Wishing for Winter Cabled Hat Pattern

There’s just something about nice, big, chunky cable knit hats in winter. I love them – and there’s so many of them around wherever you look. They’re big, warm, and best of all, they have fantastic texture.

This Christmas, my brother and I were meant to take a trip to Las Vegas to visit family for the first time in what seems like ages. Honestly, it really has been ages – it’s been about 4-5 years for me and probably around 10 years for my brother. What happens? We get sick. Of course, 3 days before our flight, my brother ends up sick and then so do I a few days past that.

While cleaning up my yarn stash during my quarantine, I found some Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn I had bought probably a month or two ago. I was never a huge fan of using big chunky yarn, because I felt it was too bulky to be wearable. Easy to say, I’ve had a change of heart lately after seeing some of the beautiful chunky knit sweaters projects done by some others on instagram. You know what they say, don’t knock it until you try it!

This hat features an easy 8-stitch pattern repeat consisting of knits, purls, and cables on every 3rd row to bring interest to the hat. The pattern itself is written to fit snuggly to an average adult sized head with about a 22″ circumference. Made with big needles and big yarn, it’s a perfect quick project for a last-minute gift or even just to make for yourself one night on a whim 🙂

And don’t forget that lovely big pom pom on the top! Pom Poms made of yarn or faux fur are extremely easy to make, give it a shot!

As for the name of the hat? I just really want an actual winter – falling snow, cozy days in with a big blanket and hot chocolate or coffee. But nope – here in Chi-Town it’s a toasty 50 degrees and not a chance of snow for some time… Well, there’s always next month!

Materials

• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn (Approximately 64 yd)
• Darning Needle
• Pom Pom (your preferred style)
• Cable Needle
• The following sizes of needles:
  • US 10 (6.0 mm) 16″ Circular Needle (or preferred length for magic loop)
  • US 13 (9.0 mm) 16″ Circular Needle (or preferred length for magic loop)
  • If using 16″ circulars: a set of size US 13 (9.0 mm) DPNs for the decrease rounds

Note on Yarn & Needle Size: The smaller needle size for the beginning ribbing will help create a tigher fit to your head while also making sure the hat itself fits well around. I've found that Wool-Ease actually gets slightly looser after washed via the label instructions (Machine Wash/Dry), so this helps to keep the hat on your head better after washing. 

If you prefer a looser fit for the ribbing, feel free to go up to a size closer to the size 13 needles used for the main pattern. Be sure to swatch your needles/yarn combinations ahead of time, as sometimes different yarns will end up with a different fit.

Pattern Information

This pattern has a repeat of 8 stitches, for 6 total pattern repeats around the hat. If you want to make a larger (or smaller) hat, groups of 8 stitches can be removed or added.

Gauge (Stockinette Stitch)

• Brim (Smaller Needles): 2″ = 5.5 Stitches, 8 rows
• Pattern (Larger Needles): 2″ = 5 Stitches, 6 rows

Abbreviations

• St(s): Stitch(es)
• CO: Cast On
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• C2F: Cable 2 Front – hold 1 stitch on your cable needle in front of your work, knit off your main needle, knit the stitch off your cable needle.
• C2B: Cable 2 Back – hold 1 stitch on your cable needle on the back of your work, knit off your main needle, knit the stitch off your cable needle.
• K2Tog: Knit 2 Together
• P2Tog: Purl 2 Together

Working Cables: New to cabling? No problem! For the C2F and C2B stitches, simply slip the first stitch of that group onto a cable needle purl-wise with yarn in back and hold the needle either in front or back of your work, depending on the stitch you are working on. C2B will have the cable needle held behind your work while C2F will have the cable needle held in front of  your work. When your cable needle is on the correct side of your work, knit the next stitch off your main needle, then slip the stitch from your cable needle back onto your main needle and knit that one next.

If you get lost, remember: C2F will lean your work towards the left, while C2B will lean your work towards the right.

Pattern Chart

Pattern

Using Long-Tail Cast on, CO 48 St with the smaller needles and join in the round.

Begin Ribbed Brim

Rounds 1-6: * K1, P1, repeat from * until end of round.

Begin Pattern

Swap to larger needles.

If you prefer working off a chart, see the Pattern Information section for the chart for this pattern.

Round 7: * P1, K2, P1, K4, repeat from * until end of round.

Round 8: Repeat round 7.

Rounds 9: * P1, K2, P1, C2B, C2F, repeat from * until end of round.

Round 10: Repeat round 7.

Repeat rows 7 through 10 about 4 more times or until hat measures about 7.75″ from the beginning of the hat.

Begin Crown Decrease

If using 16″ circular needles, change to size US 13 DPNs.

Round 1: * P1, K2Tog, P1, K4, repeat from * until end of round.

Round 2: * P1, K1, P1, 2x K2Tog, Repeat from * until end of round.

Round 3: * P1, K1, P1, K2Tog, Repeat from * until end of round.

Round 4: * P2Tog, K2Tog, Repeat from * until end of round.

Cut yarn, leaving about 8″ of tail and sew through remaining stitches on the needles. There should be 12 stitches you have to sew through at this point. Sew through one or more times through these stitches before pulling tight, cutting the tail and weaving as normal to finish off.

Add a pom pom and viola! Or don’t – you can say voila either way ;).

Both of the hats shown in this picture above have been washed/dried per the instructions on the label of the yarn (Machine Wash/Dry). Of course, pom poms have been removed before going in the wash and re-attached afterwards.

I really hope you enjoyed this pattern – if you did, let me know below! As always, feel free to make and sell hats based off this pattern, but please do link back to this blog post if you do! Reselling/sharing of this pattern is not allowed, but you may of course direct interested friends and family to this blog post so they can make thier own!

I hope everyone has a safe Holiday season and a fantastic beginning to 2022!