When asparagus shows up at the farmers market, you can also count on a morning chill that gives way to warm afternoons that then eases into crisp evenings. Unpredictable spring weather calls for our dependable Mock Cable Columns Hat… not too thick, not too thin, and just warm enough!

Mock Cable Columns Hat | Purl Soho

This pretty little hat includes columns of mock cables, spaced between a simple 2 x 2 rib, that spring from a mock cable rib cuff. And the cool thing is that the twisted stitches show up on both sides of the cuff, so, you can wear your hat unfolded and slouchy or cuffed and tailored.

Mock Cable Columns Hat | Purl Soho

How does this Mock Cable Columns Hat so cunningly pull off the suggestion of cables? It has everything to do with twisting the stitches rather than putting them on a cable stitch holder. It’s an easy technique, and one that you will pick up instantly once you watch our new video tutorial!

Mock Cable Columns Hat | Purl Soho

Knit up in our Linen Quill, the ideal yarn for a springtime piece, you have 31 gorgeous colors to choose from. Here, we opted for the soothing shade of Wheat Flour and the promise of azure skies in True Turquoise. With just a single skein, chase the chill away!

Mock Cable Columns Hat | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Jake Canton. Click here to see even more of Jake’s designs!

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

Materials

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  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Linen Quill, 50% fine highland wool, 35% alpaca, and 15% linen. Each skein is 439 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 127 (184, 265, 390) yards required. We used True Turquoise and Wheat Flour.
  • US 4 (3.5 mm), 16-inch circular needles
  • US 4 double pointed needles
  • 5 (6, 7, 8) stitch markers and 1 unique stitch marker

NOTE: One skein is enough yarn to make two Baby or Kid hats and only one hat in the other sizes.

Gauge

34 stitches = 4 inches in stitch pattern

Size

Baby (Kid, Adult Small, Adult Large)

  • Finished Circumference: 14 (16½, 18¾, 21¼) inches
  • Finished Height (uncuffed): 8 (9¼, 10½ , 11½) inches

SAMPLES: The two samples shown here are Kid and Adult Small.

Notes

RT (right twist): Knit 2 stitches together, leaving both stitches on the left needle; knit into the first stitch again and let both stitches fall of the left needle. There are two new stitches on the right needle.

RT purlwise (right twist purlwise): Purl into the second stitch, leaving it on the left needle; purl the first and second stitches together and let both stitches fall of the left needle. There are two new stitches on the right needle.

Stitch Multiple: This pattern is worked over a multiple of 20 stitches.

For a step-by-step video tutorial of how to work this stitch pattern, please visit our Mock Cable Rib tutorial.

Pattern

Cuff

Cast 120 (140, 160, 180) stitches onto the circular needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place unique stitch marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Set-Up Round: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 1: *Right twist (RT, see Notes), p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *K2, right twist purlwise (RT purlwise, see Notes), repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 2 (2, 21/2, 21/2) inches from the cast-on edge.

Continue

Set-Up Round: *RT, p2, [k2, p2] 4 times, pm (place marker), repeat from * to end of round, omitting the final stitch marker, which is the unique end-of-round marker. [6 (7, 8, 9) stitch markers, including end-of-round marker]

Round 1: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 2: *RT, p2, [k2, p2] 4 times, sm (slip marker), repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6 (7, 8, 9) inches from cast-on edge.

Shape Crown

NOTE: Change to double pointed needles when necessary.

Round 1: *K2, p2tog, [k2, p2] 3 times, k2, p2tog through back loop (tbl), sm repeat from * to end of round. [108, (126, 144, 162) stitches]

Round 2: *RT, p1, [k2, p2] 3 times, k2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 3: *K2, k2tog, k1, [p2, k2] 2 times, p2, k1, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [96, (112, 128, 144) stitches]

Round 4: *RT, [k2, p2] 3 times, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 5: *K2, k2tog, [p2, k2] 2 times, p2, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [84, (98, 112, 126) stitches]

Round 6: *RT, k1, [p2, k2] 2 times, p2, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 7: *K2, p2tog, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, p2tog tbl, repeat from * to end of round. [72, (84, 96, 108) stitches]

Round 8: *RT, p2, [k2, p2] 2 times, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 9: *K2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 8 and 9 until piece measures 7 1/4 (8 3/4, 10, 11) inches from cast-on edge, ending with Round 8.

Next Round: *K2, p2tog, k2, p2, k2, p2tog tbl, repeat from * to end of round. [60, (70, 80, 90) stitches]

Next Round: *RT, p1, k2, p2, k2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Next Round: *K2, k2tog, k1, p2, k1, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [48, (56, 64, 72) stitches]

Next Round: *RT, k2, p2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Next Round: *K2, k2tog, p2, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [36, (42, 48, 54) stitches]

Next Round: *RT, k1, p2, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Next Round: *K2, p2tog, p2tog tbl, repeat from * to end of round, removing all stitch markers, except end-of-round marker. [24 (28, 32, 36) stitches]

Next Round: K1, *ssk, k2tog, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, ssk, slip 1, remove marker, slip slipped stitch back to left needle, k2tog, replace marker. [12, (14, 16, 18) stitches]

Cut yarn and thread tail onto a tapestry needle. Thread tail through remaining stitches. Pull taught and bring tail to inside of hat to weave in.

Weave in the ends and block as desired!

Mock Cable Columns Hat | Purl Soho