A Gift Fit for a Space Princess!

I am a nerd.  Yup, I'm a comic-book-reading, Sci-Fi lovin', super geek.  Give me a hobbit, some elves, and a dragon and I am IN! A movie about a team of super heros that have to save the planet from aliens? Pass the popcorn because I'm there!! Give me an intergalactic space battle that will determine the fate of mankind and I'm a happy girl! I love it all!

My love of Sci-Fi started when I was two and saw Star Wars.  That year I demanded a Princess Leia costume for Halloween.  My great-aunts thought it was cute, because (to them) I looked like a nun...

So when I got it in my head that I needed to make a beanie that would house some headphone speakers (my earbuds are just killing me these days, and I don't like how the pinchy-headband part of regular headphones gives me a headache), I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to embrace my inner geek.  That, and without the Princess Leia buns the hat kinda made me look like a 1960's astronaut... LOL!!!

So, if you'd like an awesome hat that looks like everyone's favorite Space Princess, or you'd like a super cool hat that is a self-contained music system, read on:

Princess Leia's Headphone Beanie
(Alderaan Edition, 'cause it rocked! Um, before it blew up...)
Supplies:
Basic Beanie
2 Large Inner Pockets
1 Small Inner Pocket
2 Leia Buns
Brown Felt - 1/4 yard (or you could use poly-fil if you've already got a bunch of it laying around)
Headphones that you are willing to take apart (don't use your $90 headphones that you love.  I picked up a pair on Amazon for less than $5 (Panasonic RP-HT21) that are amazing.   They  come apart easily and sound fantastic to my non-professional-musician ears.)
iPod Nano (optional, but it will allow you to have a completely self-contained system!  So, like, don't buy one just for this, but if you've got a micro-mp3 player by all means grab it and let's get goin'!)

Basic Beanie
to fit an average-to-large adult woman's head
**I have a large head.  I made this to fit me.  If you've got a smaller head, I would highly recommend you leave off the last increase (R12) when you make the beanie.**
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn - about 175 yards (I used Caron 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn in Chocolate)
Size H crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle

R1: make 10 sc in a magic loop, pull the loop tight and sl st to the first sc to close round (10 st)
R2: ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (20 st)
R3: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (20 st)
R4: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (30 st)
R5: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (30 st)
R6: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 2 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (40 st)
R7: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (40 st)
R8: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 3 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (50 st)
R9: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (50 st)
R10: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 4 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (60 st)
R11: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (60 st)
R12: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 5 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (70 st)
R13-26 (or until the hat reaches 8.25" from center of crown to bottom edge): ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (70 st)
R27: ch 2, (fpdc, bpdc) 35 times, sl st to first dc to close round (70 st)
Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

Large Inner Pocket
approximately 2 1/2 " x 3 1/4"
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn - small amount (I used Caron 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn in Chocolate)
Size H crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle

(Make 2)
ch 9
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (8 st)
R2-11: ch 1, sc in each st across (8 st)
Fasten off.  Leave a long tail for sewing on later.

Small Inner Pocket
approximately 2 1/2 " x 1 3/4"
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn - small amount (I used Caron 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn in Chocolate)
Size H crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle

ch 9
R1: sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each ch across (8 st)
R2-7: ch 1, sc in each st across (8 st)
Fasten off.  Leave a long tail for sewing on later.

Leia Buns
approximately 4" across
Supplies:
Worsted weight yarn - small amount (I used Caron 100% acrylic worsted weight yarn in Chocolate)
Size H crochet hook
Scissors
Yarn needle

(Make 2)
R1: make 10 sc in a magic loop, pull the loop tight and sl st to the first sc to close round (10 st)
R2: ch 1, 2 sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (20 st)
R3: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (20 st)
R4: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (30 st)
R5: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (30 st)
R6: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 2 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (40 st)
R7: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (40 st)
R8: ch 1, (2 sc in next st, 3 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (50 st)
R9: ch 1, sc in each st around, sl st to the first sc to close round (50 st)

R10: ch 1, (sc next 2 st tog, 3 sc) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (40 st)

R11: ch 1, (sc next 2 st tog) 20 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (20 st)

R12: ch 1, (sc next 2 st tog) 10 times, sl st to the first sc to close round (10 st)

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

So get the beanie, 2 large inner pockets, and small inner pocket together.  Find the center of the back of the hat and pin the small inner pocket right in the center.

Sew along the bottom edge of the pocket (the one at the bottom edge of the beanie).  Sew up the two sides to finish the back pocket.

Now, try the beanie on and put pins into the hat directly over where your ears are.  Take the hat off and use the marks as a guide where to place the large inner flaps.  The marks are going to be where you want the speakers to go (eventually) so center the flaps over the mark so that there will be room for them to go.

Stitch the large inner flaps into place, using the picture above as a guide.  You want to leave the back end of the pocket open, not the top.

These are the headphones that I used.

The headband part of them pops off very easily. It won't damage the speakers in any way to remove that part.

This is what it will look like when you get the headband part removed.

Tuck the speakers into the large inner pockets.

 I left the cord bundled up so that it tucked easily into the small back pocket.

I actually used the twist tie holding the cord  to attach the bundle of cord in place in the pocket.

If you try it on right now, it's going to look a little weird.  I mean, the headphone speakers will show through the beanie, and make it bump out.  It's okay though, because we're going to hide the bumps under the Leia buns! (Please pardon the picture. I was the only one home at the time that could take it, so I had to use the dining room mirror... LOL!!!)

Okay, so you're going to now cut out the felt centers for the buns.  I used the finished bun as a guide and cut out 4 layers of felt for each side.

Tuck the felt inside the bun to give it a more filled out look. You can use a little bit of fiberfill instead, if that's what you've got! :D

Stitch the buns in place over the speaker bumps (don't catch the pocket in your stitches, you might want to remove the speakers later if you need to wash the beanie).  I plugged the speakers into my iPod Nano and clipped it onto the front of the back pocket.  That way I can start my playlist and put it on and I'm good to go.  I like that it's easily accessible in case I need to skip a song. I can just reach back and double tap the large button on the side.

 Put it on and enjoy!
(My dad was working as my photographer this day, but he kept making me laugh!  This was the best one of the pictures! LOL!)

xoxo

Hey!  Want to win one for a Princess Leia hat yourself? Hat and speakers only, not the iPod (sorry!).  Enter my giveaway celebrating 600 Facebook Likers HERE!
Update 12/23/12:  Thank you so much to everyone who entered!  The giveaway is now closed and a winner has been chosen.  xo Jaime