (24 st)
Round 23 and 24: Knit around
Round 25: k2tog, k20, ssk (22 st)
Round 26 and 27: Knit around.
Round 28: k2tog, k18, ssk (20 st)
Round 29: Knit around.
Round 30: k2tog, k16, ssk (18 st)
Round 31: Knit around.
Round 32: k2tog, k14, ssk (16 st)
Round 33: Knit around.
Round 34: k2tog, k12, ssk (14 st)
Round 35: Knit around.
Round 36: k2tog, k10, ssk (12 st)
Round 37: k2tog, k8, ssk (10 st)
Round 38: k2tog, k6, ssk (8 st)
Round 39: k2tog, k4, ssk (6 st)
Round 40: k2tog, k2, ssk (4 st)
Round 41: k2tog, ssk (2 st)
Break yarn, and using a tapestry needle, thread yarn through the remaining 2 stitches. Pull tightly and weave in ends.

Make 2.

The chart on the right shows one half of the Ratchet ears. The stripes on Rachet’s
ears can be added using duplicate stitch according to the pattern.

Put just enough poly-fil in Rachet’s ears to hold their shape. Sewing the ears onto the aviator hat is quite challenging. The easiest way to figure out where to place the ears is to find a well-behaved child to wear the hat while you carefully pin the ears onto the hat. And if finding a 2-4 year old child who will stand still for long enough to accomplish this is an impossibility, a mannequin head will work.

Clank’s Hat
With lighter gray yarn, CO 72 st on No. 8 circular needle. Place marker and join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.
Knit in 2×2 ribbing for about 1 inch
Continue in stockinette stitch until hat measures 4.5 inches
Begin decreases –
Round 1 – *k7, k2tog* around (64 st)
Round 2 – knit around
Round 3 – *k6, k2tog* around (56 st)
Round 4 – knit around
Round 5 – *k5, k2tog* around (48 st)
Round 6 – knit around
Round 7 – *k4, k2tog* around (40 st)
Round 8 – knit around
Round 9 – *k3, k2tog* around (32 st)
Round 10 – knit around
Round 11 – *k2, k2tog* around (24 st)
Round 12 – knit around
Round 13 – *k1, k2tog* around (16 st)
Round 14 – knit around
Round 15 – k2tog around (8 st)
Break yarn, and using a tapestry needle, weave the tail through the remaining stitches. Pull tightly to close hole at top of hat.

Clank’s Top Piece and Antennae
With darker gray yarn, CO 4 st on No. 8 dpn.
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2 and all even rows: Purl across
Row 3: k1, m1, k2, m1, k1 (6 st)
Row 5: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1 (8 st)
Row 7: k1, m1, k6, m1, k1 (10 st)
Row 9: k1, m1, k8, m1, k1 (12 st)
Row 10: Purl across. Leave stitches on needle, but leaving a 6 inch break yarn.

Make 2 of these, but on the second one, do not break yarn.

(Note: You can actually bind off stitches to the 2 top pieces if you would prefer, then sew the two pieces together and pick up 4 stitches in the center for the antennae.)

Holding the two pieces together, use the tail you left on the first piece you made to bind off 4 stitches (Figure 1, 2, and 3).

Turn the piece so that the bound off stitches are now on the left side (Figure 4).

Doing the same thing you did on the other side, bind off 4 stitches from each needle. You will now have 8 stitches remaining, 4 on each needle (Figure 5).

Figure 1: Hold two pieces together with the WS/purl sides against each other on the inside.

Figure 2: Bind off 4 stitches by knitting 2 stitches together (one from each needle) 2 times, then passing the first stitch over the second stitch.

Figure 3: You will have 4 stitches from each needle bound off on one end.

Figure 4: Turn the piece so that the bound off stitches are on the left.

Figure 5: Bind off 4 stitches from each needle. You will have 8 stitches remaining, 4 on each needle.

Figure 6: Holding 2 needles together, knit stitches together. You will have 4 stitches remaining.

Again, holding the two needles together, knit the stitches together (do NOT bind off). You will have 4 stitches on your needle (Figure 6).

With the 4 stitches remaining, knit as if you’re making an i-cord until the piece is approximately 1.5 inches. Cut yarn, and using a tapestry needle, weave tail through the 4 stitches. Pull tightly, then thread the yarn down the center of the i-cord and use the yarn to close any gaps that you may have along the base of the i-cord antennae.

