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Highlander Cable Knit Hat Pattern

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The Highlander cable knit hat pattern will allow you to create a cozy 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 knitting pattern, or purchase a printer-friendly, ad-free PDF format here.

Highlander cable knit hat

Cable Hat Knitting Pattern

The Highlander hat design has more texture as it is knit using a reasonably simple cable repeat.

You can add a pom pom to the top; this is up to you!

You can see in the photos the staghorn cable on the front of the work.

The warm cabled hat uses basic stitches and cable stitches to form the design.

Free Knitting Patterns

You can see another hat pattern here, perfect for beginners in a classic ribbed design – How To Knit A Hat For Complete Beginners (+ Video Tutorial).

You may also like this Ribbed Beanie Knitting Pattern {Unisex Mariner’s Hat}

Highlander-Cable-Knit-Hat-Pattern

Notes

Skill Level – Intermediate

The cable knit beanie is a quick knit, and the simple cable pattern makes for a relaxing and enjoyable knit in bulky weight yarn.

You can add a yarn pom pom or faux fur pom pom to the hat to finish it off.

This hat can be worn with the brim turned up or turned down as a slouchy beanie.

This hat project would be a great way to work on a small project if it’s the first time you have ever knit cables.

Size

  • To fit a regular-sized head circumference (Size fits around 22/24 inches).
  • Length w/out pom – 11 inches/28 cm.
  • Width – 7.5 inches/19 cm.

Gauge – 10 x 10 cm/4 x 4 inches = 10 sts/18 rounds in stocking stitch.

Copyright Info

  • Please do not copy, sell, redistribute, or republish this cozy hat pattern. 
  • If you wish to share this pattern, only link to the pattern page.
  • 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, please read my Terms of Use.
cable knit fingerless mitts

The Supplies You Need

Yarn

  • 1 x We Are Knitters – The Petite Wool (100g) in the color – Spotted Beige.
  • Use my code – MGM4VHHAT – for 10 off on your WAK yarn order.

Yarn notes

  • Please note that the yarn used is made with 100% wool.
  • You can substitute with any Bulky yarn/Chunky yarn/12 Ply Yarn weight.
  • For example, a good substitute would be Lion Brand Hue and Me yarn.

Circular Needle

Notions

  • Tape measure
  • Darning needle/yarn needle/tapestry needle.
  • Scissors
  • Clover Pom Pom Maker – Size 2.5 inches
  • Stitch marker (optional)
staghorn-cable-hat-pattern

Abbreviations

Common Knitting Abbreviations And Terms (US And UK) 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
staghorn-cable-knit-hat-feat-image

Pattern Instructions

With 6 mm (US 10) needles cast on 72 sts.

  • Join in the round and place a marker to note the start of the round to work…

The Ribbed Brim

  • Round 1: *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.

Main Body of The Hat

Now work in the patt as follows:

  • Round 1: P2, K4, P2, P2, K4, C4B, C4F, K4, P2, P2, K4, P2 – rep one more time to the end of the round.
  • Round 2: 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, and thread through the remaining stitches.

Push the needle through to the other side – turning the hat inside out and secure – weaving in any loose ends.

Sew in the loose end on the brim of the hat, where you cast on, making it neat on the underside – so when you turn it over, you see a neat edge.

Add a pom-pom in the same colored yarn using the Clover pom-pom maker – Size – 2.5 inches.

staghorn cable knit hat

Share your work with us…

I love seeing your finished projects on social media.

If you enjoyed making the classic cable knit hat, 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.

Happy knitting!

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7 Comments

  1. 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.

    1. 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

  2. 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!

    1. 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