High up on a hilltop, the landscape stretches as far as the eye can see, birds swoop up and down and the wind kisses your face. The hike up means you need to concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other and navigating the meandering paths. But it’s worth it as up there the air seems fresher and the cares of the world seem to float away.

The Hilltop hat begins with a familiar rib in the round, but takes a road less travelled to get to the top, by having a cable panel knit sideways as the body of the hat. The crown decreases are worked in garter stitch in the round.

Materials:

• Yarn: 1 skein of The Fibre Co Arranmore (80% wool, 10% silk, 10% cashmere; 160 m / 175 y per 100 g) or 130-160 m / 142-175 y of aran weight yarn
• Needles: 5 mm / US 8 dpns or 40 cm / 16” circular needle and dpns or size needed to obtain gauge
• 1 cable needle
• 1 stitch marker

The sample was knit using The Fibre Co Arranmore in Corcoran.

Gauge:
14 sts x 22 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm / 4” x 4” in stockinette stitch after blocking.

Size:
one size – adult
To fit head circumference of approximately 55-57cm / 21.5-22.5”.

Notes:
The rib of the hat is knit in the round and then the cable panel is knit flat sideways. Finally, stitches are picked up to knit the top of the hat and the crown decreases in the round again.

The Arranmore used in the sample hat is a woollen spun yarn. If using a worsted spun yarn, it is recommended to knit the rib longer as the cable panel pulls in more, making the hat shorter. You can also expect the hat to have a snugger fit.