Image courtesy Maureen Vermont
This hat fits and flatters everyone from little kids to grownups. Knit one in an evening of TV watching or a week's worth of coffee breaks. Good idea for someone whose size is uncertain or for charity knitting. The pattern is baby cable, also known as mock cable.
Materials:
16 inch circular needle size 7 or whatever size YOU need to obtain
gauge
Sock needles in same size or close to it
About three ounces of worsted weight yarn (Note: sample took 3.5
ounces)
Gauge:
4 sts/inch
Pattern:
LOOSELY cast on 88 sts. Work in K2, P2 rib for 1 inch.
In the next round, make a right twist in each knit rib by knitting
into the second stitch of the rib, pulling the new stitch through but not
slipping it off the needle, then knitting into the first stitch, and slipping
that to the working needle.
If you prefer a left twist, or use another method, you can do that too. HINT: if you prefer a left twist, make a left-leaning decrease in the knit ribs on the decrease rounds.
*Knit three rounds in K2, P2 rib. Do another round of baby cable.*
Work a round of baby cable as described, every fourth round, (Note: Sample has cables worked every 5th round) until tube is about 8" long for a toddler, 10" for a larger child, 12" for a small adult, or 14" for an extra-large adult head
Now decrease as follows... on the next round when you're "due" for a cable round:
Round 1: *K2tog, P2, RT (right twist), P2* all around
Round 2: *K1, P2, K2, P2* all around
Round 3: *K1, P2tog, K2, P2* all around
Round 4: *K1, P1, K2, P2* all around
Round 5: *K1, P1, K2tog, P2* all around
Round 6: *K1, P1, K1, P2* all around
Round 7: *K1, P1, K1, P2tog* all around
Round 8: K1, P1 all around
Round 9: K2tog all around.
See how nicely the "cables" and decreases compliment each other? For extra precision in the cable, you may want to twist the individual K rib sts. on decrease round #5.
Cut yarn, leave an 18" tail, slip yarn through all remaining st., weave in ends securely. Add pompom, tassel, I-cord tail, or dreds if the spirit moves you. Fold cuff as deep as you like. The inside, of course, will be plain rib, but it looks nice folded up against the cable. No need to block this hat.