Bofur Scarf Knitting Pattern

Needles: US 13
Wool: 8 ply

(All garter stitch)
Cast on 12 st in blue.
Knit 14 rows.
Change to brown.
Knit 34 rows.
Change to bone/yellow.
Knit 38 rows.
Change to grey.
Knit 38 rows.
Change to brown.
Knit 34 rows.
Change to blue.
Knit 12 rows.
Cast off.
Sew in all lose ends.

WEARING INSTRUCTIONS: If you look at the original image, Bofur wears it wrapped around his neck twice so that you see a band of bone/yellow and a band a grey around the neck, and the brown/blue ends hanging down to a medium length. (Note: my pattern is perhaps a little longer than Bofur's - feel free to shorten any of the sections)

This is the pattern I used for my Supanova cosplay which was based off images of James Nesbitt's costume and some other people's patterns, but in the end it was my own specifications (I altered it many times as I was making it until it came down to this pattern). You may have to change yours too depending whether your needles and/or wool is slightly different. All my wool was synthetic, although I would have definitely used real wool if I had any.

This was my original sketch based off the movie costume:

 

I know a lot of other cosplayers go for vibrancy over accuracy with bright yellows and blues, but the colours Bofur uses are very rustic and subdued, true to his upbringing. He and his brothers are miners, common-folk not from the royal line of Durin. I like to think that either his earthy mother knitted it for him, or else he picked up the skills himself.

I hope this pattern helps any fellow Bofur-cosplayers, or anyone who just wants a Bofur scarf!! If you make yourself a copy, I'd love to see pictures if you can send them to me!! Happy knitting :D

-AlbusOwner

[Click here for post on how I made the hat]
[Click here for extended post on my 2013 Supanova cosplay]

Bofur Cosplay

Hello! So yesterday (Sunday 23rd of June 2013) I attended the Sydney Supanova festival!! It was second experience, having also been to the Sunday session in 2011 (click here to see that post)

This post is basically a re-cap on my costume as Bofur the dwarf from The Hobbit movie, and my experience meeting other fans and, most importantly, some incredible stars!!

So first of all I transformed this previously-ugly red tin whistle into a beautiful replica of Bofur's whistle which he plays during the "That's what Bilbo Baggins Hates" sequence. I've noticed, in my close analysis of Bofur's costume over the last few days, that there is this one motif that is repeated over his whole costume - his jacket, his earring, his whistle, and probably more if I looked harder. Once I 'cracked the code' of this motif I was able to replicate it in my costume:

 

I decided the night before that I wanted to make his tooth/claw earring, so I dismantled one of my normal earrings and hooked it through some kitchen foil that I wrapped around a stick I found on the ground that was the right shape which I painted bone colour, then I painted the design onto the top. Easy!

 Here are some shots of me in my finished outfit. Click here for my post on making his hat (it looks better here - I spent some days shortening the ends, and trimming all the weird bubbly bits of the grey wool, and inserting stronger wire to hold up the flaps)

So when I was at the festival, I was lucky enough to meet Aiden Turner (Kili) and Adam Brown (Ori)!!!!!! They were both flying back that night to New Zealand to finish up the last 4 weeks of filming, so we chatted a bit about that. I only got to speak to Aiden for about 30 seconds, but with Adam (his waiting line was substantially smaller - about 4 people versus 300!!) we talked about my outfit, and I showed him my whistle!! He took it and inspected it, and told me that James Nesbitt would be "chuffed" by my outfit!!! Squeeee!! I really really hope he remembers to tell him about it in the call-backs!!!! :DDDDDDD

 

And here are some pictures of me and some other Middle-Earth cosplayers that I found:

 

 Some cosplayers from other fandoms - Merlin and Zelda.

 So I also saw a panel presented by the Knights of Merlin!!!!!! Woah!!!

Me and my friend Lilliani got to get photos with Bradley James (King Arthur!!!) and Tom Hopper (Sir Percival)! So awesome.... besides them, I also caught sight of Jed Brophy (Nori), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia!), Karl Urban (Eomer) and lots more!!!!

 Here are some final comparison photos that I put together!

Totally keen for next year!!!! Hoping for some more Hobbit characters (James Nesbitt, Richard Armitage and Martin Freeman please!!!) in future years! XD

Bofur Hat

Hello there!

So over the past month I have embarked on an epic knitting journey to create my very own Bofur hat!!

As seen below from the recent release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

I decided to do up my hair for the occasion! It was fun threading wire through my own hair to create shape!

 

 I followed the extensive pattern found on ravelry here.

Made by this tumblr blogger knitstruck.

My own tumblr post can be found here.

 One thing that has really surprised me in this project is just how useless wire is when confronted with weight. It was very difficult to sustain the levitation of the ear flaps long enough to take these photos - the bulk of the wool is just too heavy for my poor wire. Even my pigtails had trouble defying gravity.

Here's a terrible picture of the back. This is what happens when you try taking a picture of the back of your head by yourself.

 

Bofur was my favourite character in The Hobbit. From the very beginning he looks a little different to the other dwarves. In contrast to their elaborate beards, he simply has two messy pigtails, and a flipping ridiculous amazing hat. He is not at all proud like the other dwarves, but likes to tease and have fun. The brothes Bifur, Bofur and Bombur are the only dwarves on the quest who are not descended from the line of Durin in the Lonely Mountain. They are poor coal miners.

For me, one of the best scenes in the movie is when they hide in the cave and Bilbo attempts to leave for home. Bofur confronts him, and Bilbo accidently offends him about their lack of a settled home. Despite this, Bofur is the only dwarf who reaches out to Bilbo, and says "I wish you all the luck in the world. I really do." Although not in the book, this scene really established his endearing character.

The completion of this hat has come at just the right time as the weather turns cold in Australia's crazy climate!

I'm definately wearing this hat at the end of the year to the release of the second Hobbit film!! :)

-Albusowner

EDIT: Click HERE for a post on my full Bofur cosplay in June 2013 :D