Friday, February 7, 2014

Cable Chevron Hat

Cable Chevron Hat

The inspiration for this hat was simple: our neighbors keep blowing the snow out of our driveway, and my husband suffers from a monumental guilt complex about it. So he asked me to make a hat for the man across the street, presumably to keep his head warm while he's taking care of our snow... 

Update 12/24/2014: I have had a few comments that this hat has ended up on the small side, when finished. As a cabled hat worked in large yarn, it will definitely get a bit tighter than gauge. Therefore, I highly recommending working it on size US 11 needles if you're making it for a large head, and to double-check gauge! Furthermore, this yarn is very sturdy and chunky, and doesn't compress much. If you're working with a fluffy fiber, you may need even larger needles to produce the correct result. Or, you could simply cast on 12 extra stitches, for a total of 84 rather than 72. This modification will change the finished appearance of this hat very little :)

Yarn: Berroco Blackstone Tweed Chunky (65% Wool, 25% Superkid Mohair, 10% Angora Rabbit Hair; 60 yards [55 meters]/50 grams); #6656 Narragansett - 2 skeins
The back. Pretty, no? (in a manly way of course)

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size 9, one 16" circular needle in size 10.5, one set of double-pointed needles (dpns), also in size 10.5, and a cable needle (cn) or double-pointed needle for cabling

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker or scrap yarn to mark row

Gauge: 13 stitches = 4 inches

Using your size 9 needle, cast on 72 stitches, place marker, and join in round. Knit six rows in a k2, p2 ribbing, and then switch to your size 10.5 circular needle. Now, we'll get started on the main pattern, which is Cable Chevron from page 290 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. And it goes like so:

Row 1: knit

Row 2: * slip next three stitches to cn and hold in back, k3, then k3 from cn; slip next stitches to cn and hold in front, k3, then k3 from cn; rep from *

Rows 3 - 8: knit

Knits rows 1 - 8 three times, and then knit rows 1 - 4 once more. Then, it's time to begin the decreases, which go as follows:

Decrease Row 1: * ssk, k8, k2tog *

Decrease Row 2: knit

Switch to your dpns whenever you're ready.

Decrease Row 3: * ssk, k6, k2tog *

Decrease Row 4: * ssk, k4, k2tog *

Decrease Row 5: * ssk, k2, k2tog *

Decrease Rows 6 & 7: * ssk, k2tog *

Clip tail, thread through remaining 6 stitches, and pull tight. Thread to inside of hat and knot. Tuck in ends.



31 comments:

  1. I'll bet he'll love it - I can't believe how prolific you are with the needles! Fabulous! Happy weekend...Tanya

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    1. I hope so! I had a whole other hat knit out of this yarn, and then realized as soon as I finished that it had a fatal flaw, so I had to start over. I'm just happy the second one turned out!!! And you have a great weekend too!

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  2. Not a "fatal flaw" but a flawless fate!

    Thank you for sharing your creativity. (all I have to do is to actually DO more knitting)

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    1. No, thank you for checking out my page! And believe me, I have about a million other things I'd like to do more of... but instead I knit!!!

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  3. I am looking for a hat pattern for myself and I love the look of this one. One question though, how big is it? I have a good amount of thick hair and I have a lot of trouble finding hats that will stay down over my ears with my hair taking up so much space. Is there a way to make this hat "deeper"?

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    1. Hi Andrea!

      First of all, I am very happy to help you modify this hat for your needs. And, if I'm understanding you correctly, you mostly just need more room in the hat - presumably you'd like the band to stay the same size, but have a larger head space? If that's what you're asking, I would recommend knitting the bulk of the hat on size 11 needles instead of 10.5s, and adding one to two extra pattern repeats before you begin the deceases, depending on your size needs. Let me know if I haven't understood your question correctly, also. I'm happy to try again :)

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  4. So disappointed all that work and I think it would fit a Newborn 😡

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    1. I'm sorry to hear this hat didn't work out for you!

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    2. I am having the same problem...

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    3. I have seen a few successful finished pieces so I know that this hat has worked out for some... All I can suggest is larger needles or yarn. And, again, I'm sorry it's not working out for you!

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  5. can this be knit on conventional needles?

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    1. Yup, but you'll have to give me a few days for the pattern conversion! I'll post it here when it's done.

