Chunky Cable Hat
Just because knitting an intricately cabled Aran sweater sounds a lot like climbing Mount Everest, doesn’t mean that cables are only for Channel Island women waiting for their fishermen to come home! Unlike hiking to the world’s highest summit, knitting cables is actually really easy… really!
Faye’s Chunky Cable Hat is the perfect beginner hill! Quick and manageable, this simple cable pattern results in a truly stunning hat. And Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino is a wonderful vehicle for the hills and valleys of cables, giving them a satisfying depth and sumptuous texture. Plus, this may be the coziest hat of the year!
Ready for some knitting fun? Get started!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoChunkyCableHat, and #PurlSohoSuperSoftMerino. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Super Soft Merino, 100% merino yarn. Each skein of this bulky weight yarn is 87 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 174 yards required. We used the color Heirloom White.
- US 13 (9 mm), 16-inch circular needles
- A set of US 13 double pointed needles (Optional)
- A large cable stitch holder (or double pointed needle)
Gauge
22 stitches = 4 inches in 2 x 2 rib, unstretched
Size
16 inches in circumference, unstretched, and 11 inches tall, to fit most adult women
Notes
C8f [Cable 8 front]: Slip 4 stitches onto cable stitch holder and hold in front of work. K2, p2 from left needle, then k2, p2 from cable holder.
C6f [Cable 6 front]: Slip 3 stitches onto cable stitch holder and hold in front of work. K2, p1 from left needle, then k2, p1 from cable holder.
Pattern
Begin
Cast on 88 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: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.
Rounds 2-9: Repeat Round 1.
Round 10 (Cable Round): C8f eleven times. (See NOTES, above.)
Repeat Rounds 1-10 two more times.
Repeat Round 1.
Next Round (Decrease Round): *K2, p2, k2, Purl 2 Together (p2tog), repeat from * to end of round. (77 stitches)
Next Round: *K2, p2, k2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat previous round four more times.
Next Round (Decrease Round): *K2, p2tog, k2, p1, repeat from * to end of round. (66 stitches)
Next Round: *K2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Next Round (Cable Round): C6f eleven times. (See NOTES, above.)
Next Round: *K2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Next Round (Decrease Round): *Knit Two Together (k2tog), p1, repeat from * to end of round. (44 stitches)
Next Round: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Switching to double pointed needles, if you’re using them…
Next Round (Decrease Round): *K3tog, p1, repeat from * to end of round. (22 stitches)
Finish
Cut working yarn, leaving an 8-inch tail. Thread tail onto tapestry needle and draw needle through remaining stitches. Pull taut and fasten tail by weaving into inside of hat.
Weave in remaining tails and block if desired.
LEARN ABOUT SUPER SOFT MERINO + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
The best reason to use Super Soft Merino for this project is because it is the dreamiest, cuddliest, toastiest yarn you can imagine! A single ply of 100% merino wool, Super Soft Merino has a nice, loose spin that shows off the softness of its fiber and keeps it nice and lightweight. Its gauge ranges from a chunky/bulky-weight to super bulky-weight (2.75-3.25 stitches per inch), making it a great choice for quick (and beautiful!) hand-knit gifts. And more… Super Soft Merino comes in over 30 amazing colors, too!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our vast collection of (mostly free!) Super Soft Merino knitting patterns and cast on!
More Chunky/Bulky + Super Bulky-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of chunky/bulky weight yarns
- Shop our entire collection of super bulky-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop merino wool
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
This is so cute, and a bulky hat pattern will practically make itself!
Just FIY the gauge info has a typo.
This is so beautiful! I have never done cables but I think I can do this! I would love to make one for me and a matching one for my daughter! How many stitches would you cast on for a toddler size (16″ size probably)? Thanks!
Hi Sam-
Faye recommends that you cast on 64 stitches.You'll be repeating the cable 8 times instead of 11. You can follow the pattern as written, just make sure to make it shorter!
Thank you for your question!
Molly
Thanks so much! One more question, how would you recommend shortening it? Would you only repeat rows 1-10 twice instead of three times for toddler size? Thanks again! Will you be getting in more pink super soft merino soon? Love that color on my daughter!
Hi Sam-
I just emailed with Faye and she thinks that that sounds like it should work out fine.
