Cable Knit Vanilla Beanie

This is called the Vanilla Beanie because like one of my favorite spices, sometimes seemingly simple things are under-rated, but do the job just as well.



This is a quick knit that makes a simple gift look real snazzy. Non-knitters are always impressed with cables and alternating colors, so wipe your brow and act gracious when the compliments come in, even though we know the truth! Feel free to knit the hat in one color, and just do the cable rows at a regular increment (I did every 7 rows).

If you haven't tried cables before, you won't believe how easy they are. Click here for some online pictures, or refer to your favorite knitting book for help.

NOTE: I wrote this up to the best of my knowledge, and hopefully it should be free of error. If you have any problems, please email me at vanilla (dot) beanie (at) gmail (dot) com.

Cable Knit Vanilla Beanie Pattern

Finished size:
One size fits most. Approximately 22" circumference slightly stretched.

Materials:
• A: GGH Bel Air (90% extra fine merino wool, 10% polyimide worsted; 50g - 142yds), 1 skein #20 Olive

• B: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (55% merino wool, 33% micro fiber, 12% cashmere; 50g - 100yds), 1 skein Light Blue

• C: GGH Bel Air (90% extra fine merino wool, 10% polyimide worsted; 50g -142yds), 1 skein #15 Black

• US 7 (4.5mm) double pointed knitting needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

• Cable needle, or learn to cable without a needle!

Gauge:
20sts and 32 rows = 4" in k4, p4 pattern slightly stretched with right cable twist

Notes:
This hat alternates between k4 and p4. In order for the purled rows and the knitted rows to alternate evenly, the number of stitches has to be divisible by 4 and evenly divisible by 2. To make the hat looser or snugger, add or subtract in increments of 8.

4-st cable: Slip next 2 stitches to cable needle, hold at back of work, knit next 2 stitches; knit 2 stitches from cable needle. Complete!

Directions:
With color A, cast-on 112 stitches. Join stitches in the round being careful not to twist them. Place a marker to mark the beginning of each round if you wish.

Row 1, 2, 3: *K4, p4; rep from* to end of round. This will be a 4x4 rib stitch.

Row 4: *Make 4-stitch cable, p4; repeat from* to end of round.

Row 5, 6, 7: *K4, p4; rep from* to end of round.

Row 8: Switch to color B.

Repeat rows 1-7 with B.

Row 8: Switch to color C.

Repeat rows 1-7 with C.

Row 8: switch to color A.

Repeat rows 1-8 until hat is desired length before you would like to shape the crown. My hat was about 6" when I started to decrease and I had switched colors 6 times.

Start shaping crown:

Note: When knitting the 2 stitches together, you will be decreasing the number of purled stitches, while always maintaining 4 knitted stitches. You will knit a purl stitch together with a knit stitch for the k2tog.

Row 1: *K3, k2tog, p3, k4, p4; repeat from* to end of round. 105 stitches remain.

Row 2: *K4, p3, k4, p4; repeat from* to end of round. (You should be knitting the knits and purling the purls).

Row 3: *K4, p3, k3, k2tog, p3; repeat from* to end of round. All purl rows should only have 3 stitches, all knit rows 4 stitches. 98 stitches remain.

Row 4: *Make 4-stitch cable, p3; repeat from* to end of round.

Row 5: *K3, k2tog, p2, k4, p3; repeat from* to end of round. 91 stitches remain.

Row 6: *K4, p2, k4, p3; repeat from* to end of round.

Row 7: *K4, p2, k3, k2tog, p2; repeat from* to end of round. 84 stitches remain.

Row 8: Switch to next color. *K4, p2; repeat from* to end of round.

Row 9: *K4, p2tog, k4, p2; repeat from* to end of round. 77 stitches remain.

Row 10: *K4, p1, k4, p2tog; repeat from* to end of round. 70 stitches remain.

Row 11: *K4, k2tog; repeat from* to end of round. (You will knit the last few stitches because there are not 6 left to k4, k2tog). 59 stitches remain.

Row 12: *K3, k2tog; repeat from* to end of round. 48 stitches remain.

Row 13: *K2, k2tog; repeat from* to end of round. 36 stitches remain.

Row 14: *K1, k2tog; repeat from* to end of round. 24 stitches remain.

Row 15: *K2tog; repeat from* to end of round. 12 stitches remain.

Row 16: *k2tog; repeat from* to end of round. 6 stitches remain.

Finishing:

Break off the yarn leaving a 12" tail. Using a yarn needle, thread through the last 6 live stitches and pull them together tightly. Secure and weave tail through the inside of hat.