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    2. Okay, here you go! As always when I haven't knit something, I may have missed something in the conversion, so let me know if anything looks wonky. Oh, and make sure to read the sizing notes at the top as well. :)

      Using your size 9 needle, cast on 74 stitches. Then we’ll work our ribbing, as follows:

      Ribbing Row 1 (wrong side): p2, * k2, p2; rep from *

      Ribbing Row 2: k2, * p2, k2 *

      Knit ribbing rows 1 & 2 three times and then switch to your size 10.5 circular needle. Now, we'll get started on the main pattern, as follows:

      Row 1 (wrong side): purl

      Row 2: k1, * slip next three stitches to cn and hold in back, k3, then k3 from cn; slip next stitches to cn and hold in front, k3, then k3 from cn; rep from * until you have 1 stitch left in row, end k1

      Row 3: purl

      Row 4: knit

      Row 5: purl

      Row 6: knit

      Row 7: purl

      Row : knit

      Knits rows 1 - 8 three times, and then knit rows 1 - 5 once more. Then, it's time to begin the decreases, which go as follows:

      Decrease Row 1 (right side): k1, * ssk, k8, k2tog *; end k1

      Decrease Row 2: purl

      Decrease Row 3: k1, * ssk, k6, k2tog *; end k1

      Decrease Row 4: p1, * p2tog, p4, p2tog-through back loops (p2tog-tbl) *; end p1

      Decrease Row 5: k1, * ssk, k2, k2tog *; end k1

      Decrease Row 6: p1, * p2tog, p2tog-tbl *; end p1

      Decrease Row 7: k1, * ssk, k2tog *; end k1

      Thread final 8 stitches to a scrap of yarn to save for later. Seam from bottom of hat, threading seaming yarn through final 8 stitches when you reach them. Pull tight, thread to inside of hat, and knot. Tuck in ends.

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    3. Thank you so much I will have to buy some more wool and try that ....and hope! I have tried different patterns and wool and never seem to get a hat to fit my head just right! Must be me of course. I'm in England .....may take a while but much appreciated. Have a wonderful Christmas

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    4. You as well! And good luck with your yarn shopping. :)

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    5. I've knit it :) wonder if it's easier on a circular needle as I had a bit of job holding on to the cable needle at the same time as knitting the stitches the main needle! That aside, I used the equivalent of the U.S. sizes (UK) and a chunky double knitting wool(purple) it came out fine, just a little too long for my head as I don't like hats that go right down to my eyebrows (I wear glasses!) and was 'snug' but really quite pleased with myself lol! So.....thank you :)

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    6. Glad it worked out! And I'm glad the pattern conversion went smoothly as well, even if it's a tad long. Let me know if you have any other questions about any other patterns! :)

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    7. I tried to edit but got it wrong! I should have said I have very short hair having had it cut right off for winter so I can wear hats! This may be why it's not a perfect fit but it's pretty good, It looks just like your pattern so I am really pleased :)

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    8. Oh good! I have pretty short hair too, and it definitely makes a difference for hat fit. :)

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  6. Great pattern!! I just finished mine up and it looks amazing. I know some folks are having sizing issues, and what i did, in case it helps anyone, was use a US 8 needle for the brim and US 9 needle for the body and went with the recommended 84 stiches. I used Loops & Thread Charisma yarn...which I think is Michael's knock off brand. I also only cast on 60 stitches to begin with and then increased to 84 over the last row of ribbing and the first knit row. Thanks for sharing this, and happy knitting folks!

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    1. I'm glad your hat turned out so well! And thanks for sharing your sizing tricks - it helps everyone out. :)

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  7. Absolutely beautiful hat! This was my first attempt at cables, and it worked perfectly. It's too small, should have listened to you and cast on more stitches, but that's my fault. I always think that I knit loosely, apparently not! Ah well, I know a little girl that it will look perfect on, and it gives me an excuse to buy more yarn, right? Thanks again, it's an adorable, quick pattern!

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    1. Glad you like it! And yeah, the cables make it tight. :( Glad you can find some use for the one you made, though, and we can all ALWAYS use more yarn!

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    2. Hi can,I cast on more stitches it look small what's the next cast on stich after 72.

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  8. Hi can I cast on more stitches? What's the next cast on after the 72 thanks

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  9. Just made this and it is great. Thank you!

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  10. I made this with 9 and 10 mm DPNs all the way through. I ripped it out about 5 times until I was happy with the gauge. I used one of my favorite yarns, Red Heart Gemstone, a weight 5 bulky. I love how it came out! I'm sure my son will love it. Now I'm going to attempt a matching gator for him. :)

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    1. I'm sorry to hear that you had to rework it so many times, but I'm glad that it finally came out! And good luck with the gator! :)

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