Traveling Cable Hat

purlsoho.com/create/2014/09/04/traveling-cable-hat

September 4, 2014 | Gina's Stitch

Although cables look complicated, they’re only slightly more difficult than putting one foot
in front of the other! These Traveling Cable Hats present the perfect opportunity to hone
your cabling skills. Where an Aran sweater is the marathon of cable knitting, these hats
are the 100-meter dash, every bit as beautiful but with the finish line in sight!

And with its remarkable stitch definition and undefeated softness, Purl Soho’s Alpaca
Pure is the ideal yarn to show off the hard work (and beauty!) of cable knitting.

Update: November 2014

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We now have a Traveling Cable Hat for Kids! Rather than casting on 3 repeats, like I did
for the Alpaca Pure Baby size, I cast 2 repeats onto some big ol’ needles in our Super
Soft Merino! For more photos and the full pattern, click here!

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with
#PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoTravelingCableHat. We can’t wait to
see what you make!

Materials

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 1 (2) skein(s) of Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure, 100% alpaca. Each skein is 109 yards/
100 grams; approximately 109 (218) yards required. We used Heirloom White for
the Baby Hat and Artemisia for the Adult Hat. (NOTE: We no longer offer Alpaca
Pure, but choose from one of our other worsted weight yarns.)
US 5 (3.75 mm), 20-inch circular needle
US 6 (4 mm), 20-inch circular needle
A set of US 6 double pointed needles

Gauge
30 stitches and 14 rows = 3½ inches by 2⅛ inches in cable stitch pattern, using the larger
needles

22 stitches = 3 inches in rib pattern (unstretched), using the smaller needles

Sizes
Baby (Adult)

To fit head circumference of 14–16 (20–23) inches

Finished Circumference at Widest Point of Body: 10½ (13½) inches

Notes
When knitting the body of the hat, I found it helpful to separate each repeat (30 stitches)
of the cable pattern with a stitch marker. (Just be sure to use a different color marker for
the end of the round!) Alternatively, you could knit the whole hat on double pointed
needles and put each repeat on its own double pointed needle.

Abbreviations

Left Cross (LC): Slip 3 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in front of work, p1
from left hand needle, k3 from cable stitch holder.

Right Cross (RC): Slip 1 purl stitch to cable stitch holder and hold in back of work, k3 from
left hand needle, p1 from cable stitch holder.

Cable 6 Front (C6F): Slip 3 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in front of work, k3
from left hand needle, k3 from cable stitch holder.

Cable 6 Back (C6B): Slip 3 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in back of work, k3
from left hand needle, k3 from cable stitch holder.

Cable 4 Front (C4F): Slip 2 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in front of work, k2
from left hand needle, k2 from cable stitch holder.

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How to Make a Left Cross (LC)

When you get to a Left Cross (LC), you will have 3 knit stitches on the left hand needle.

Slip these three knit stitches purlwise to a cable stitch holder. (“Purlwise” means to insert
the right needle into each stitch as if you were purling it.)

Keep the cable stitch holder at the front of the work.

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Purl one stitch from the left hand needle.

Slide the slipped stitches to the other end of the cable needle. (Do not spin the cable
needle or try to knit the stitches from the same end that you used to slip the stitches.)
Now knit the 3 stitches from the cable stitch holder.

How to Make a Right Cross (RC)

Making the Right Cross is like making a Left Cross in reverse.

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When you get to a Right Cross, you will have 1 purl stitch followed by 3 knit stitches on
the left hand needle. You will…

Slip the purl stitch from the left hand needle onto a cable stitch holder; hold the cable
stitch holder to the back of your work; knit the 3 stitches from the left hand needle; purl
the stitch from the cable stitch holder.

Pattern

Ribbing
With smaller needle, cast on 63 (84) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place a marker and join to work in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Round 1: *P1, [k2, p2] 4 times, k3, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until ribbing measures 3 (4) inches from cast on edge.

Round 2: *Purl into front and back (pfb), [k1, Make 1 Right (m1R), k1, p2] 3 times, k1,
m1r, k1, pfb, p1, k1, m1r, k1, m1r, k1, m1r, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [90 (120)
stitches]

Body

Continuing with larger circular needle…

Round 1: *[P2, k3] 4 times, p3, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *[P2, LC, RC] 2 times, p3, C6F, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: *P3, [k6, p4] 2 times, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 4: *P3, [C6F, p4] 2 times, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 5: *P3, [k6, p4] 2 times, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 6: *[P2, RC, LC] 2 times, p3, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 7: *[P2, k3] 4 times, p3, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 8: *P1, RC, p2, LC, RC, p2, LC, p2, C6F, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 9: *P1, k3, p4, k6, p4, k3, p2, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 10: *P1, k3, p4, C6B, p4, k3, p2, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 11: *P1, k3, p4, k6, p4, k3, p2, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 12: *P1, [LC, p2, RC] 2 times, p2, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

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Repeat Rounds 1–12 one (three) more time(s).

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 one more time.

The hat should now measure approximately 6 ¾ inches (10 ½ inches) from the cast on
edge.

Crown Decreases

NOTE: Change to double pointed needles when the work becomes too tight to fit around
the circular needle.

Round 1: *P3, k2, Slip Slip Knit (ssk), k2, p4, k2, ssk, k2, Purl 2 Together (p2tog), p2, k6,
p1, repeat from * to end of round. [81 (108) stitches]

Round 2: *P3, k2, ssk, k1, p4, k2, ssk, k1, p3, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [75
(100) stitches]

Round 3: *P3, k2, ssk, p4, k2, ssk, p3, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [69 (92)
stitches]

Round 4: *P1, p2tog, k2, ssk, p2, k2tog, k2, p2tog, p1, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of
round. [57 (76) stitches]

Round 5: *P2, k2, ssk, k2tog, k2, p2, k6, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [51 (68)
stitches]

Round 6: *P2, k2, k2tog, k2, p2, C6F, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [48 (64) stitches]

Round 7: *P2tog, k1, k2tog, k2, p2, k1, [k2tog] 2 times, k1, p1, repeat from * to end of
round. [36 (48) stitches]

Round 8: *P1, k2tog, k2, p2, k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [33 (44) stitches]

Round 9: *P1, k2tog, k1, p2, k4, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [30 (40) stitches]

Round 10: *K2tog, k1, p2, C4F, p1, repeat from * to end of round. [27 (36) stitches]

Round 11: *K1, ssk, k2tog, k2, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [18 (24) stitches]

Round 12: [K2tog] 9 (12) times. [9 (12) stitches]

Cut yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and sew it through
the remaining stitches twice. Pull tight to close the hole at the crown. Bring the tail to the
inside of the hat and weave it in. Weave in any remaining ends and enjoy your Traveling
Cable Hat!

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