Please let us know if you have any more questions!
Molly
Hi,
I saw your note about double pointed needles — so is it possible to finish the hat just in the round? I can't do DPNs but I do know Magic Loop. I was thinking of doing it as ML, but just wanted to confirm that I could finish it just in the round. Thanks!
stephanie
Hi Stephanie-
Yes, it is possible, to finish the top of the hat without double pointed needles, it will just be a bit tight for the last few rows.
Thank you!
Molly
This is wonderful. I'm thinking a darker color could make a handsome beanie for a man as well. How do you recommend modifying the pattern for a larger size?
What type of cast on did you use?
Hi Im-
Faye used a Long Tail Cast on:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/cast-on-tutorial/2006/9/29/cast-on-long-tail-method-1.html
Thank you!
Molly
Is this hat, knit with original pattern, slouchy?
Seems like 11 inches tall would make it slouchy?
Would be helpful for pictures of it on someones head to see!!
thanks!
Hi Katiana-
It is slouchy! You can see it on Faye by checking out our instagram feed here:
http://instagram.com/purlsoho
Thank you!
Molly
Hello!
This is a wonderful hat!
When using a thicker yarn and #15 needles how many stiches would you suggest to cast on?
Thank you!
Fili
Hi Fili-
We suggest that you use the appropriate sized yarn and needles to get the gauge listed in the pattern because a cable pattern like this would need to be completely rewritten in other gauges.
Thank you so much for writing in!
Molly
Repeat rounds 1-10 refers to the cable rounds or those right after the cast on? Sorry, I'm horrible at reading patterns.
Hi,
I'm trying to make this hat and I'm finding C8F difficult to repeat. The yarn gets very tight. I'm not pulling the yarn tightly, so is it normal when cabling to have tight rows? Does it sort itself out within the next rows?
Thanks for the pattern and your help.
Kim
Hi Kim-
That is normal and it will ease up once you start the rib again.
Thank you!
Faye
how many stitches would I need to cast on to make the hat somewhat narrower, I'm afraid it would be too wide for my teenage daughter.
Hi Alice-
You could cast on 80 stitches to make it slightly narrower (you need to cast on a multiple of 8) but please make sure to measure her head, it should fit a teenage girl as is.
Thank you!
Molly
This is a gorgeous hat–I had great success with bulky baby alpaca and size 11's. Made a swatch and it made all the difference! Very stretchy and slouchy, and a super easy, super quick pattern. I can't wait for a chilly day to wear it!
This might be a silly question but when you do say finish and use DPN, what exactly do you mean as the finish? I'm a little new to the knitting game but completely understood the whole pattern up until it said finish.
Hello Rachel.
That is not a silly question at all.
As you decrease to shape the top of the hat, and you have fewer and fewer stitches, the circular needle will be too long to work on. The stitches will be stretched/straining reaching around the length of the needle. So, once you reach that point, you can switch to double pointed needles. Double pointed needles allow you to work on projects with very small circumferences.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.
Laura
When using thicker yarn, what adjustments should I make?
Hi Dakota-
We suggest that you use the appropriate sized yarn and needles to get the gauge listed in the pattern because a cable pattern like this would need to be completely rewritten in other gauges.
Thank you so much for writing in!
Molly
My hat is too wide at the bottom. I casted 88 stitches but the bottom flares out. I don't know what i did wrong.
Hi Rose.
Because of where the first round of cabling takes place and how that round can potentially pull the piece in, it's easy for this hat to look as if the bottom flares. You could always work the first portion of the pattern in a smaller needle size. If I had to guess, you didn't do anything wrong. You just might have a tense or tight way of knitting cables.
Laura
I cast on the 88 stitches and It seems awefully big. Will it tighten up once I start the cables?
Hi, I am currently knitting this hat and I don't want it to be as "pointy" as it is in the pictures I see of it on Faye, do you have any suggestions on how I could shorten this a bit?
Hi Jeniffer-
It does pull in a lot at the cable sections. As long as you are getting the correct gauge the pattern will turn out to be the finished dimensions.
Thanks for your question!
Molly
Hi Shelley.
If you eliminate the round between the last two decrease rounds you'll lose a touch of height and round out the top a bit, eliminating some of that pointy-ness.
If you want it even shorter or less pointy, also omit the round between the second to last and third to last decrease rounds.
