Cassidy's cap

Cassidy's Cap by Bonne Marie Burns

What Is Being Made

Cassidy's Cap is a sophisticated knitted hat designed by Bonne Marie Burns for the Chic Knits collection. This intermediate-level project creates a finished hat with a circumference of 21-23 inches, making it suitable for average adult head sizes. The cap features decorative cable work and textured stitch patterns that give it a polished, finished appearance.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several intermediate techniques that make it ideal for knitters with some experience. The hat is knit in the round, a fundamental circular knitting method that eliminates the need for seaming. The pattern incorporates cable stitches worked at different intervals—small cables are crossed every 4 rounds while larger cables are crossed every 6 rounds, creating visual interest and texture throughout the design.

The cable work requires the use of a cable needle (CN) to temporarily hold stitches while crossing them over other stitches. For example, one cable technique involves slipping 2 stitches to the cable needle and holding them in back, knitting 1 stitch, then knitting the 2 held stitches. Another variation slips 3 stitches to hold in back while knitting 2 stitches, then knitting the 3 held stitches. The pattern also includes chart reading, as the cable placement is guided by Chart A and Chart B, which provide visual instructions for stitch placement.

Stitches Used

The stitch pattern combines several fundamental knitting stitches to create texture and visual appeal:

• Knit stitch (K) — the basic stitch that forms the foundation of the fabric
• Purl stitch (P) — used to create reverse texture and ribbed sections
• Ribbing — created by alternating knit and purl stitches in the pattern [K1, P1], which provides elasticity and helps the hat hold its shape
• Cable stitches — created by crossing groups of stitches over each other using a cable needle, producing raised twisted lines that add dimension
• Stockinette stitch (St st) — smooth knit fabric used as the base for gauge measurement

The pattern uses working stitches as they appear, a technique where knit stitches are knitted and purl stitches are purled on subsequent rounds, maintaining the established texture pattern without additional charting.

Materials Required

This project requires Aran weight wool yarn, also known as worsted weight, with a total yardage of 185 yards. The pattern calls for two sizes of circular needles: size #5 (3.75mm) in 16-inch length for the initial cast-on and ribbed sections, and size #8 (5mm) in 16-inch length for the main body of the hat. Additionally, size #8 (5mm) double-pointed needles (DPN) are needed for the crown decreases when the circumference becomes too small for circular needles.

The gauge is established at 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches in stockinette stitch using the larger needles, which is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions. The pattern begins with a cast-on of 104 stitches, worked in the round to create a seamless hat.