Starflyer

Starflyer Hat by Claire Slade

What is Being Made

Starflyer is an eye-catching knitted hat designed by Claire Slade featuring organic cable patterns that grow from a ribbed edge and transform into a striking star crown. This downloadable PDF pattern creates a super stretchy hat suitable for most adult heads, with finished measurements to fit head circumferences of 21–24 inches (53–61 cm). The design offers versatility through adjustable repeats: knit five or more repeats of Chart B for a slouchy fit, or four repeats for a more fitted, beanie-style hat.

Techniques Used

Starflyer employs cable knitting as its primary design technique, with cables growing organically from the ribbed foundation. The pattern uses circular knitting in the round, transitioning from a 16-inch circular needle to double-pointed needles (DPNs) as the crown narrows. Cable work is central to the construction, requiring the use of a cable needle to create the dimensional, twisted stitches that define the hat's visual impact.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques:

• Knit (K) – the basic stitch forming the fabric
• Purl (P) – used in ribbing and pattern definition
• 2/2 LC (Left Cable) – place 2 stitches on cable needle and hold at front, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
• 2/2 RC (Right Cable) – place 2 stitches on cable needle and hold at back, knit 2, then knit 2 from cable needle
• 2/2 LPC (Left Purl Cable) – a variation combining cable and purl techniques

The pattern uses Chart B to guide cable placement and repetition, allowing knitters to customize the hat's slouch level through repeat variations.

Materials and Specifications

Starflyer requires 180 yards (165 meters) of worsted weight yarn. The pattern was photographed in Malabrigo Rios, showcasing how this yarn weight displays the cable detail beautifully. Knitters will need a 4mm (US 6) 16-inch circular needle for the main body and double-pointed needles (DPNs) of the same size for working the crown decreases. A cable needle is essential for executing the cable stitches throughout the design.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner-friendly pattern, Starflyer introduces cable knitting techniques in an accessible way. While cables may be new to some knitters, the pattern's clear abbreviations and chart guidance make it an excellent project for those ready to expand beyond basic knit and purl stitches. The in-the-round construction using circular needles and DPNs is a standard intermediate skill that beginners can learn through this project.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 22 stitches by 32 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in the cable pattern, measured after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the hat to fit correctly within the 21–24 inch head circumference range.