The size of this pattern is for the huge size of head that the actor in the TV show Firefly had. You might want to do a gauge swatch and adjust the number of stitches that you cast on to match the size of the head that you’re knitting for. If you’re an experienced knitter you can “eyeball” the color change … I’ve made them in all sizes down to newborns!

My blog post that contains the pattern goes into excruciating detail about the lengths I went to in order to make a PROP ACCURATE hat. I was given a pattern from the web while making some for a charity event, but I noticed that the orange stripe was waaaaaay too thick. I did a search online and found out that they were ALL like that! I just could not even, lol. I’m too big of a nerd.

I think that the original colors were chosen by people who have seen the actual hat in person; however, I have chosen colors that look like they do when you watch the show, under the “moody” lighting that they often used.

The original pattern I adjusted was for bulky weight yarn, but when the color was discontinued, I doubled some worsted weight and kept on using it. Right now none of the colorways I use are bulky, but I do keep an eye out to see if any new colors will fit!

Because of discontinued colors, I’ve had to change them up many, many times. Being allergic to all animal fiber does NOT help! But here are the current colors that I use:

Perfect match colors:

Herschnerr’s Worsted 8 Goldnerod
Herschnerr’s Worsted 8 Burnt*
Vanna’s Choice Brick

• (make sure you’re on the Worsted 8 page, because the “Burnt” color in the regular Worsted Weight brand is way too bright orange)

What I use for the ones I sell current (as of 6/2017) because I can get them locally; I don’t care for the shipping prices & methods on the other yarn company website:

Red Heart Super Saver Gold
I Love This Yarn Burnt Pumpkin
Vanna’s Choice Brick

The original colors we used were Lion Brand Jiffy or Wool-Ease Gold, Paprika, and Chili. You can still get the Gold, if you’re not wool-sensitive.

In some of the pictures you’ll notice that the flaps look ombre or heathered. They are! The first original color to be discontinued was Chili, so for a time I was using one strand of Wool-Ease Chestnut Heather and one strand of Bernat Super Value Redwood. I believe both colors are available. Neither looked exactly right when used alone, but they look great together.
(Yes, I’m allergic, but Wool-ease is only 20% wool, so I’d double up on my meds and just deal with any hives that popped up. I knit fairly quickly, so as long as I didn’t do too many at a time, I survived, lol)