Casco Bay Cabled Cap

My own design inspired by a store-bought hat. Free pattern below.

Short version (fits my 21.5 inch head just above ear lobes)

Long version (covers my ear lobes, and on my husband's 23.5 inch head falls just above ear lobes)

Crown detail


Casco Bay Cable Cap

Sizes: Will fit head circumference of 21 to 23.5 inches. The short version measures 7.25 inches from crown and the long version measures 8 inches from crown. Instructions for an extra long version (not shown) are also included

Gauge: both yarns used call for a gauge of 4.5 stitches to the inch on size 8 needles in stockinette stitch.

Yarn: About 125 yards of worsted weight yarn (I used leftover stash so this is a generous guess). Short version is knit in Malabrigo Merino Worsted in color "Natural" and long version is knit in Lamb's Pride Worsted in color "Victorian Pink".

Needles: 16 inch circulars in sizes 6 and 8. Set of size 8 double pointed needles ("dpns")

Notions: stitch marker, darning needle to secure ends

Stitch guide:

C3F - slip 3 stitches to cable needle (cn) and hold in front, knit 3 from left needle, then knit the 3 stitches from cn.

Instructions:
(numbers in parenthesis are for long version, followed by extra long version)

With smaller circular needles, cast on 108 stitches, place marker and join in the round being careful not to twist stitches.
Knit in k1, p1 rib for 13 (15,17) rows
Continuing with smaller needles, work set up pattern round as follows: [k2, p2, k6, p2] to end of round.
Change to larger circular needles
Work in pattern as established in set up round [k2, p2, k6, p2] for 5 (7, 9) rounds
On round 6 (8, 10): [k2, p2, C3F, p2] to end of round.
Work in pattern [k2, p2, k6, p2] for 11 rounds for all sizes. NOTE: from this point on, the directions are the same for all sizes.
Next round [k2, p2, C3F, p2] to end of round.
Work in pattern for one round.
First Decrease Round: k1, [k2tog, p2, k6, p2] to end of round (99 stitches).
Work 7 rounds as follows: [k1,p2, k6, p2] to end of round.
Second Decrease Round: (switch to dpns when needed) k1, k2tog to end (50 stitches).
Knit 7 rounds even.
Final Decrease Round: k2tog around (25 stitches).
Cut yarn leaving a 10 inch tail and draw these 25 stitches together, running tail through "live" stitches twice, and secure on wrong side. Weave in ends.

Please feel free to e-mail me with any questions or comments: tarilynATgmailDOTcom. I would love to see how yours comes out and will post photos with links in my main blog!