With red yarn, CO 6 st on No. 4 dpn. Divide stitches evenly between 3 needles.
Being careful not to twist stitches, join in the round and knit one round.
Round 2: *k1, m1, k1; rep from * 2x (9 st)
Round 3: Knit around
Round 4: *k1, m1, k1, m1, k1; rep from * 2x (15 st)
Round 5: Knit around
Round 6: *k2tog, k1, k2tog; rep from *2x (9 st)
Round 7: Knit around
Round 8: *k2tog, k1; rep from * 2x (6 st)
Round 9: Knit around. Break yarn. Using a tapestry needle, thread the yarn through the remaining 6 stitches. Before pulling to close the hole, insert the end of the antennae that you just made into the red ball. Use the tail to sew the ball onto the antennae.

Clank’s Eyes
CO 6 st on Size 8 dpn.
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2 and all even rows: Purl across
Row 3: k1, m1, k4, m1, k1 (8 st)
Row 5: k1, m1, k6, m1, k1 (10 st)
Row 7: Knit across
Row 9: Knit across
Row 11: ssk, k6, k2tog (8 st)
Row 13: ssk, k4, k2tog (6 st)
Row 15: Bind off.

Make 2.

Clank’s Mouthpiece and Hinges
With darker gray yarn, CO 32 st
Row 1: Knit across
Row 2: Sl1, then changing colors to lighter gray yarn p30, leave last stitch on left needle. Leave the darker gray yarn hanging. You will pick it up again in Row 18.
Row 3: You have 1 st from the previous row on the right needle. Sl1, k28, leave 2 sts on left needle.
Row 4: Now, you have 2 sts from the previous row on the right needle. S1, p26, leave 3 sts on left needle.
Row 5: You have 3 sts on the right needle. Sl1, k24, leave 4 sts on left needle.
Row 6: You have 4 sts on the right needle. Sl1, p22, leave 5 sts on left needle.
Row 7: You have 5 sts on the right needle. Sl1, k20, leave 6 sts on left needle.
Row 8: You have 6 sts on the right needle. Sl1, p18, leave 7 sts on left needle.
Row 9: You have 7 sts on the right needle. Sl1, k16, leave 8 sts on left needle.
Row 10: You have 8 sts on the right needle. Sl1, p14, leave 9 sts on left needle.
Row 11: You have 9 sts on the right needle. Sl1, k12, leave 10 sts on left needle.
Row 12: You have 10 sts on the right needle. Sl1, p10, leave 11 sts on left needle.
Row 13: You have 11 sts on the right needle. Sl1, k8, leave 12 sts on left needle.
Row 14: You have 12 sts on the right needle. Sl1, p6, leave 13 sts on left needle.
Row 15: You have 13 sts on the right needle. Sl1, k4, leave 14 sts on left needle.
Row 16: You have 14 sts on the right needle. Sl1, p2, leave 15 sts on left needle.
Row 17: You have 15 sts on the right needle. Sl17. Cut lighter gray yarn and leave end hanging to weave in once you’re finished with the mouthpiece.
Row 18: Picking up the darker gray, knit across.
Row 19. Bind off.

For the hinges, CO 6 st on No. 8 dpn.
Knit 6 rows of an i-cord.
Break yarn, and using a tapestry needle, weave yarn through the live stitches. Pull tightly to close the gap.

Sew all the pieces onto Clank’s hat.

And you’re done!

It’s about time, huh? I’ve been working on these hats for months. I actually finished the Clank hat quite some time ago, but I just wasn’t happy with the Ratchet hat. I really wasn’t getting the aviator hat that I wanted, and even after I got that worked out, I had a lot of trouble actually attaching the ears to the hat. It’s much harder than it looks to sew something onto a rounded surface! It took me getting a mannequin head to attach the ears so that they were perfectly symmetrical. Plus, I got a bit derailed by all the other projects I’ve got going! I really should learn to finish one project before moving on to the next… But that’ll never happen… Anyway, here they are!

The pattern-writing part is going to be a bit more difficult because these hats were completely improvised, and I failed to write things down as I went. Aside from Rachet’s aviator hat, that is… Clank’s hat has so many pieces… I’ll have to re-create them in order to write the pattern properly. So that’s next on my to-do list. Thanks to everyone for being patient with me. I’ve received a few messages for the pattern, and I promise–I’ll get there!