Finishing The Hat

Look, I made a Hat. Where there never was a Hat

Stephen Sondheim got it right, and I don't know why I resisted knitting hats for so long. In another century I happily crocheted groovy hats, then inexplicably I stopped, perhaps because they were no longer groovy. Thanks to the Greater St. Louis Knitters' Guild's charity program, and to friends who are just now procreating, I began again.

Hats, especially baby and children's hats, are satisfying and speedy. Size isn't critical, and they can be knitted while making conversation, and they're portable, and one can knit two or three at a time on one large magic loop. In short, they are great procrastinating projects!







Baby Cables Hat Free Pattern


I wanted to make a baby hat using bulky yarn from my stash, with cables to make it interesting to knit. Since I prefer front cables when working in the round, the cables are only 6 stitches; I chose to make the cables longer than the general mathematical rule in order to show off the bulky yarn better. The decreases in the knitted columns evoke the directionality of the cables.

Directions for this hat use the Magic Loop method, since I cannot ever manage to knit anything recognizable using dpns!

1 skein (50g) bulky yarn
Size 10 circular needle 24” or longer
Gauge: 13-14 stitches = 4” (10cm)

CF6 = Slip 3 stitches onto cable needle held in front of work, K3, K3 stitches from cable needle

CO 60 stitches, divide in half on the wire, and join, being careful not to twist.. Work K1P1 ribbing for 1”.

Begin Cables:
Rows 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9: K5, P2, K6, P2, K5, P2, K6, P2
Rows 5 and 10: K5, P2, CF6, P2, K5, P2, CF6, P2

Continue until 3 cables are made, then begin decreases.
Row 1: (K2tog, K3, P2, K6, P2) 2 times on each side of loop
Row 2: (K2tog, K2, P2, K6, P2) 2 times on each side of loop
Row 3: (K2tog, K1, P2, K6, P2) 2 times on each side of loop
Row 4: (K2tog, P2, K6, P2) 2 times on each side of loop
Cable row: (P2tog, P1, CF6, P2, P2tog, P1, CF6, P2) on each side of loop
Row 6: (P2tog, K6, P2, P2tog, K6, P2) on each side of loop
Row 7: Sl 1 stitch pwise wyib to other side of ML. (K6, P2tog, P1, K6, P2tog, P1) on each side of loop.
Row 8: K6, P2tog, K6, P2tog (14 sts on each side of loop)
Row 9: K2tog, K5 across to eliminate purls (12 sts on each side of loop)
Cable row: CF6 across
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K2tog (6 sts on each side of loop)
Row 3: K2tog (3 sts on each side of loop)

Break yarn and run through remaining 6 sts. Weave in ends.

Copyright 2008 RMS Original. You may use this pattern for personal or charity use only. Please link directly to this site instead of posting the pattern elsewhere.