I love cables. In fact, I’ve always loved them, simple ones, intricate ones, absolutely all of them. When I was a teenager I knew how to knit them but actually only one type which was simple and always turning in the same direction. That’s how my love for cables hid deep down in my heart for many years.
But this winter everything has changed. I’m no longer a teen struggling to make something nice, now I’m a mom who needs some warm and quick knits to keep my happy toddler cozy. And that’s how my love for cables came back to me, this time with great impact and a lovely hat for kids.
Sizes
Infant [Toddler, Child]
Shown in Toddler
Finished Measurements
Circumference: 14 [16, 18] inches (flat and unstretched).
Depth: 6¾ [7¾, 8¼] inches
Materials
Cascade Yarns 220 Wool [100% wool, 220 yards/201 meters per 3.5 ounce/100 gram skein];
#7828 – Neon Yellow; 1 skein or
#7816 – Bluebell; 1 [1, 2] skein(s)
Recommended needle sizes
US #6/4 mm, dpns or circular (if you wish to use magic loop technique)
US #7/4.5 mm dpns or circular (if you wish to use magic loop technique)
Do not hesitate to change needle size to obtain correct gauge.
Notions
cable needle
stitch holder or waste yarn
stitch marker
tapestry needle
pompom making tool
Gauge
After blocking:
24 sts and 28 rnds = 4 inches with larger needle in cable pattern
29 sts and 32 rnds = 4 inches with smaller needle in rib
20 sts and 28 rows = 4 inches with larger needle in St st
Pattern Notes
This is a cabled hat worked seamlessly in the round. It can be made in two versions: one with nice earflaps with an upside-down small cable pattern or starting with 2×2 ribbing. After completing ribbing the hat is worked in cables. The earflaps finish with i-cord strings and small pompoms. All stitch decreases are made between the cables for neater look. At the top of the hat there is a 1½-2 inch pompom in the same colorway. The hat is great for boys as well as girls, depending on the color of the yarn. Different sizing is achieved by alterations in cable length as well as their number.
Cable Cast-On – Start by placing a slip knot on the left hand needle. Knit on one stitch leaving 2 stitches now on the left hand needle. Now insert the needle between the two stitches, wrap and bring through. Transfer the newly created stitch onto the left hand needle.
Special Abbreviation
cn – cable needle
Pattern Stitches
m1p – make one purlwise; with left needle lift running strand between stitches from front to back, then purl into the back loop of the strand;
m1k – make one knitwise; with left needle lift running strand between stitches from front to back, then knit into the back loop of the strand.
Cable stitches
c4 over 4 right – sl 4 to cn, hold in back, k4, then k4 from cn
c4 over 4 left – sl 4 to cn, hold in front, k4, then k4 from cn
c3 over 4 right – sl 3 to cn, hold in back, k4, then k3 from cn
c3 over 4 left – sl 3 to cn, hold in front, k4, then k3 from cn
c3 over 3 right – sl 3 to cn, hold in back, k3, then k3 from cn
c3 over 3 left – sl 3 to cn, hold in front, k3, then k3 from cn
c2 over 3 right – sl 2 to cn, hold in back, k3, then k2 from cn
c2 over 3 left – sl 2 to cn, hold in front, k3, then k2 from cn
c2 over 2 right – sl 2 to cn, hold in back, k2, then k2 from cn
c2 over 2 left – sl 2 to cn, hold in front, k2, then k2 from cn
c1 over 2 right – sl 1 to cn, hold in back, k2, then k1 from cn
c1 over 2 left – sl 1 to cn, hold in front, k2, then k1 from cn
Right Twist – sl 1 to cn, hold in back, k1, then k1 from cn
Left Twist – sl 1 to cn, hold in front, k1, then k1 from cn
Skills Required
knitting in the round (possibly using magic loop technique), knitting on dpns, cables, i-cord, pompoms.
Instructions
If you wish to make an ear-flapped version start with the instructions for earflaps. Otherwise, go straight to instructions for the hat without earflaps.
Hat With Earflaps
Before staring earflaps make sure you know the cable pattern stitches.
Earflaps
Using larger needles, cast on 4 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Row 3: K1, m1k, p2, m1k, k1: 6 sts.
Row 4: P2, k2, p2.
Row 5: K2, m1p, p2, m1p, k2: 8 sts.
Row 6: P2, k4, p2.
Row 7: K2, m1p, p4, m1p, k2: 10 sts.
Row 8: P2, k6, p2.
Row 9: k2, m1p, p6, m1p, k2: 12 sts.
Row 10: P2, k8, p2.
Row 11: K2, m1p, p3, Left Twist, p3, m1p, k2: 14 sts.
Row 12: P2, k3, p4, k3, p2.
Row 13: K2, p3, k4, p3, k2.
Row 14: P2, k3, p4, k3, p2.
Row 15: K2, m1p, p2, c1 over 2 left, c1 over 2 right, p2, m1p, k2: 16 sts.
Row 16: P2, k3, p6, k3, p2.
Row 17: K2, m1p, p3, k6, p3, m1p, k2: 18 sts.
Row 18: P2, k4, p6, k4, p2.
Row 19: K2, p3, c2 over 2 left, c2 over 2 right, p3, k2.
Row 20: P2, k3, p8, k3, p2.
For Size Infant Only
Row 21: K2, p3, k8, p3, k2.
Row 22: P2, k3, p8, k3, p2.
Cut yarn leaving a long tail to weave into the hat once attached. Slip sts to waste yarn or stitch holder and set aside.
Sizes Toddler And Child Only
Row 21: K2, m1p, p3, k8, p3, m1p, k2: 20 sts.
Row 22: P2, k4, p8, k4, p2.
Row 23: K2, p4, k8, p4, k2.
