Sideways Cabled Hat

Sideways Cabled Hat by Roxanne Richardson

What is Being Made

The Sideways Cabled Hat is a knitted hat designed by Roxanne Richardson that features a distinctive sideways construction method. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished hat with a circumference ranging from 18-22 inches and a height of approximately 4¾ to 7½ inches, depending on the size selected. The pattern is available in four sizes: baby, toddler, child, and adult, making it a versatile design suitable for the entire family.

Knitting Techniques Used

This hat employs a unique sideways knitting construction where the hat body is knit flat rather than in the round from the beginning. The sideways approach allows the cable pattern to run horizontally across the hat, creating visual interest and a distinctive aesthetic. After completing the flat body section, stitches are picked up along one edge and worked in the round to create the crown shaping. This combination of flat and circular knitting techniques makes the Sideways Cabled Hat an intermediate-level project that challenges knitters with varied construction methods while remaining achievable for those with solid foundational skills.

Stitches and Cable Work

The pattern features cable stitches as its primary decorative element, worked throughout the body of the hat. Cable stitches require the use of a cable needle to create the twisted, rope-like texture characteristic of cable knitting. The crown shaping incorporates decreases that reduce the stitch count by approximately ¾ to 1¼ inches as you work toward the top of the hat, creating the proper fit and closure. Stitch markers are used throughout the project to help track pattern repeats and decrease placement.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The Sideways Cabled Hat is designed with flexibility in yarn weight, accommodating fingering weight through worsted weight yarns. Total yardage requirements range from 150-200 yards depending on the size being knitted. The pattern notes include specific examples: the baby hat was knit using 175 yards of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (50g), while the adult hat used 220 yards of Cascade 220 worsted weight wool (100g), with yarn remaining after completion in both cases. Knitters should select yarn based on their preferred fiber content and weight, then choose needle size accordingly to achieve the appropriate gauge.

Needles and Tools

Needle size ranges from US 3 to US 7 (3.0mm to 4.5mm), selected based on the yarn weight chosen and the gauge listed on the yarn's ball band. The pattern offers flexibility in needle type, allowing knitters to use any combination of straight needles, circular needles, or double-pointed needles (dpns) based on personal preference. Additional tools required include a cable needle for working the cable stitches, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping. Approximately 4-5 yards of waste yarn in a contrasting color and matching yarn weight is needed for provisional cast-on or other construction purposes.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern specifies a gauge range of 5-7 stitches per inch, which varies depending on the yarn weight and needle size selected. For fingering weight yarn, the strip width measures approximately 4 inches wide, while worsted weight yarn produces a strip width of about 6 inches. These measurements directly affect the final hat dimensions and ensure proper fit across the range of sizes offered.