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Hi Laura I would like to make this hat however my yarn is not as bulky bulky it’s more like a DK on size 6 needles I get 6 stitches per inch . How many stitches should I cast on ?? . I appreciate your answer I made the Cowell and now I want to make a hat to match and I’m in a hurry to do this for her birthday thank you very much I appreciate all the help that purl soho You thank you
Hi Carmen,
Thanks for writing in! To figure out your cast-on number, you will want to first knit a gauge swatch in the 2 x 2 ribbing pattern. Once you know how many stitches you are getting per inch in this stitch pattern, you can multiply that number by the finished circumference of the hat (16 inches) and cast on the nearest multiple of 8. Then you can follow the pattern as written!
All the best,
Lili
Hi Bill, I was an error when I gave you the information about the cozy cable hat. I am getting five stitches to the inch and her head measures 22 inches can you please tell me how many stitches two cats done I am terrible at math I am 84 years old and would appreciate if you could tell me how many stitches two cast on wood appreciate it very much thank you very much
Hi Carmen,
Thanks for letting me know your gauge! You’ll need to cast on 80 stitches for this hat.
All the best,
Lili
Thankyou very much I really appreciate you giving me the number of stitches thank you again
Hi Carmen,
You’re very welcome! We’re so glad Lili could assist you and thank you again for reaching out. Hope you have a great rest of your day!
All the best,
The CS Team
Hi, I am having a terrible time. I purchased chunky yarn from Debbie bliss I have changed needles about three or four times I finally cashed on with size 8 and then went to size 11 for the hat. My problem now is when I do the cables there are big holes in between I’ve tried making them and then knitting the net to Perle to as a pattern says but the holes are so big I have tried pulling the yarn off very tight I have tried in various ways I am beyond frustrated but I have promised this hat to my daughter-in-law and I want to do it maybe another pattern or something what is my problem.
Hi Carmen,
I’m sorry to hear that your cables aren’t turning out as expected! Would you be able to send a photo to [email protected]? That way, we can take a look at what’s going on and offer more specific advice.
All the best,
Lili
Hi Sam, I finally got the correct size needles and and after doing the cables it was not tight and it would fit over her head. However I continued to follow the pattern as I need a long following this pattern I did or the pattern said to repeat rows 1-10 twice I followed the pattern, it then says to decrease after a few rows and says to do the C6f. However this makes The cables very far apart and actually that’s the last cable in the pattern. The Picture of this hat shows the cables continuously as in the cowl. I thought I had made a mistake I checked the pattern again then I went online and check the pattern and that’s exactly what it says so there’s something really wrong it does this makes the hat look completely different than shown in the picture I am very perplexed and upset about this please explain. I am making this for someone else to match the cow and it’s not going to match by following this pattern I feel this is a BIG MISTAKE ON PURL SOHO. I read the different comments and it doesn’t seem anybody else has this problem. I checked the pattern online and it is exactly the same as the one that I had printed (I did this because I thought I had made a mistake and printed the wrong pattern) I don’t understand why nobody else has this problem I nearly felt like I was losing my mind can you please explain thank you Carmen Bardsley
Hi Carmen,
Goodness, I’m so sorry this pattern has gotten so frustrating! Looking over our previous exchanges in the comment section, it sounds like you’ve made some modifications to the pattern in order to make it work for the yarn you already had on hand (chunky yarn from Debbie Bliss). I’m sorry to hear that it’s not coming out as expected though!
Would you be able to send a photo of your hat to [email protected]? It will help us figure out how to help you move forward with this project if we are able to visualize what’s going on. We’ll keep an eye out for a message from you there!
All the best,
Lili
I made this and it came out with a "bucket hat" kind of appearance…the bottom is way too loose and I followed the pattern exactly. The hat is completely unwearable. I'm pretty new to knitting so I'm very confused and this isn't the first time this has happened! Anyone know why this is?
Hi Kate.
I am so sorry your labors have been fruitless.
Oftentimes, people will work cables extremely tightly. If this is the case, this pattern would result in an unusual shape with the bottom much looser than the top since the majority of the hat is worked in cables and working those cables too tight will pull the top of the hat way in, leaving the ribbed edge looking (and fitting) quite strangely.
