My favorite part of the Firefly episode The Message is when Jayne opens the package from Ma Cobb. You just don't picture tough guy Jayne as the type to be excited by a package and letter from his ma. He is obviously happy to get his handmade cunning hat though. The general Browncoat fandom was happy about the hat too. It didn't take long for reproductions to appear at conventions. You'd see an occasional red, yellow, and orange head while wading through the convention floor. Then vendors offered them for sale in varying degrees of accuracy. And now you can purchase the hat or patterns all over the internet. I even saw a Jayne hat at Disneyland last month. Disneyland!
I love that geek culture has embraced something that is so utterly... bright. The garishness adds a certain loveable quality. If my mom knitted, I have a hunch she would design something similar. It would probably even have sparkles. Jayne's cunning hat means more expressing love for Serenity. It's a symbol for geek unity.
We have taken the colors and run with it too. I found these Jayne hat creations on Etsy:
The Classic Cunning Hat - Start with the classic cunning hat. It's close to the hat that appeared in the show, and it even comes with a letter from Ma Cobb.
Mini Jayne Cobb hat bun covers - This is the easiest way to add a little Jayne to your Kaylee cosplay.
Jayne Hat Coffee Cozy - This is a cute way to keep from scalding your hands on a coffee cup. Keep in mind that Jayne would probably make fun of you for drinking a frou-frou drink from the local coffee shop.
Jayne Hat Keychain - If you put this tiny hat on one of your action figures instead of your key ring, I certainly won't make fun of you.
Do you have a Jayne hat?
My girlfriend bought me Jayne's hat last year, and this year she got me two adorable Jayne Hat ornaments for my Christmas tree!
ReplyDeleteI love it, it's so pretty and so garish at the same time. :) My Jayne hat is also very warm, which has made it invaluable in DC winter. We get very cold winds, especially downtown where I work, and I needed a hat with ear flaps.
ReplyDeleteI got my Jayne hat from SparkleJ on Etsy. She uses colors which are a little duller than most but look a bit more like the Jayne hat on the show. I pimp it a lot on Twitter because it's one of my favorite geeky acquisitions this year.
I have thought about knitting one of theses.
ReplyDeleteWhen Wash and I were dating I knit him a Jayne cap before we did CSTS in '08.
ReplyDeleteIt still makes both of us smile when he wears it.
http://washandtashi.blogspot.com/2010/09/memories.html
Pic at link
i want those bun covers.
ReplyDelete***ladyvader99.blogspot.com***
yes! a friend made me one for my birthday a couple months ago! I love it.
ReplyDeletedon't forget about this girl:
http://blastr.com/2010/11/image-of-the-day-the-best.php
I made myself a Jayne hat! Unfortunately, I think I misinterpreted the color scheme; mine are a little bit too subdued and tasteful. Well, "Firefly," particularly the scenes on the ship, tended to be rather dimly lit, so I like to think I'm bringing my own dim lighting with me when I wear the hat.
ReplyDeleteThe Jayne hat is so awesome. Pompom, ear flaps, chin strap, and all. I thought it would be great to learn to knit so I could make my own, but maybe I'll just give in and buy one. Not that I could wear it in Honolulu much... But the keychain is adorable, and appropriate for any weather :)
ReplyDeleteI somehow don't have one yet, but I definitely want to purchase a hat this year. It's just too cute, and it gets cold enough here during the winter (at night anyways) that it could be useful.
ReplyDeleteJulie - I love that she made a costume of the Jayne hat. I never would have thought of that!
I made my own and it is my favorite hat, both because it is geeky and because it is nice and warm. Of everything I have ever knit, that it the piece I get the most comments on from strangers when I wear it in public. :)
ReplyDeleteOh cool! I want to learn to knit... eventually!
ReplyDeleteThanks for listing my keychain! I have tons of other Jayne Hat creations. http://www.artfire.com/users/CutieHats
ReplyDeleteCutieHats - thanks for making such cute stuff. I'm excited to check out your other Jayne Hat goodies. :D
ReplyDeleteMy mom made me mine, and a few more with the leftover yarn. I've only 6 left, and once it's gone, that's it. They're gone.
ReplyDeleteGo to http://www.deathatyourdoor.com/store/ to order.
Thanks,
Rod Salm