I’ve named the cable on this hat heart because to me, the twisting stitches look like intertwining upside-down hearts – pouring all their love onto the hat wearer. This is one of my favourite cable designs. I love how the stitches seem to travel across the knitting and then meet in the middle, like they’re coming together for a kiss!

This is a lovely pattern for anyone new to cables. It’s worked over a simple six-row repeat, with the cable action happening only on the right side. That means you get a ‘row off’ on the wrong side – just the way I like to knit: focus for a row, then relax on the next.

A gentle introduction to cables and a joyful knit for experienced hands too – all wrapped up in a hat full of love.

CONSTRUCTION
Knitted flat in one piece from the bottom up with one seam.

TECHNIQUES USED
Cast on, knit, purl, four simple cable techniques, decreasing. Joining one seam. Optional but recommended to create the feeling of joy when joining your pieces: mattress stitch.

YARN
One 100g hank of WYS The Croft Shetland Tweed Aran.
100% Shetland wool, 166m/182yds per 100g

SUGGESTED KNITTING NEEDLES
4.5mm and 5mm.
Cable needle.

GAUGE (tension)
25 stitches and 26 rows to 10cm square over cable pattern when slightly stretched. I obtained this gauge with 5mm needles.
It is important to obtain the correct gauge so do work a swatch before you start the pattern and change your needle size to achieve the correct gauge if you need to.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
To fit adult head. Due to the nature of the rib pattern and individual gauges, the finished circumference can vary from 50cm to 56cm.

NEED HELP?
I am here for you! Pop into the Skipton studio, send an email, or check out the Purl &Jane YouTube channel for tips, inspiration and guidance including handy resources like gauge (tension) guides and how to tutorials.