Please write us back if we can help in any way.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us and our other readers!
Laura
I just finished the hat, i love the pattern it came out really nice, thanks for sharing!
Any recommendations for changes in order to fit man with 23/24 in crown circumference? Thanks!
Hi Lisa,
The next-biggest size you could make would be 8 stitches bigger, i.e. a cast-on of 96 stitches. This would probably make the hat about 2 inches bigger.
I hope this helps, and please let us know if you have any more questions!
Whitney
On the pattern for starting the cable it is printed out Round 10 (Cable Round) C8f eleven times. (See NOTES , above.) The note above on the pattern is C6f [Cable 6 front]……..is this a typo??
Hi Dawn,
The Notes section at the beginning of the pattern explains both the C8f and the C6f cables.
Thanks for your question and please let us know if you have any more!
Whitney
Beautiful pattern! I have a beginner’s question about the gauge. I don’t understand the nomenclature “5 ½ stitches = 1 inch in 2 x 2 rib,” and internet searches have not been helpful. Could you help spell this out for me?
Thanks so much,
Sverre
Hi Sverre!
The information about the gauge is that you need to have your stitches be exactly the right size for the hat you make to fit. In order to check, you should make a small swatch (over 32 stitches or so) and measure how many stitches fit into 1 inch. For this pattern, you should make your swatch in 2 X 2 rib (meaning k2, p2 across every row, over a multiple of 4 stitches).
For more clarification, see our page on gauge here!
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
I was wondering if it takes the 2 full skeins? Wondering about the yardage it takes, if I use yarn I already have.
Thanks!
Hi Jeanetta!
Since this hat is cabled, I think the hat uses nearly all of the 2 skeins! I would probably count on having at least the 174 yards to be safe.
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
Thanks so much!
Hi how many balls of wool is 2 skiens ? How many grams of wool do I need as don’t want to buy the wool suggested
Hi Emma-
Each skein of this yarn is 87 yards. You can see all the info on this yarn here: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8944-Purl-Soho-Super-Soft-Merino
Thanks so much for getting in touch!
Best-
Molly
I would like to make this hat for adult ( man) with a US 10 needle ,
How do I change the pattern…I mean how many cast on stitches more should I take?
Hi Royce!
Due to the repeat of this hat, I’m not sure that I would suggest trying to adjust it. I will say, though, that if you made this hat as written, it is big enough and stretchy enough to fit any adult, including men!
Happy Knitting!
Thomas
Hi uhmm what does “Slip 4 stitches onto cable stitch holder” mean or how do you do it. I am sorry because i am only 14. 🙂 I want to accomplish this for my school project because it looks very interesting. 🙂
Hi Nica!
Check out our cable tutorial here! When you slip the next four stitches, you’ll just take a 3rd needle (cable needle or double point) and put the needle into each next stitch as if to purl, and then just take each off the left needle.
Hope this clarifies! Happy Knitting!
Thomas
This hat looks nice, but the brim is very very floppy when it’s complete. The ribbing has much less structure and is much larger than the tighter cable rows, which means it doesn’t really sit tight on your head.
Hello Maya,
Thank you for sharing your observations! Other customers and fellow knitters have had this same experience. One tip is to be sure to knit the ribbing extra tight with smaller sized needles. Hope this tip helps! Best of luck! -Alyson
I’m really upset that the gauge correction has not been corrected in the pattern. I have taken my knitting apart several times assuming I was doing something wrong. It is huge!! Where can I get the correct pattern now that I have the yarn for this hat.
Hello, Peg!
Thank you very much for writing in! Sorry for the delayed response! I am also sorry to hear that your having trouble with this pattern. The gauge for this pattern (5 ½ stitches = 1 inch in 2 x 2 rib, unstretched) is correct. Are you working with the Super Soft Merino or different yarn? If you’re using a different yarn that could be affecting your gauge. Also, if you’re using the Super Soft Merino are using the correct needle size? For this pattern we used a US size 13 needle.
If you are using the same yarn and needle as us and are getting the correct gauge (5 ½ stitches = 1 inch in 2 x 2 rib, unstretched) but still getting too large of a hat, you may need to switch to smaller needles (perhaps your tension is much looser than the pattern makers). Please let us know, we really want to help figure this out!
