Cable Beanie with Earflaps in Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky - ER13-04 - Downloadable PDF

Cable Beanie with Earflaps in Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky

What is Being Made

This is a children's cable beanie with earflaps, designed to fit an average child's head. The pattern creates a warm, structured hat featuring prominent cable details and practical earflaps for added coverage and protection in cold weather.

Techniques Used

The pattern employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create visual interest and structure. Cable crossing is a primary technique, with instructions for C4F (cable 4 front) and C4B (cable 4 back) stitches that create the distinctive twisted rope-like texture characteristic of cable knit designs. Decreasing is used extensively during the crown shaping phase, utilizing slip-stitch decreases (sl 1, k2tog, psso) and standard knit two together (k2tog) reductions to gradually reduce stitches and form the hat's crown. The pattern also incorporates gauge-specific shaping, working full pattern repeats before transitioning to the crown decrease section, ensuring proper fit and proportions.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch (St st): The foundation stitch used for measuring gauge and forming the base fabric of the hat
• Cable Stitches: C4F (cable 4 front) and C4B (cable 4 back) create the decorative cable pattern
• Knit (k) and Purl (p) stitches: Used to create texture variation and pattern definition
• Decrease stitches: Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl 1, k2tog, psso) for shaping; knit 2 together (k2tog) for additional decreases; purl 2 together (p2tog) during final crown closure
• Pattern repeats: The hat works 5 full repeats of the pattern, then rows 1-4 of the pattern repeat, totaling 34 pattern rows before crown shaping begins

Materials

This pattern is worked in Ella Rae Lace Merino Chunky, a chunky weight yarn. The project requires 2 hanks of 100 grams each (color number 517), providing ample yardage for the children's hat with earflaps. The pattern calls for 5.00mm needles (US 8) as the primary needles for working the main fabric and cables, 4.50mm double-ended needles (US 7) for the final crown closure, and one cable needle for executing the cable crosses. The specified gauge is 15 stitches and 19 rows measured over 10 centimeters (4 inches) in stockinette stitch, which is typical for chunky weight yarns and ensures the finished hat will have appropriate density and warmth.