Cabled Hat

Cabled Earflap Hat by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

This is a Cabled Earflap Hat designed by Kristen TenDyke. The hat features a classic earflap construction with cable detailing throughout. It is a one-size-fits-all design with a finished circumference of 20 inches, making it suitable for most adult head sizes. The earflap design provides extra warmth and coverage around the ears, combining both style and functionality for cold-weather wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several fundamental techniques appropriate for beginners. The hat is constructed using the in-the-round method, which creates a seamless, tubular fabric. Knitters will work with both circular needles and double-pointed needles (dpns) at different stages of the project. The cable work is the primary decorative technique, requiring knitters to manipulate stitches using a cable needle to create the characteristic twisted, rope-like texture that defines the hat's visual appeal. The earflap construction involves shaping techniques that decrease stitches to form the fitted ear coverings.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitch pattern used in this hat is Cable Rib, which combines knit and purl stitches with cable crosses to create visual interest and texture. Key cable stitches include C6B (Cable 6 Back), which involves slipping 3 stitches onto a cable needle, holding them to the back, knitting the next 3 stitches, then working through the cable needle stitches. This creates the signature twisted cable effect. The pattern also incorporates basic knitting fundamentals including knit (k) and purl (p) stitches, as well as shaping techniques such as make 1 (m1) for increases and bind off (BO) for finishing edges. Stitch markers are used to denote the beginning of rounds and pattern repeats.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The hat is designed to be worked in chunky-weight yarn, specifically shown in Classic Elite's Duchess, a luxurious blend containing 40% merino wool, 28% viscose, 15% nylon, 10% cashmere, and 7% angora. Each 50-gram ball yields approximately 75 yards, and the pattern requires 2 balls (approximately 150 yards total). The yarn shown is in colorway 1009 Proud Peacock.

The needle requirements include one 16-inch circular needle in US size 11 (8 mm) for the main body of the hat, and one set of double-pointed needles in both US size 10 (6 mm) and US size 11 (8 mm) for working the crown decreases and earflaps. The pattern notes that needle size should be adjusted as needed to obtain the correct gauge. Additional notions include a stitch marker for tracking round beginnings and a cable needle for executing cable crosses.

Gauge and Sizing

The specified gauge for this project is 16 stitches and 19 rows over 4 inches in Cable Rib pattern, worked slightly stretched using the larger needles. Checking gauge before beginning is emphasized as essential to ensure the finished hat meets the intended 20-inch circumference measurement.