CABLE HAT WITH FLOWER (WITHOUT THE FLOWER)

pattern: Cable Hat With Flower, by Rian Anderson (Etsy purchase)
yarn: Bernat Super Saver in winter white
needles: size US 10 / 6.0mm needles

I originally purchased this pattern to use for shop purposes, as Rian gives permission to sell finished items from her pattern. This hat is the last of those shop hats to be sold, as I am moving away from selling finished hats, and am instead focusing on other things (more about that in the new year).

Because of that, I wanted to share the pattern here, talk about how I've modified it just a little bit, and show the fit - it's such a fun pattern, I know I'll be knitting it over and over again, and wanted to be sure everyone knew where they could get it, as well!

The biggest modification I use is simply to knit the hat with worsted weight yarn. The pattern calls for aran or chunky weight, but I always have to go to the store to buy chunkier yarn, and yet always have thicker worsted weight yarns on hand. The larger needles help keep the cable from getting to tight, and so I just work the hat with worsted weight yarn on the larger needles. This actually works out perfectly, and in the many times I've sold this hat I haven't had to make any other adjustments, which is nice!

You can see in the photos that the hat looks a bit long for Lou - that's because she's modeling the size 1-3 years hat, and she still actually wears a 6-12 months hat. What you don't see is that there's still at least 1.5" of give in the width of the hat as well, so while it fits her fine, if a bit slouchy, the hat will fit someone ages 1-3 just as nicely!

I didn't have the flower added to the hat when I took these photos, because I wanted to show the hat without. I love that you can add a flower and make the hat extra girlie, but without a flower it could be a unisex hat, made in a wide variety of colors. And while the cable is braided, and thus a bit more difficult than a more traditional cable, even a beginner could easily make this hat!

Plus, for those who don't like using circular needles, this hat is knit flat, and then seamed together with the top pulled tight!