Loop and Hat in Schachenmayr Soraya - 2208 - Downloadable PDF

Loop and Hat in Schachenmayr Soraya – Free Knitting Pattern (Downloadable PDF)

This free downloadable PDF pattern from Schachenmayr includes instructions for two coordinating knitted accessories: a textured cable loop (cowl) and a matching hat, both worked in the luxurious chunky-weight yarn Schachenmayr Soraya in the beautiful Lagune colorway (shade 07956). The set makes a stylish and cosy cold-weather combination, ideal for intermediate knitters looking to practise cable and decorative stitch techniques.

About the Yarn: Schachenmayr Soraya

Schachenmayr Soraya is a chunky-weight yarn with a rich fibre blend of 58% wool, 25% viscose, and 17% polyamide, giving it a soft drape, a subtle sheen from the viscose, and durability from the polyamide content. Each 50 g ball offers approximately 85 metres of yardage. The wool content provides warmth and elasticity, making it well suited to accessories like cowls and hats.

• Loop (cowl): 250 g required
• Hat: 100 g required
• Colorway: Lagune, shade 07956

Needles and Tools

The pattern calls for Milward circular knitting needles in size 5–6 mm, specifically:

• One 80 cm circular needle (for picking up stitches around the loop band)
• One 40 cm circular needle
• A double-pointed needle set (DPN) in the same size for working the crown decreases of the hat
• A cable needle (auxiliary needle / Hilfsnadel) for working the cable crossings

Design 1: The Loop (Cowl)

The loop cowl is a generously sized infinity scarf with a finished circumference of approximately 102 cm and a width of approximately 36 cm. It is constructed in two stages: first a cable band is knitted flat, then stitches are picked up along its edge to create the wide body of the cowl in the round.

Construction Method

The cable band is cast on using a provisional cast-on with a smooth waste yarn (Extrafaden), allowing both ends of the band to be grafted together invisibly using mattress stitch (Maschenstiche) to form a seamless ring. The band is worked over 16 stitches (including edge stitches) for approximately 102 cm in length, which equates to 223 rows or 28 cable crossings. Once the band is joined into a ring, 162 stitches are picked up along one long edge and the wide body of the cowl is worked in the round.

Stitches and Techniques Used in the Loop

• Cable stitch – Zopf A: A bold 8-stitch cable worked over 16 stitches (including edge stitches). The cable crossing occurs on Row 3 of the 8-row repeat: 4 stitches are placed on a cable needle held to the front of the work, the next 4 stitches are knitted, then the held stitches are knitted off the cable needle. This creates a classic left-leaning rope cable. The crossing repeats every 8 rows, producing the 28 crossings noted in the pattern.
• Stocking stitch (Glatt rechts) in the round: All knit stitches when working in the round, used for the main body of the cowl.
• Twisted knit round and purl round: Immediately after picking up stitches, one round of twisted knit stitches and one round of purl stitches are worked to create a neat, firm transition edge.
• Decorative cut-and-recast rounds (openwork band detail): At set intervals, groups of 6 stitches are cast off knitwise