by Emily Ringelman

Lately I am obsessed with cables. I hated knitting cables for the longest time, but then... we moved to Delaware. From California. I realized something terrible: it's cold in Delaware, and I had like one sweater. So I knitted myself an all-over cable patterned sweater, and boom! Hooked on cables. Can't get enough. Lately my cable fixation has been focused on antler cables. They're sophisticated and quite addictive to knit- enough so that after completing the beanie version of my antler cable hat, I designed a slouchier pompom version, as well.

I added a bunch of texture by alternating the wide antler cables with two-stitch mock cables and four-stitch actual cables. The more cables, the better: that's what I always say. At least, that's what I always say when I'm in Delaware.

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
BEANIE (shown above)
Circumference: 18 inches
Height: 8 inches

SLOUCH (shown below)
Circumference: 22 inches
Height: 9 inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Rowan Felted Tweed Aran [50% Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Viscose; 95/87 per 50g skein]; 2 balls
Beanie version shown in color Plum
Slouchy version shown in color Madras

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
16 inch US #8/5mm circular needle
1 set US #8/5mm needles for small circumferences in the round
For Slouchy version only:
16 inch US #10/6mm circular needle
1 set US #10/6mm needles for small circumferences in the round

Notions
cable needle
stitch marker
optional: large pompom maker
yarn needle

GAUGE

PATTERN NOTES
[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Both hats begin the same way, and even have the same chart up to the decreases. The pompom hat is made slouchier simply by switching to a needle two sizes larger after the first inch.

C4R: Slip 2 to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k2 from cable needle

C4L: Slip 2 to cable needle and hold in front, k2, k2 from cable needle

C3R: Slip 1 to cable needle and hold in back, k2, k1 from cable needle

C3L: Slip 2 to cable needle and hold in front, k1, k2 from cable needle

RT (Right Twist): Knit 2 together but leave on left needle, knit into the first st again, then drop both from left needle

Pompom: Instructions for making a pom-pom can be found here.

DIRECTIONS
Lower Edge - Both Versions
Using smaller circular needle, cast on 108 stitches. Place marker and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Ribbing round: [P2, k2, p2, k4, p2, (k2, p4) twice, k4, p4, k2, p2] three times around.

Work Ribbing as set for 1 inch.

Body - Beanie Style
Body round: Work Cable Pattern Chart 3 times around.

Work the 12 round repeat of the chart twice, then work rounds 1-10 once more.

Closure:
Work Beanie Decrease Chart 3 times around.

Continue as set until all 15 rounds are complete, changing to needles for working a small circumference when required. 9 sts rem.

Break yarn, draw through the remaining stitches and cinch tight.

Body - Slouchier Pompom Version
Change to larger circular needle.

Body round: Work Chart 3 times around.

Work the 12 round repeat of the chart three times. Hat should measure about 7 inches from cast-on edge.

Closure:
Work Slouchy Decrease Chart 3 times around.
Continue as set until all 11 rounds are complete, changing to needles for working a small circumference when required. 21 sts rem.
Break yarn, draw through the remaining stitches and cinch tight.

FINISHING
Weave in all ends and block. You can block the pompom version over a ball or balloon to emphasize the slouchiness.

If you made the Slouchy version, make a great big pompom and attach it to the top of the hat. The pompom in the sample shown is 3 inches in diameter.

Emily is a former conservation geneticist now living the Knitter life in Delaware.

You can find her on Ravelry and Twitter under the very clever user name EmilyRingelman, and she blogs here.