The Hat I Want, 2

So I'm thinking the hat is a 2 color spiral, like this.

But how to get that effect in knitting? Ponder, ponder. Any ideas? I could crochet it, of course, as I have an excellent crochet tutor! And maybe knit the border. Huh. That's an idea. I still want to try to knit it, but heck, I could do 2 hats. Because learning to crochet that would be very cool.

The Hat I Want

It's not that I'm obsessed with stripes, although the last few posts might certainly create that impression. It's just that stripes are following me around at the moment. The pic below is from a Meso-American exhibit at the DeYoung museum in San Francisco. I should have gotten more details than that, but I just want to knit a hat based on the helmet he's wearing. How cool is that going to be???

Followup to Conversation with M

I showed the picture below to M today while we were hanging out at a bookstore. Although I like both the hat and the scarf, I was secretly hoping that M would give me another bit on post-apocalyptic grannies. But no. This hat meets with his approval. There's just no knowing, is there?

[From "The Knitting Man(ual), by Kristin Spurkland.]

Conversation with M...

...while watching an episode of "Inpsector Lynley."

Me: Ooh, look Sweetie, this guy's wearing a cool knitted hat. Come look and tell me if you think it makes him look homeless.

Most knitted hats that I like, M hates. Says they make him look like a homeless person.

Him: Hmmm. Let me see it in action.

Me: OK, I'll rewind it a bit...

Him: After watching. Definitely makes him look homeless. Well, maybe like a homeless guy whose nice granny knitted him a hat.

Me: So you mean he looks homeless and he happens to be wearing a knitted hat?

Him: Yes - but the hat makes him look even more homeless.

Me: How? It's got cheerful stripes!

Him: The shape of the hat is too utilitarian. Like a bowl.

Me: So if it had a pompom on top it would be all right?

Him: Well... it would be better. Or if the brim folded up or something.

Me: I still don't get it. How can it be too utilitarian?

Him: Look at it. It's just a hemisphere.

Me: But it's a hemisphere with cheerful stripes!

Him: That's where the granny comes in. Looks too post-apocalyptic.

Me: With stripes??? Multi-colored cheerful stripes? Knitted by a granny?

Him: Maybe she's trying to cheer him up. Or maybe her mind is gone and she doesn't know the world has ended and that's the way she knits hats.

Me: ...

FYI, the hat had a ribbed (2x2? 1x1?) brim and stockinette body. It had chocolate brown stripes alternating with colored stripes - from bottom to top, muted red, light green, cream, light yellow, light blue, and muted red again. Brim and crown were brown. Hat went halfway over the ears. Stockinette part looked a little blurry, so maybe wool? I think I'll make one just like it for myself, and not share it with M. So there.

And here's the best picture I could get - camera used to take pic of tv, high-tech stuff! The colors are off, of course.