DESIGN INSPIRATION

I love cables. I learned how to knit specifically to make a pair of cabled fingerless mitts back in 2006, and I’ve been knitting ever since. I love playing around with different twists on cables to get different looks, and when I was designing the Pause Time Hat, I paired some tight cable twists with elongated cables for a fun wintery look. The temperatures had just dropped where we live in Georgia, and I can’t be a proper knitter if my family doesn’t even have hats, so I needed to get this one knit up as soon as possible. After the prototype was all blocked and dried, I tried it on my then three-year-old son to snap a few pictures and make sure I liked the crown, and he immediately walked over to my husband to show off his new hat. “Hey, Dad! Look at my new hat,” he said. “Mom made it for me!” This interaction just about melted my heart, and I wished I could pause time and hold onto that moment forever. The break in the large cable is meant to remind us to take a pause and treasure how special these moments are.

CONSTRUCTION

The Pause Time Hat is knit from the bottom to the top, beginning with a German Twisted Cast-On and 2x2 rib. Carefully placed increases transition the ribbing to tightly twisted cables without bunching, and the cables are continued into the crown decreases.

PATTERN INFORMATION

Difficulty Rating
INTERMEDIATE: Project is worked in the round and includes cables, increases, and decreases.

Recommended Yarn
Simply Spectacular DK by Emma’s Yarn, 75% superwash merino wool/25% nylon, 255 yds (233 m) per 3.5 oz (100 g): 1 {1, 1, 1, 1} skein (shown in Whisper) OR approximately 94 {133, 178, 230, 255} yds (86 {122, 163, 210, 233} m) DK weight yarn.

This pattern will play nicely with any DK weight merino/merino nylon blend yarn in solid, tonal, or lightly speckled colorways.

Needles/Notions

• US #6 (4.0 mm) needles for working a small circumference in the round OR size needed to obtain gauge.
• US #4 (3.5 mm) needles for working a small circumference in the round OR two sizes smaller than gauge needles.
• 5-9 stitch markers for tracking repeats.
• 1 unique stitch marker for tracking the beginning of the round.
• Tapestry needle for finishing and weaving in ends.
• Cable needle.

Gauge
22 sts and 32 rounds = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch on larger needles.
One cable pattern repeat (16 sts) = 2” (5 cm) wide.
24 rounds (measured on C4B cable) = 3” (7.5 cm) tall.
Gauge was measured on the wrong side of the work after washing and blocking, without stretching.

Sizes Available
Baby {Toddler, Child, Adult S/M, Adult L}
To fit head circumference: 14-16 {16-18, 18-20, 20-22, 22-24}” (36-41 {41-46, 46-51, 51-56, 56-61} cm)

Finished Measurements
Circumference, unstretched: 12 {14, 16, 18, 20}” (30.5 {35.5, 40.5, 45.5, 51} cm)
Circumference, fully stretched: 16 {18.5, 21.5, 24, 26.5}” (40.5 {47, 54.5, 61, 67} cm)
Height, unstretched: 5.5 {6.5, 7.5, 8.5, 8.5}” (14 {16.5, 19, 21.5, 21.5} cm)

The model wearing the cream hat has a head circumference of 23” (58.5 cm) and is wearing the Adult L size.

This pattern has been tech edited and test knit.