Knitting For Dummies
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Knit a hat with cables and pompoms for a cute and creative gift. This cable hat with pompoms is a straightforward knit hat pattern that uses only one kind of cable: a 6-stitch cable twisting to the right. You make the front and back as separate pieces and seam them along the top and sides.

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Here are the materials and vital statistics for this project:

  • Measurements: 21 inches in diameter (each piece measures 10 1/2 inches wide) x 8 inches

  • Yarn: Cascade Pastaza (50% lama/50% wool); approximately 132 yards per 100 grams; 1 skein; or equivalent yarn of your choice

  • Needles: One pair each of size US 7 (4 1/2 mm) and US 9 (5 1/2 mm) needles

  • Other materials: Pompom maker

  • Gauge: 22 stitches and 22 to 24 rows per 4 inches over cable pattern

Create your own cable hat with pompoms:

  1. With size US 7 needles, cast on 50 sts.

  2. Rows 1–4: * K1, p1; rep from * to end of row.

  3. Change to size US 9 needles.

  4. Row 5 (RS): P2, inc 1, * k2, inc 1, k3, p3; rep from * to end of row (57 sts).

  5. Row 6: * K3, p6; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.

  6. Work this cable chart.

    Be sure to begin and end each RS row with k3 and to begin and end each WS row with p3:

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    Row 7 (WS): * P3, work Row 1 of 6-st cable chart; rep from * to last 3 sts, p3.

    Row 8 (RS): * K3, work Row 2 of cable chart; rep from * to last 3 sts, k3.

  7. Continue working the chart as established.

  8. Repeat the cable chart pattern until the piece measures approximately 8 inches in length.

    End with Row 4 (WS) of the pattern.

  9. Next row (RS): * P3, k2, k2tog, k2; rep from * to last 3 sts, p3 (51 sts).

    Decreasing 1 st in each cable on the final row brings the fabric back to normal width.

  10. Bind off.

    Or, if you want to seam your pieces together using the three-needle bind-off, run a piece of scrap yarn through the stitches to secure them.

  11. Make a second piece to match the first.

  12. Gently block the squares.

    Cables are best blocked by using the wet-blocking method, which allows you to shape and mold the cable pattern.

  13. Seam the top of the hat.

    Use backstitch or the three-needle bind-off.

  14. Steam the seam.

  15. Sew up the side seams by using mattress stitch and steam the seams.

  16. Add the pompoms.

    Follow the instructions for using your pompom maker to make pompoms. Leave enough of a tail on the pompoms to braid or twist into a cord. Using a tapestry needle, thread the cords to the inside of the hat and secure them in a seam.

When working with cables, try to begin and end on a flat part of the cable, between turning rows.

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