A cable hat worked in the round: a soft 1x1 ribbed brim and classic cable stitches that give it texture and a timeless look. In this video we take you through casting on, knitting the cables, shaping the crown and finishing the hat. It is a great project for practising cables and walking away with a warm accessory in a couple of evenings.
Materials
- ~1.5 skeins of Be Me yarn by The Woolcatcher
- 6 mm circular needles (or 6.5 mm for looser cables)
- Cable needle
- Stitch marker
- Tapestry needle
Gauge
Knit cables loosely, or use 6.5 mm needles for a softer fabric.
Pattern
1. Cast on
Cast on 66 stitches. Join in the round and place a stitch marker.
2. Ribbing
Work 1x1 rib (K1, P1) for 25 rounds.
3. Increase round
On round 26, evenly increase 9 stitches.
Total: 75 stitches
4. Cable pattern
Repeat around: K12, P3, K12, P3…
Make a cable cross every 10th round:
- Slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold in front. Knit the next 3 stitches, then knit the slipped stitches.
- Slip 3 stitches to a cable needle and hold in back. Knit the next 3 stitches, then knit the slipped stitches.
Work the cable pattern for 40 rounds total.
5. Decreases
Second-to-last round: knit 3 stitches together all the way around, following the pattern.
Last round: K4, P1 around.
6. Finishing
Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight to close the crown, sew securely with a tapestry needle and weave in the ends.
Frequently asked questions
Can I knit it in a different yarn weight?
Yes, but you’ll need to recalculate the cast-on. Swatch and adjust the 66 stitches to your head circumference.
Why do my cables pull in?
The crossings draw the fabric together. Work them loosely or go up to 6.5 mm needles.
How much ribbing if I want to fold the brim?
Add rounds to the ribbing: the 25 in the pattern give an unfolded brim. To fold it, work around 35–40.