Best,
Kumeko
I had the same difficulty that several other knitters described with the brim of the hat being too big/floppy and not snug enough. You had suggested using smaller needles for that portion of the hat, but I’m wondering if you could give a recommendation about how much smaller to go?
Thank you for your help and for your wonderful website!
Hi Danielle,
Great question! Generally for ribbing, the suggestion is to go down 1 to 2 needle sizes. Wish that in mind, I would suggest a US 11 for a snugger brim!
Happy knitting!
Cassy
Hello,
I’m thinking of eliminating some rounds to make it less pointy and tally following the suggestions from Laura:
Hi Shelley.
If you eliminate the round between the last two decrease rounds you’ll lose a touch of height and round out the top a bit, eliminating some of that pointy-ness.
If you want it even shorter or less pointy, also omit the round between the second to last and third to last decrease rounds.
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
For the second part of Laura’s instructions, I’d like to check which round I should omit. According to the pattern, after the third to last decrease round, you K2, p1 the entire round; then do a C6f cable round; then K2, p1 the next round before the next decrease round (second to last). So which of those three rounds between those two decrease rounds do I omit?
Thanks,
Jennifer
Hello, Jennifer!
Thank you so much for writing in. You would omit the two “Next Round: *K2, p1, repeat from * to end of round” rounds. So:
Next Round (Cable Round): C6f eleven times. (See NOTES, above.)
Next Round: *K2, p1, repeat from * to end of round. OMIT
Next Round (Decrease Round): *K2tog, p1, repeat from * to end of round. (44 stitches)
Next Round: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round. OMIT
Switching to double pointed needles, if you’re using them…
Next Round (Decrease Round): *K3tog, p1, repeat from * to end of round. (22 stitches)
If you have further questions please let us know!
Best,
Kumeko
I’d like to use a different yarn (Blue Sky Suri Merino) doubled. If I match the gauge you’ve indicated will 164 yards be enough?
Also, can you please confirm whether 5-1/2 stitches per inch in 2×2 rib is correct?
Thank you so much.
Hi Marly,
Thanks for writing in! If you are matching gauge with the yarn held doubled, you will need double the amount of yarn called for for the original. We used roughly 174 yards held singled. For the same hat using a yarn doubled, you will need roughly 348 yards. I do think that the hat would be really lovely using the Suri Merino!
I hope that this helps and happy knitting!
Cassy
Held doubled I thought perhaps two 164-yard skeins of the Suri Merino might be enough. But it would be a bummer to end up 10 yards short on yarn. Love this pattern though, so I’m going to get some new yarn and go for it! Thank you.
Hi! As always – I love your yarn and patterns! I have knitted up the first 3 rows and the hat seems huge – am I missing something? I am worried I will get half way and it will be gigantic.
Thanks!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for writing in and for the kind words! I wonder if you are getting gauge. This pattern has a gauge of 5 ½ stitches = 1 inch in 2 x 2 rib, unstretched. Additionally the circumference unstretched should be 16″. If you are not getting gauge, I would suggest going down a needle size or two until gauge is achieved and then the hat should come in at the correct size.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi ladies! I love your work! Could this hat be made into a bun hat? You know, where the top is open for your ponytail or bun? If so, would I just bind off after the last decrease somewhere?
Hi Nicole,
Thanks for writing in! I suppose that it could be! I am not sure what a good size hole would be. You can certainly try a few different things and see what works best. You may want to bind off after the very last decrease round or if that is too tight, the second to last.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hello, could I do a long tail tubular cast on for this?
Hi Josie,
Thanks for reaching out! The long tail tubular cast on tutorial that we have works for just 1×1 rib and this pattern would need a 2×2 rib cast on. While this is certainly possible, we do not have a tutorial for it at present. Essentially, you will need to rearrange the stitches on your needle to make this work. I do know that there are a few tutorials for this out there. I would suggest searching YouTube for “long tail tubular cast on 2×2 rib” and you should be able to find it!
Best,
Cassy
I have question I need to make this hat bigger for my big Irish head. Lol my head measure 22 inch. I was going to add 8 more stitches will that be ok for the pattern.
Hi Christine,
Thanks for reaching out! I think adding 8 more stitches should be great to expand the circumference and should work to keep the cable pattern consistent!
Warmly,
Gianna