Row 24: P2, k4, p8, k4, p2.
Row 25: K2, m1p, p3, c2 over 3 left, c2 over 3 right, p3, m1p, k2: 22 sts.
Row 26: P2, k4, p10, k4, p2.
Row 27: K2, p4, k10, p4, k2.
Row 28: P2, k4, p10, k4, p2.
For Size Toddler Only
Row 29: K2, p4, k10, p4, k2.
Row 30: P2, k4, p10, k4, p2.
Cut yarn leaving a long tail to weave into the hat once attached. Slip sts to waste yarn or stitch holder and set aside.
For Size Child Only
Row 29: K2, m1p, p4, k10, p4, m1p, k2: 24 sts.
Row 30: P2, k5, p10, k5, p2.
Row 31: K2, p4, c3 over 3 left, c3 over 3 right, p4, k2.
Row 32: P2, k4, p12, k4, p2.
Row 33: K2, m1p, p4, k12, p4, m1p, k2: 26 sts.
Row 34: P2, k5, p12, k5, p2.
Row 35: K2, p5, k12, p5, k2.
Row 36: P2, k5, p12, k5, p2.
Row 37: K2, p4, c3 over 4 left, c3 over 4 right, p4, k2.
Row 38: P2, k4, p14, k4, p2.
Cut yarn leaving a long tail to weave into the hat once attached. Slip sts to waste yarn or stitch holder and set aside.
Make the second Earflap in the same way. Do not cut yarn after finishing the second one.
Join Earflaps To Hat
Using smaller needles and working across second Earflap, k2, p4, k14, p4, k2; using cable cast on method, cast on 38 [46, 50] sts; with RS of first Earflap facing, k2, p4, k14, p4, k2; cast on 7 [9, 11] sts, pm, cast on 7 [9, 11] sts. Join for working in the round, making sure not to twist the sts: 88 [108, 124] sts.
Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 1½ [2, 2½] inches, ending last rnd at marker.
Proceed to Both Versions.
Hat Without Earflaps
Using smaller needles, cast on 88 [108, 124] sts, and join for working in the round making sure not to twist the sts. Mark beginning of round with st marker.
Work in k2, p2 ribbing for 1½ [2, 2½] inches
Both Versions
Change to larger needles.
Infant [Child] Sizes Only
Increase Rnd: P1, m1k, k15, p2, m1k, k15, (p2, k16) 3 [5] times, p1: 90 [126] sts.
All Sizes
Start working according to cable pattern, beginning with the 10th [5th, 2nd] rnd of chart or written instructions. When you get to decreasing stitches, you might want to consider switching to dpns for more comfortable work.
Written Cable Pattern:
Rnds 1-7: P1, k16, (p2, k16) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 8: P1, c4 over 4 right, c4 over 4 left, (p2, c4 over 4 right, c4 over 4 left) around to last st, p1.
Rnds 9-15: P1, k16, (p2, k16) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 16: P2, c3 over 4 right, c3over 4 left, (p4, c3 over 4 right, c3over 4 left) around to last 2 sts, p2.
Rnds 17-22: P2, k14, (p4, k14) around to last 2 sts, p2.
Rnd 23: P3, c3 over 3 right, c3 over 3 left, (p6, c3 over 3 right, c3 over 3 left) around to last 3 sts, p3.
Rnds 24-28: P3, k12, (p3, k12) around to last 3 sts, p3.
Rnd 29: P2, p2tog tbl, c2 over 3 right, c2 over 3 left, p2tog, (p4, p2tog tbl, c2 over 3 right, c2 over 3 left, p2tog) around to last 2 sts, p2.
Rnds 30 and 31: P3, k10, (p6, k10) around to last 3 sts, p3.
Rnd 32: P1, p2tog tbl, k10, p2tog, (p2, p2tog tbl, k10, p2tog) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 33: P2, k10, (p4, k10) around to last 2 sts, p2.
Rnd 34: P1, p2tg tbl, c2 over 2 right, c2 over 2 left, p2tog, (p2, p2tg tbl, c2 over 2 right, c2 over 2 left, p2tog) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 35: P2, k8, (p2, k8) around to last 2 sts, p2.
Rnd 36: (P2tog tbl, k8, p2tog) around.
Rnd 37: P1, k8, (p2, k8) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 38: (P2tog tbl, c1 over 2 right, c1 over 2 left, p2tog) around.
Rnds 39 and 40: P1, k6, (p2, k6) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 41: (P2tog tbl, Right Twist, Left Twist, p2tog) around.
Rnds 42 and 43: P1, k4, (p2, k4) around to last st, p1.
Rnd 44: (P2tog tbl, Left Twist, p2tog) around.
Rnd 45: Purl around.
Rnd 46: (P2tog tbl, p2tog) around.
Cut yarn; thread tapestry needle with end and weave end through remaining sts, gathering tightly to close.
FINISHING
I-Cord Strings
Using smaller needles, pick up 4 [or 6 sts for a thicker cord] along the tip of first earflap. Work every row back and forth as follows: (K1, put thread in front of piece, slip 1st as if to purl, put thread behind piece) across; repeat the instructions on all rows on RS and WS. This creates a round string. When your string is long enough knit sts tog 2 by 2 at the same time when binding off.
Repeat for the second earflap.
Pom-pom
Using your preferred method, make a 2-inch pompom for the top of the hat and 2 smaller pompoms for the ends of the i-cord strings, if you wish. Trim up and shape the pom-poms nicely.
Weave in loose ends with tapestry needle. You may also block the hat to required head circumference. Add a pom-pom on the top after blocking. Use yarn and needle to thread all pompom strings into the top of the hat; secure on inside of hat. Weave in all yarn ends on the inside of the hat.
More to read: Behind the Scenes – Photography