Bees are exceptionally clever creatures. Honeybees use their beeswax to create strong and highly efficient honeycomb structures, which they use for accommodation, food storage, and a place to raise their larvae. The Beeswax Hat and the matching Cowl and Mitts celebrate the beauty of this structure.

The Beeswax Hat’s honeycomb texture is made up of simple mini-cables, which can be knit without a cable needle. I’ve included instructions for my favourite twist method, which I find intuitive and easy to remember, but you can use any method you prefer.

Skills & Techniques
Knitting in the round, increasing and decreasing, and simple 1-over-1 cables.
Both charts and full written instructions are provided.

Materials Needed
1 skein of Vintage Purls Max (75% merino, 25% nylon; 227yds/208m per 100g skein), or 119 (181)yds/109 (165.5)m of DK or light worsted-weight yarn. Sample colourway: ‘Easy Rider’. If substituting yarn, I recommend choosing a bouncy merino or other woollen-spun yarn with lots of ‘body’, so the cables are plump and well-defined.

You will also need a cable needle (optional), an end-of-round stitch marker, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Finished Measurements
Sizes 1 (2) relaxed after blocking:
14.5 (18)”/37 (46)cm brim circumference, and
7.75 (9)”/19.5 (23)cm long from brim to crown

Sizes 1 (2) to fit head circumference:
17-20 (21-24)”/43-51 (53.5-61)cm

Sample is shown in size 2 on my 22”/56cm circumference head.

Tutorials:
How to work mini-cables without a cable needle
How I block my hats