Celtic Cable and Rib Beanie & Mittens in Cascade Yarns Cascade 220® - W640 - Downloadable PDF

Celtic Cable and Rib Beanie & Mittens in Cascade Yarns Cascade 220® – Pattern Summary

Designed by Linda Medina and published by Cascade Yarns, this free downloadable PDF pattern (pattern number W640) guides intermediate knitters through the construction of a matching set: a Celtic Cable and Rib Beanie and a pair of Celtic Cable and Rib Mittens. Both pieces are worked in Cascade 220® 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, making this a beautifully coordinated cold-weather accessories set with a classic, textured aesthetic rooted in traditional cable knitting traditions.

About the Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for 2 skeins of Cascade Yarns® Cascade 220®, a beloved workhorse yarn in the knitting community. Each skein contains 100g (3.5 oz) / 220 yards (200m) of 100% Peruvian Highland Wool. The sample is knitted in color #2441 (River Rock), a sophisticated neutral that allows the intricate cable and rib textures to stand out beautifully.

Cascade 220® is an aran weight yarn that is well-suited to structured stitch patterns like cables and ribs. Its smooth, consistent twist and slight halo make it ideal for showing off detailed texture work. Required materials include:

• US 6 (4mm) 16" circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) for the S/M size
• US 8 (5mm) 16" circular needles and DPNs for the L/XL size
• A cable needle for working the Celtic cable crossings
• Stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping sections
• A yarn needle for finishing
• 4 buttons, ⅝" (16mm), used as decorative trim
• A 12" piece of contrasting color scrap yarn, used as a stitch holder (particularly useful for the mitten thumb gusset)

Skill Level and Sizing

This pattern is rated Intermediate, making it an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic knitting techniques and ready to explore more complex stitch patterns. A solid understanding of cable knitting, working in the round on both circular needles and DPNs, and reading a multi-row stitch pattern repeat is recommended before beginning.

Both the hat and the mittens are offered in two sizes:

• Hat: S/M – 18" circumference x 7.5" long; L/XL – 19" circumference x 8.25" long
• Mittens: S/M – 7.5" circumference x 9.25" long (un-stretched); L/XL – 10" circumference x 10.25" long (un-stretched)

The Celtic Cable and Rib Beanie

The beanie is worked in the round from the brim upward, beginning on a 16" circular needle and transitioning to double-pointed needles as stitches decrease toward the crown. The defining feature of the hat is the Celtic Cable and Rib pattern, a repeating stitch pattern that combines the visual drama of interlocking cable crossings with the structured elasticity of ribbing. Celtic cables are a classic motif in knitting heritage, characterized by their interwoven, chain-like appearance that mimics the knotwork found in ancient Celtic art.

The gauge for the S/M size is 28 stitches x 26 rows = 4" (10 cm) using US 6 needles in the Celtic Cable & Rib pattern, blocked. For the L/XL size, the gauge is 26 stitches x 23 rows = 4" (10 cm) using US 8 needles. Blocking is specified, which is important for opening up the cable pattern and achieving the correct finished dimensions in wool fabric.

Key Techniques – Beanie

• Knitting in the round on