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This design was born out of my desire to create a practical yet enjoyable knitting project — because, let’s be honest, stockinette or ribbed hats aren’t exactly thrilling to knit. When my husband requested a new hat for his birthday, I had to convince him to let me add cables. This design was the result, and thankfully, he likes and wears it! I suspect that’s mostly because I chose a colour that matches his backpack — he’s less concerned with texture or design details. What matters most to him is that the hat fits well, keeps him warm, and doesn’t have a “back” or “front,” so there’s no wrong way to wear it. In fact, he sometimes wears it inside out by accident and is still perfectly happy.

When it comes to yarn, this hat is a fantastic stash buster. You can knit it using one strand of worsted-weight yarn, a fluffy DK, or holding two strands of fingering-weight yarn together. I recommend sticking to light or bright, solid colours to make the cable pattern pop.

The pattern comes in three sizes and is designed with approximately 12% negative ease for a snug fit. It’s worked seamlessly in the round from the top down, giving you the flexibility to customise the length. Whether you prefer a close-fitting hat or a slouchy style, with or without a brim, the choice is yours. You can even knit until you run out of yarn!

After making one for my husband, I decided I needed one too! While knitting mine, I took the opportunity to film tutorials for all the techniques and tricky parts of the pattern.

These tutorials are available as a free course on Skool, which you can access by joining the zaneteknits group.

Whether you’re knitting this for yourself or someone else, I hope you find it enjoyable to make and fun to wear!

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Difficulty: Intermediate. Ability to read cable charts is required.

Sizes: 1 (2, 3)

Finished hat circumference:

• 44 (48, 52) cm
• 17½ (19¼, 20¾)”

Designed to be worn with 10-17 % negative ease.

Yarn: Fingering weight held double or a single strand of DK or worsted weight, of each strand allow approximately:

• 125 (160, 185) m
• 135 (175, 205) yds

Yarns used in
- Sample 1 (size 3, on the cover) is Cascade Heritage Silk (85% Merino; 15% Silk; 400 m 437 yds / 100 g) held together with Magpie Fibers Solo Fingering (100% Superwash Merino; 396 m 434 yds / 115 g), 185 m of each strand.

• Sample 2 (size 2, at the back of the pattern) is Spincycle Yarns Trine (100% Non-superwash fine wool; 138 m 150 yds / ~70 g) in colourway No. 60, 160 m.

Gauge: 20 sts & 28 rows = 10 cm / 4” in 2x2 rib in the round, blocked.

Width of Chart B panel: 11 (12, 13) cm / 4½ (4¾ , 5¼)”

Suggested needles: 4 mm (US 6) (or size that gets the gauge) circulars, slightly shorter than the desired finished circumference and/or DPNs for small circumference knitting.

Notions: Stitch markers, cable needle, row counter, tapestry needle, tape measure.

Techniques used: Knitting in the round, lifted increases, cable knitting, Grandma’s favourite bind-off.

Notes: This hat is worked seamlessly in the round, beginning at the crown and working downward.
It starts with knitting in the round over a very small circumference, gradually expanding through increases outlined in the chart, and then continues in the round until reaching the desired length.
The hat is finished with a 2x2 rib for the brim.