Mom’s blue hat

This was knit flat using 29” circulars for two reasons: 1) I knit during my commute and on public transportation, where I’m not likely to get a seat, using circulars is just easier and 2) I was figuring out the pattern as I worked and that’s harder when knitting in the round. The first time I did this I had to add about 5 inches (40 stitches) after I completed most of the hat, because it was much too small around.

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool, 100 g/ skein, New Denim
Tools: US size 4 (3.5 mm) - circulars, standard, or double pointed needles (dpns); 1-2 stitch markers; Tapestry needle
Gauge: 8 stitches (K4, P4) X 10 rows = 1" x 1" square
Stitches: CB4 = holding cable needle in back of work pass 2 to cable needle, k2, knit stitches on cable needle

Credits:
Design was inspired by weezalana’s Lucky 7 Hat: http://knittywhipped.blogspot.com/2008/01/free-patterns-one-and-all.html.

Bind off is based on Silja’s Smart Hat: http://silja-devine.com/?p=28

Cast on 152 stitches. I knit this flat; if magic looping, join and knit in the round. Work should measure 19” flat, 9.5” folded if knit in the round.

Row 1 - 30: (K4, P4) repeat across for approx. 30 rows or until it measures 3”.
Don’t knit too tightly. You want it to have some give. To help me keep track, I set a stitch marker in the middle of the 10th row. When I hit 20 rows, I set another stitch marker.
Row 31: Cable all the knit ribs. (CB4, P4.) After you complete row 31, set the stitch marker.

Every 5th row: Cable the first 5 knit ribs. Switch off between CB4 and CF4. On row 31 you CB4, so on row 36 do a CF4.
Every 11th row: Cable every knit rib CB4.
All other rows: K4, P4.

Repeat until the work measures 10". Assuming you didn’t cable the brim (the 3" band), you'll get 7 cable twists in all but the first 5 knit sections; there you’ll have about 19 or so.

After the work measures 10”, start the decreases. I started my decreases 5 K4, P4 rows after a 11th row cable.

K4, P1, P2TOG, P1
K3, P4
K4, P1, P2TOG
K2, P4
K4, P2TOG << CB4
K1, P4
K1, K2TOG, K1, P1
K1, P3
K1, K2TOG, P1
K1, P2
K2TOG, P1
K1, P1
K2TOG
Knit across
K2TOG


Cut yarn and draw through remaining stitches; if not knitting in the round, leave enough of a tail to mattress stitch the seam, joining the hat. Block if desired. Should measure 19” flat and fit a 21” – 23” head.