Free cable hat knitting patterns

Are you on the lookout for a free cable hat knitting pattern? We don't blame you – the great thing about cables is that, as well as looking brilliant, they add bulk and texture to your hats which make them even better for keeping ears and heads cosy. That's why these free cable hat knitting patterns are perfect knits for the Hats for the Homeless initiative, and we are offering Sarah Edwardes' free cable hat knitting pattern for the first time on Gathered in support of that campaign, courtesy of Simply Knitting magazine. The free cable hat knitting pattern was originally published in Simply Knitting issue 153, but is new on Gathered for September 2021 as part of the Hats for the Homeless campaign.

September is the month that UK Hand Knitting celebrates all the knitters and crocheters out there who tirelessly make items for charities to help with fundraising, or to raise awareness of a particular campaign. Each year, the organisation also asks the craft community to make just one item for a charity or organisation to show their support with our Commit To Knit campaign. In this, the fifth year, UK Hand Knitting will again be running their Hats for the Homeless drive for those that are living on the streets, or who have fallen on hard times. According to Shelter, more than 70,000 households have been made homeless since the start of the pandemic which is a shocking figure.

A spokesperson from The Big Issue North said: “People experiencing street homelessness face significant health risks, including the risk of hypothermia. This can occur throughout the year, as even warm days are often followed by cold nights. A knitted hat can help to protect someone from the cold, but it can also provide someone with dignity, humanity and the proof that someone cares about them. For someone who has fallen through the gaps in our system, this can mean a great deal, and our vendors have been incredibly grateful for the hats they have received.”

The address to send hats to is Hats for the Homeless, PO BOX 151, Bingley BD16 9DT, and the closing date is 30th November 2021.

1. Hats for the homeless pattern

Hats for the homeless materials

• Rowan, Pure Wool Worsted (100% wool, 100g/200m)
  1 ball of Soft Cream (102)
• A set of 4½mm double-pointed needles (DPNs)
• A 4½mm cable needle
• A stitch marker
• Tapestry needle
• Pompom maker (optional) or use our how to make a pompom tutorial

Hats for the homeless tension

Yarn used knits as worsted to this tension: 20 sts and 25 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using 41/2mm needles. 1 pattern panel measures 5cm. For more about tension and why it is important, see our article on knitting tension squares

Hats for the homeless measurements

Actual circumference: 40 (48: 56)cm, 153/4 (183/4: 22)in after blocking

To fit head circumference approx: 46 (53: 61)cm, 18 (21: 24)in

Hats for the homeless abbreviations

C2F Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold at front, K1, K1 from cable needle

C2B Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold at back, K1, K1 from cable needle

C3F Slip 1 st to cable needle and hold at front, K2, K1 from cable needle

C3B Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold at back, K1, K2 from cable needle

See our knitting abbreviations post for a full list of UK knitting abbreviations

Hats for the homeless knitting pattern

Cast on 80 (96: 112) sts using 4½mm DPNs and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches. PM to mark beginning of round.

Rounds 1 & 2 P1, *k2tbl, P2; rep from * to last 3 sts, k2tbl, P1.

Round 3 *P1, C2F, P2, C2F, P2, C2B, P2, C2B, P1; rep from * to end.

Rounds 1–3 set cable rib.

Rep rounds 1–3, 2 more times.

CABLE PATTERN

Round 1 *P2, C4F, C2F, C2B, C4B, P2; rep from * to end.

Rounds 2–4 *P2, K12, P2; rep from * to end.

Rep rounds 1–4, 5 (6: 7) more times.

DECREASE FOR CROWN

Round 1 *P2, C4F, C2F, C2B, C4B, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 2 *P2, ssk, K8, k2tog, P2; rep from * to end. [70 (84: 98) sts]

Round 3 *P2, K10, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 4 *P2, C3F, C2F, C2B, C3B, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 5 *P2, ssk, K6, k2tog, P2; rep from * to end. [60 (72: 84) sts]

Round 6 *P2, K8, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 7 *P2, C2F, C2F, C2B, C2B, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 8 *P2, ssk, K4, k2tog, P2; rep from * to end. [50 (60: 70) sts]

Round 9 *P2, K6, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 10 *P2, K1, C2F, C2B, K1, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 11 *P2, ssk, K2, k2tog, P2; rep from * to end. [40 (48: 56) sts]

Round 12 *P2, K4, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 13 *P2, K1, C2F, K1, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 14 *P2, ssk, k2tog, P2; rep from * to end. [30 (36: 42) sts]

Round 15 *P2, K2, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 16 *P2, K2, P2; rep from * to end.

Round 17 *P2, ssk, p2tog; rep from * to end. [20 (24: 28) sts]

Round 18 *P2, K1, P1; rep from * to end.

Round 19 (P2tog) to end.
[10 (12: 14) sts]

Round 20 Purl to end.

Round 21 (P2tog) to end. [5 (6: 7) sts]

FINISHING

Cut off yarn leaving a long tail, thread through sts and fasten off. Weave in the ends. Make a pompom and attach securely to top of hat.

Download the hats for the homeless pattern

If you'd prefer to have a PDF download of the Hats for the homeless pattern that is easy to print out or that you can save on your computer, click this link to download the hats for the homeless PDF. The PDF is a single a4 page.

2. One skein cable hat knitting pattern

Kirstie McLeod's free cable hat knitting pattern only takes one skein of yarn, so spoil yourself with a new hat!Using just 100g of aran-weight yarn, this hat is ideal if you need to knit a gift in a hurry, or if you want a pretty accessory for yourself. Cascade 220 is 100% Peruvian highland wool, so it’s very warm and will hold its shape well.

If you’re a new knitter, you should be able to knit this free cable hat knitting pattern. Working in the round on a circular needle is quite a simple process, and you’ll always have the right side of the cables facing you, which should make it easy to spot if you make a mistake. For more tips if yo are a new knitter, check out our knitting for beginners guide. Experienced knitters will whip up the hat in no time.

You might want to use a stitch marker to show where the round begins.

This free cable hat knitting pattern was first published in Simply Knitting magazine issue 75.

You will need:

• One skein of Cascade 220 (100% wool, 100g/200m) in shade Purple (8901)
  • For yarn stockists contact Cascade, www.cascadeyarns.com
• A 4½mm circular knitting needle
• Three buttons

Download your free cable hat pattern

To download your free cable hat knitting pattern, click on the link below and it will open in a new window. You can then save the pattern.

Cable hat knitting pattern PDF

Note: there is a correction to this pattern. The “4th dec round” should read:

4th dec round: *K1, P1, K2, k2tog, P1; rep from * to end of round. [54 (60: 66) sts]

More like the free cable hat knitting patterns

We have plenty more patterns like the free cable hat knitting patterns for you on Gathered! Try our free fair isle knitting patterns or our free scarf knitting patterns roundup. For more cable knitting, check out our how to cable knit article, or spoil yourself or a friend with a knitting kit treat.