Circumference: 23 inches

Shelridge Farm DK wool [100% superwash merino; 250 yd per 100g skein]; color: Straw; 1 skein
Note: Sample hat was knit using mystery yarn from the designer's stash. The yarn listed above is a suitable substitute which can be knit to the same gauge.

Recommended needle size:
1 set US #5/3.75mm double-point needles
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]

Split ring marker or safety pin
Cable needle
Waste yarn
Crochet hook
Tapestry needle

24sts/28 rows = 4 inches in stockinette st
36sts/36 rows = 4 inches in cable pattern

Although it is not important to achieve the given row gauge in stockinette st, it is important to achieve the correct row gauge over the cable pattern.

Likewise, it is important to achieve the correct stitch gauge in stockinette st, but not over the cable pattern. You may find that you need to use different needle sizes for the cable band than you do for the stockinette st portions of the hat.

Crochet Cast On
Using waste yarn, work a crochet chain several sts longer than the number of sts to be cast on. Starting 1 or 2 sts in from end of chain and using working yarn, pick up and k 1 st in the back loop of each ch until the required number of sts have been picked up. Later, the chain will be unraveled and the resulting live sts picked up.

Instructions for grafting can be found here.

2x2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
Round 1: [K2, p2] to end.
Repeat this round for 2x2 Rib.

C3F: Sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; p1, k2 from cable needle.

C3B: Sl next st to cable needle and hold to back of work; k2, p1 from cable needle.

C4F: Sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; p2, k2 from cable needle.

C4B: Sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; k2, p2 from cable needle.

C1: Sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; sl next 4 sts to right needle, sl sts from cable needle to left needle, sl 4 sts from right needle back to left needle. Sl first 2 sts from left needle to cable needle and hold to front of work; k2, k2 from cable needle, k2.

C2: Sl next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; sl next 4 sts to right needle, sl sts from cable needle to left needle, sl 4 sts from right needle back to left needle. Sl first 2 sts from left needle to cable needle and hold to back of work; k2, k2 from cable needle, k2.

RLPI (Right Lifted Purl Increase): Use the right needle to pick up the stitch below the next stitch on the left needle. Place it on the left needle, then purl into it. 1 stitch has been increased.

LLPI (Left Lifted Purl Increase): Use the left needle to pick up the stitch 2 rows below the last stitch on the right needle. Purl into this stitch. 1 stitch has been increased.

(chart B has been revised since publication)

Work in 2x2 Rib until work measures 1 inch.

K 1 round.

Work short rows as follows:
Row 1 [RS]: K50, W&T.
Row 2 [WS]: P49, W&T.
Row 3 [RS]: K46, W&T.
Row 4 [WS]: P43, W&T.
Row 5 [RS]: K40, W&T.
Row 6 [WS]: P37, W&T.
Row 7 [RS]: K30, W&T.
Row 8 [WS]: P24, W&T.
Row 9 [RS]: K18, W&T.
Row 10 [WS]: P12, W&T.
K to end of round, working wraps together with wrapped sts.

K 1 round, working remaining wraps together with wrapped sts.

Cabled Band
Using Crochet Cast On and continuing from sts on needle with RS facing, CO 18 sts.

Working sts of hat tog with sts of cabled band as indicated, work cabled band as follows. Note that the cabled band will progress counter-clockwise around the hat; the first portion of the band will be attached to the part of the hat without short rows.

Work all rows of Chart A 6 times.
Work all rows of Chart B, working pattern repeat 3 times.

Remove waste yarn from CO edge of band and graft ends of band together.

Crown
With RS facing and beginning at point where band was grafted, pick up and k 132 sts (3 sts for every 4 rows) along upper edge of cabled band. Place marker in work to indicate end of round.

Work short rows as follows, working wraps together with wrapped sts as necessary:
Row 1 [RS]: K131, W&T.
Row 2 [WS]: P79, W&T.
Row 3 [RS]: K82, W&T.
Row 4 [WS]: P85, W&T.
Row 5 [RS]: K88, W&T.
Row 6 [WS]: P91, W&T.
Row 7 [RS]: K97, W&T.
Row 8 [WS]: P103, W&T.
Row 9 [RS]: K109, W&T.
Row 10 [WS]: P115, W&T.
K to end of round.
K 1 round.

Shape Crown:
Round 1: [K20, k2tog] 6 times. 126 sts.
Round 2: K all sts.
Round 3: [K19, k2tog] 6 times. 120 sts.
Round 4: K all sts.
Round 5: [K18, k2tog] 6 times. 114 sts.
Round 6: K all sts.
Round 7: [K17, k2tog] 6 times. 108 sts.
Round 8: K all sts.
Round 9: [K16, k2tog] 6 times. 102 sts.
Round 10: K all sts.
Round 11: [K15, k2tog] 6 times. 96 sts.
Round 12: [K6, k2tog] 12 times. 84 sts.
Round 13: [K5, k2tog] 12 times. 72 sts.
Round 14: [K4, k2tog] 12 times. 60 sts.
Round 15: [K3, k2tog] 12 times. 48 sts.
Round 16: [K2, k2tog] 12 times. 36 sts.
Round 17: [K1, k2tog] 12 times. 24 sts.
Round 18: [K2tog] 12 times.

It is perfectly normal to knit lace while crossing busy streets.

Sporadic knits can be found at merlinhall.blogspot.com