The highlander cable knit hat pattern will allow you to create a cosy beanie to keep you warm in the winter months!
The main cable design on the hat is called the staghorn cable.
This hat is knit in the round on circular needles.
Scroll down for the free pattern or you can purchase a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF here.
Cable Hat Knitting Pattern
The Highlander hat design has more texture as it is knit using a fairly simple cable repeat.
You can add a pom pom to the top or not, this is up to you!
You can see another hat pattern here perfect for beginners in a classic ribbed design – How To Knit A Hat With Straight Needles.
You may also like this hat – Ribbed Beanie Pattern.
Resources and tutorials you may find helpful in following this pattern:
This pattern is great for any intermediate knitters.
- You should be comfortable casting on and casting off, as well as knitting in garter stitch.
- You should also know how to purl.
- You should also know how to knit ribbing.
- You should know how to knit in the round using circular needles.
- You should also be comfortable reading knitting patterns.
- And understanding knitting abbreviations and terms.
Highlander Cable Knit Hat Pattern
Purchase the inexpensive ad-free, PDF printable pattern in my shop here.
Shop the Outlander Accessories Collection Ebook here.
Shop ALL of the Outlander Pattern Ebooks here.
View my free Outlander Pattern Library here.
Skill Level – Intermediate
Notes
The hat knits up quickly and the simple design makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit.
Copyright
- Please do not copy, sell, redistribute or republish this pattern.
- If you wish to share this pattern, link to the pattern page only.
- You may sell items produced using this pattern.
- Do NOT use the copyrighted photos for your product listing.
- In all product listings please credit Handy Little Me (Louise Bollanos) as the designer.
- For the copyright T&C’s please read my Terms of Use.
Size
- To fit a regular-sized head (around 22/24 inches).
- Length w/out pom – 11 inches/28 cms.
- Width – 7.5 inches/19 cms.
Gauge – 10 x 10 cm/4 x 4 inches = 10 sts/18 rounds in stocking stitch.
The Supplies You Need
Yarn
1 x We Are Knitters – The Petite Wool (100g) in the colour – Spotted Beige.
Yarn notes
- Please note that the yarn used is made with 100% wool.
- You can substitute with any Bulky/Chunky/12 Ply Yarn weight.
Needles
- 6 mm (US 10) 16-inch circular knitting needles.
- You may need 6 mm (US 10) DPN’s (double pointed needles) for the decreases.
- Cable needle.
Notions
Abbreviations / Knitting Abbreviations List
- Alt – Alternative
- Beg – Beginning
- Cont – Continue
- CO – Cast on
- C4B – Cable 4 back – slip the first two stitches onto a cable needle and hold at the back of the work. Knit the next two stitches on the left- hand needle and then knit the two stitches from the cable needle.
- C4F – Cable 4 forward – Slip the first two stitches of the cable panel onto a cable needle and hold at the front of the work, knit the next two stitches and then knit the two stitches held on the cable needle.
- Foll – Following
- K – Knit
- KFB – Knit into the front and back of the stitch to increase
- K2tog – Knit the next 2 stitches together
- P – Purl
- P2tog – Purl the next 2 stitches together
- Patt – Pattern
- St – Stitch
- Rem – Remaining
- Rep – Repeat
- Rib – Work in ribbing K1, P1
- RS – Right side
- WS – Wrong side
Pattern
With 6mm (US 10) needles cast on 72 sts.
- Round 1 (RS): *K1, P1 rep from * to the end of the row.
- Rep round 1 so that the piece measures 13 cm/5 inches from the cast on edge.
Now work in the patt as follows:
- Round 1 (RS): P2, K4, P2, P2, K4, C4B, C4F, K4, P2, P2, K4, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
- Round 2 (WS): P2, K4, P2, P2, K16, P2, P2, K4, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
- Round 3: P2, K4, P2, P2, K2, C4B, K4, C4F, K2, P2, P2, K4, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
- Round 4: P2, K4, P2, P2, K16, P2, P2, K4, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
- Round 5: P2, C4F, P2, P2, C4B, K8, C4F, P2, P2, C4F, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
- Round 6: P2, K4, P2, P2, K16, P2, P2, K4, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
Rep the 6 rounds 3 more times so that you have 4 staghorn cables before you start to decrease.
Decrease
Note – remove the marker when necessary.
Keeping continuity of the patt – shape as follows:
- Round 1: P2tog, K4, P2tog, P2tog, K4, C4B, C4F, K4, P2tog, P2tog, K4, P2tog – rep one more time to the end of the round (60 sts).
- Round 2: P1, K4, P2, K16, P2, K4, P1 – rep one more time to the end of the round (60 sts).
- Round 3: P1, K4, P2tog, K2tog, C4B, K1, K2tog, K1, C4F, K2tog, P2tog, K4, P1 – rep one more time to the end of the round (50 sts).
- Round 4: P1, K4, P1, K13, P1, K4, P2, K4, P1, K13, P1, K4, P1 – rep one more time to the end of the round (50 sts).
- Round 5: P1, C4F, P1, C4B, K2tog, K1, K2tog, C4F, P1, K2tog, K2tog, P1 – rep one more time to the end of the round (42 sts).
- Round 6: K the knit sts and P the purls to the end of the round (42 sts).
- Round 7: *K1, K2tog – rep from * to the end of the round.
- Round 8: Knit all sts.
- Round 9: *K2tog – rep from * to the end of the round.
- Round 10: Cut the yarn leaving around a 6-inch tail, thread through the rem sts.
Sew in the loose end on the brim of that hat – making it neat on the underside – so when you turn it over you see a neat edge/seam.
Add a pom-pom in the same coloured yarn using the Clover pom pom maker – Size – 2.5 inches.
I love seeing your finished projects!
If you enjoyed making the beret, I’d love to see yours on Instagram, be sure to tag me @handylittleme.
If you are on Facebook, stop over to the handylittleme Facebook group and share a photo! I’d love to see your work!
Véro says
Oh la la!This hat is so lovely!Thank you for sharing!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Vero, I’m so happy you like it!
Louise
Connie says
Good morning. At the beginning, did you join in the round and place a marker. Do you have a favorite way to join? Thank you for such lovely patterns and photos.
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Connie,
Yes, you can place a marker at the start of the round if you wish.
I was counting alot on each row for the cables, so I felt as though I didn’t need a marker.
For an invisible join you can do this:
1. After casting on, cast on one more st.
2: Take the other end of the circular needles and slip the first st onto the other needle.
3: Take the additional st made and slip it over the slip stitch.
4: Slip the st back to the main needle.
5: Take the cast on yarn and the working yarn and pull them tight until the stitch cannot be seen.
I hope that helps!
Louise
Jen Mansfield says
Such a beautiful hat, I’m looking forward to knitting it!- Just a quick question… Your pattern uses right side and wrong side for the cable section after the rib. On circular needles do you flip the hat inside out for the wrong side? Im used to doing more basic hats on circular needles so doesn’t mention RS or WS. Thank you!
Louise Bollanos says
Hello Jen,
When you get to the cable section, just keep working the hat as you have been, you don’t need to flip the hat inside out.
The side that is on the inside will be the right side and the outside that will be facing you is the wrong side.
Sorry if that sounds complicated but once you knit the cable section you will see how it takes shape.
I hope that helps,
Louise
Jen says
Thanks Louise! Yes that makes sense, just wanted to double check! 🙂