his black cabled hat

Finished measurements: approximately 18.5” (47.5cm) around, 7.5” (19cm) tall lying flat and unblocked. The hat stretches to fit pretty much any size adult head. This hat fits a regular adult sized head (roughly 21" circumference) although does stretch.

Materials needed:
- 1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (80% acrylic, 20% wool; 108yds/98m, 170g/6oz skein); colour pictured: Charcoal
- 9mm/US 13 circular needles, 12”
- a set of 4 9mm/US 13 double pointed needles
- 1 yarn marker
- 1 cable needle

Note that there’s enough yarn in 1 skein to make 2 adult sized hats, with a little bit left over. Pattern adjusted for a tween sized head is at the bottom of the pattern.

Tension: in stockinette: 9 sts, 12 rows = 4” (10cm)

Instructions:CO 50 sts, join.
Ribbing: *K1, P1, K2, P1* around, placing marker at beginning. Repeat for 3 more rows.

For cabled part of hat: (repeat these 8 rows twice)Rows 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, & 8: p2, * k6, p4* around to last 8 sts, end in k6, p2. (There are 5 sections of k6, where the cables will end up being.)Row 3: p2, *place 2 sts on cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 on cable needle, k2, p4* around to last 2 sts, end in p2.
Row 7: p2, *k2, place 2 sts on cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 on cable needle, p4* around to last 2 sts, end in p2.

To decrease: (this will become the third cable repeat in pattern, to be worked over a decrease to finish)
Continue following cabled pattern rows 1-8, and switch to dpn’s when needed. Make rows 1, 2, 3, 5, & 7 as above, adjusting for the decreases indicated below; knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stiches, and work cable in rows 3 and 7.

Decrease rows will be incorporated into rows 4, 6, and 8 as follows:
Row 4: p2tog, *k6, p2, p2tog* around to last 2 sts, end in p2tog.
Row 6: p1, *k6, p2tog, p1* around to last 2 sts, end in p2.

Row 8: sl1, *k6, p2tog* around. Purl last stitch tog with first stitch (this row’s sl1). Move stitch marker to new end.

To close/end hat:
Next row: knit the knit sts, purl the purl sts
Next row: *k2, k2tog k2, p1* around.
Next row: repeat row 3 of cable pattern, but change cable pattern to k2, place 2 on cable needle in front, k1, k2 from cable needle and continue around.
Next row: *k2tog, k1, k2tog, p1* across.
Next 2 rows: k2tog around.5 sts remain after last row.
Break yarn and weave through remaining sts with a crochet hook or darning needle, pull tight to close and weave in ends.

To make a smaller hat to fit a tween, with a roughly 18"-19" head circumference, make the following pattern adjustments:

CO 45 sts instead of 50. Do the ribbing as is in pattern.

For rows 1, 2, 4, 6, & 8: *p1, k6, p3* around instead of *p2, k6, p4*. Therefore, throughout hat you'll be purling 5 sts between each cable instead of 6.

For the decrease rounds: skip the 'Row 4' instruction and continue with the pattern as is.

This ought to make a tighter fitting hat for smaller heads.

© 2008 by Sabrina Thompson - original design and pictures. Please do not sell pattern or materials made thereof, or copy my pictures. Pattern cannot be distributed for sale, or as a 'free pattern' promotional tool for selling yarn or knitting supplies. If posting Finished Items on personal blogs, please link back to this blog and pattern, thanks. :D

distractions

I got some more self stripping yarn in the mail the other day, so I started knitting a little to add to my blankie-from-sock-yarn project that I started a couple weeks ago. Plus, I finally got around to picking 3 winnners from the Black Yarn Swap that I organized a while back, and I'm getting their care package prizes ready. I'll probably mail them out next week some time.

my q&a to the black yarn swap

These are my answers to the black yarn swap for whomever has me.

1. Do you knit, crochet, or both? I do both, w/o preferance to either

2. What do you prefer to knit or crochet? (socks? sweaters? cables?) I've got the sock knitting bug, but I especially enjoy wrist warmers. Love anything with cables especially. What would you like to try to knit or crochet? Would like to get some more practice with argyle, or shawls.

3. What are your hobbies outside of knitting or crocheting? reading, watching dvd's, and am trying to perfect cooking.

4. Do you have any fiber allergies? Fiber preferances? no allergies but not a big fan of plasticy acrylics. I prefer yarns with some natural content like cotton or wool.

5. Do you have any favourite books, music, or tv shows? If so, what are they? TV: Lost, all the CSI's and Law & Order's; Bookwise: mysteries, Ann Rice; Music: rock, alternative, punk

6. Do you have any pets? a cat

7. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? salty, but I like chocolate too :)

8. Do you prefer coffee or tea? coffee

9. Aside black, which colours do you like/dislike? like burgundy, green, blue, purple, dislike white

10. What is your favourite time of the year? autumn & spring, and holidaywise, halloween

11. What is your favourite scent? vanilla, magnolia, lilac

12. What do you collect? gnomes, sheep and llamas

13. If there's anything else you'd like your swappee to know, list them here: I love postcards with maps on them, old hardcover books, skeleton keys, black & white photos, and glass beads.

DH's Socks

I've finally gotten around to knitting my DH a pair of socks, finishing them a week early for his birthday at the end of the month! They're knit with Patons Jaquard in 'Houndstooth'. Even though he wanted black socks, I just couldn't commit myself from buying ever-so-boring-flat-black yarn, so the silvery white specks in this made them turn out quite nice!

The pattern I used is from here, and the (I think) clever coat hanger sock blockers I found here. (The coat hanger ones will serve good purpose until I can afford to spend $ on some nice wooden ones from ebay!)