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20 Free Cable Knit Hat Patterns (Beautiful & Easy)

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS THAT SUPPORT HANDY LITTLE ME CONTENT AND FREE PATTERNS.

In this blog post, you will see 20 free cable knit hat patterns (beautiful & easy).

Winter is around the corner, and it’s time to update your wardrobe.

Get the winter puffy coats out of the closet, grab the cozy sweaters, the woolly gloves and scarves, and of course, the warm hats.

There is nothing more winter-appropriate than a cozy hat.

20 Free Cable Knit Hat Patterns

20 Free Cable Knit Hat Patterns

Browse 20 free cable knit hat patterns—from beginner-friendly beanies to classic, cozy cables.

Includes a mix of styles, sizes, and yarn weights.

Happy Knitting!

The Year-Long Accessory: The Hat

Hats are one of the accessories you can really wear all year long.

From the beach to the snowy mountains.

What changes are the style of the hat and the materials it’s made from?

For example, in the winter you would choose a wool beanie hat; in summer you would go for a straw bucket hat.

cable knit hat in the petite wool

Cozy Winter Hats

If you are not a big fan of the cold, then you need to wear a hat.

Not only are they extremely practical and can keep your head (especially your ears) warm in lower temperatures, but they are also very stylish winter accessories, as they can complete all of your everyday outfits.

Plus you can find them in so many different styles, colors, and designs.

chunky cable knit hat in The Wool colour Bordeaux

Knit Your Own Hat

If you are a knitter, winter is an excellent excuse to bust out your knitting needles, and chunky yarn and make a hat.

As it is a quick knit and there are so many styles to choose from like beanie, beret, slouchy beanie, fedora, mariner’s hat, and a classic style.

Moreover, you get to choose the colors, even do a color combination, and make this project truly unique.

Making a cozy hat is a great way to spend the afternoon, as most hat patterns only take about an afternoon to complete.

Plus, they make excellent gifts for the entire family and friends, especially over the holidays.

Check out The 12 Easy Has To Make For Gifts Ebook.

staghorn-cable-knit-hat-feat-image

Hat Patterns For All Skill Levels

Hat Patterns For New Makers

A hat is an excellent project for all knitters, no matter their skill level.

Even if this is your first time picking up your needles, you can find a beginner-level hat-knitting pattern to follow.

Using basic techniques and stitches, for example, the stockinette stitch.

If you want to learn how to knit a hat with straight needles, check out this easy knit hat pattern – How To Knit A Hat For Complete Beginners (+ Video Tutorial).

Hat Patterns For Pros

Furthermore, if you are a more experienced knitter and would like to explore more styles and techniques.

Many hat knitting patterns online use fun and intricate knit stitches and techniques.

Like cable hat patterns, a cable knit hat could be a great intermediate-level project for anyone who is bored with basic knitting stitches.

Fisherman's rib beret hat
Beret Hat Free Knitting Pattern (Fisherman’s Rib)

Cable Knit Hat Patterns

Cables create a beautiful texture and design in all of your knits.

Not only are they fun to knit, but they also stand out, especially in hats and sweaters.

A cable knit hat pattern is a great way to explore the world of cables.

There are many cable stitches, like the staghorn cable stitch, the Celtic cable stitch, the honeycomb cable stitch, the basket cable, and many more.

And if you want to learn more about cable techniques and knit 8 different cable patterns, check out this ebook.

cable stitch patterns

What is the easiest cable pattern for a hat?    

The easiest cable pattern for a hat is a simple 2-stitch cable (C2F/C2B) repeated every few rounds, because it creates a classic “cabled” look without lots of stitches to hold, swap, or track. 

For beginners, a great option is a single central cable column (like a C2F every 6th or 8th round) with knit stitches on either side, since it’s quick to memorise and still looks polished on a beanie. 

If you don’t want to use a cable needle, you can also try a 2×2 braided cable using cable-without-a-needle methods once you’re comfortable.

Related post: How To Knit A Simple Cable Pattern (+ Video Tutorial) 

What are the best needles for cable knit hats?

For cable-knit hats, the best needles are short circular needles and double-pointed needles (DPNs) (or larger circular needles for magic loop), because hats get too small to keep comfortably on straight needles. 

Most worsted/aran cable hats knit up nicely on a 40 cm / 16 in circular for the brim and body, then switch to DPNs or magic loop for the crown decreases. 

Choose wood or bamboo if you want extra grip (great for beginners and for keeping cable stitches from slipping), or metal if you knit tightly and want speedier stitches. 

And don’t forget a cable needle—a small U-shaped or straight one works perfectly for simple hat cables. 

The needle sizes depend on the yarn weight. 

Related Post: Knitting Needle Sizes + Conversion Chart (Free Printable)

What supplies do you need to knit a cable hat?

To knit a cable hat, you’ll need yarn (most patterns use dk weight yarn, worsted/aran weight), a 40 cm/16 in circular needle for the main hat, and double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a long circular needle for magic loop to finish the crown. 

You’ll also want a cable stitch holder to hold stitches while you cross them, plus basic notions like stitch markers, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, scissors, and a measuring tape to check gauge and fit. 

If your pattern includes a pom-pom, you can add a pom-pom maker (optional).

Related post: Yarn Weight Guide (+ Yarn Conversion Chart) 

How to measure your head for a knitted hat? 

To measure your head for a knitted hat, use a soft tape measure and wrap it around your head where the hat will sit—usually across the forehead (about 1 inch/2.5 cm above the eyebrows) and around the widest part at the back. 

Keep the tape snug but not tight, and note the number in inches or centimeters.

For a comfortable fit, most knitted hats are made with a little “negative ease,” meaning the finished hat circumference is typically about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) smaller than your actual head measurement, depending on how stretchy your stitch pattern is.

Knitting lessons 

If you are new to the craft and need help with the knitting basics, check out more helpful tutorials here: Knitting Lessons (With Video Tutorials).

This includes cast-ons, bind-offs, basic knit stitches like the garter stitch, stockinette stitch, ribbing, short rows, and more. 

Also included is a list of knitting abbreviations (UK + US terms), a knitting needle size guide, and more.

You can also check out this step-by-step guide on how to knit for beginners. – How To Knit – A Complete Beginner’s Guide

If you need more video tutorials, check out my YouTube channel here. – Handy Little Me – YouTube.

For extra help and to connect with more makers from the crafting community, check out the Handylittleme Facebook group. 

If you also love to crochet, check out easy patterns here. – Free Crochet Patterns

You can also find us on social media, Ravelry, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, Etsy, and TikTok.  

More Cable Knits 

For more inspiration, check out the free patterns below.

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