Materials:
· Approximately 196 yards Aran/10 ply or Worsted Weight yarn (2 skeins of Cascade Cotton Club, colorway Sterling 27870 used in example hat)
· US Size 7 (4.5 mm) circular needles
· Cable needle
· 3 Stitch markers
· Tapestry needle
· Scissors
Instructions
●Cast on 90 sts. Place stitch marker before first stitch. Join in the round, making sure the stitches aren’t twisted.
●Work K1P2 for approximately 14 rows, or 2 inches. Make sure you end at the stitch marker.
●For 3 rows, work the plain row pattern described below. Work the cable row the one time.
● Work 6 rows of the plain pattern and then a single row of the cable pattern. Keep working in this manner until you have 8 repeats of the cable, or until the hat body as a whole measures approximately 10 inches.
● Cut the yarn at the end of body at least 2 feet long. Using the tapestry needle, string the stitches from the needles onto the length of yarn (making sure to remove the stitch markers as you come to them). When the stitches are completely off the needles, pull the yarn tight to cinch the top shut and tie tightly. Leave some of the yarn for attaching thepompom. After completing that, use the tapestry needle to weave in all the loose ends and trim them so they’re no longer visible.
Plain: Work K2P1 for 8 repeats (24 sts total). Place a stitch marker on the first repeat (later slip the maker). P1, K6, P2 once. Resume K2P1 for 8 repeats (24 sts). Place a stitch marker on the first repeat (later slip the marker). Work P1, K6, P2. Continue K2P1 to start of row.
Cable: Work K2P1 for 8 repeats (24 sts). P1, C3B, P2. Resume K2P1 for 8 repeats (24 sts). P1, C3B, P2. K2P1 to start of row.
Pompom: If you have a pompom maker, you can use that and follow the instructions provided to make a 2-inch pompom (the one on the example is closer to 2 ½ inches). If not, you can make your own following this directions:
1. Cut cardboard into two 2-inch diameter circles (use a protractor or trace something with a 2-inch diameter). Cut a smaller circle in the center of both of the circles to form two rings. Place both rings together and begin to thread the yarn leftover from making the hat through the center hole and around the outside edge.
2. Thread the yarn in the ring until the center circle is filled completely with yarn.
3. Take your scissors and cut around the edges until all the yarn has been cut.
4. Pull the rings slightly apart and take a new length of yarn, tying it around the yarn of the pompom securely. You can tear the cardboard to get the pompom free and trim it, then attach to the top of the hat.
