Fairbanks Hat Pattern (free knit chunky cable hat pattern)
Colorway One
It is probably obvious by now that I love knitting Bulky weight yarn cables! The Fairbanks Hat is an Excellent beginner knit cable hat project for knitters new to cables. If you want to make an easy bulky yarn knit cable hat then this project is for you!
My husband will attest to the massive amounts of yarn that I have stashed in every nook of our RV that I can find. The back of our truck got a little out of control over the last few months, so after having some down time at my parents’ house in Arizona, I’m working on getting those piles of yarn organized and dropping a couple boxes off at our storage space.
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Having lived in Los Angeles for twenty years, having super bulky weight yarn wasn’t a part of my stash. But now that we are traveling to a variety of different climates, I’m having a blast digging into the bright colored bulky weights that cold weather people have the pleasure of working with. Do you know how much faster a hat knits up when you’re working on size 11 needles rather than on size 4’s?!
Colorway Two
Designing in bulky weight yarns has also been a lot of fun. Three of the things I look at when coming up with a design are fiber, color, and stitch pattern. Marrying all three of these into one design is a challenge that I really love. I have found that using simple stitch patterns when working with bulky yarn allows for the opportunity to use really fun and splashy colors.
The Fairbanks Hat is one of the simplest patterns I’ve created because I hear from a lot of people that they want to learn how to cable, but are afraid to dive in. I promise, cables are not as scary as they look and the cables in this hat are crazy simple! The worst that can happen is you have to tear out a couple of rounds and try again. Anything new won’t be perfect, so enjoy the process and learn from your mistakes.
This is a small project and so you can focus on keeping your cables going in the correct direction (for this hat - they are always left slanting!) and that’s all you need to worry about!
But I totally understand if you aren’t ready to jump into cables on your own. But guess what?! You don’t have to be alone! I’ve created the Learn with Knitsy Academy where I have full video tutorials to walk you through every step of the process of making the Fairbanks Hat. You don’t have to work cables alone - I’m here to help!
Knitting cables using bulky yarn is a great way to add texture to your knits without a lot of effort.
Talking about cables makes me think back to when I first learned how to cable. I took a class at a little shop on Melrose in Hollywood back in the day. We came to class with our swatch and cable needle in hand and we were ready to learn the cable stitch. When I saw how it was done, all I could think was, “THAT’S IT?!” And then I was a cabling queen from then on.
When you are choosing a color for the Fairbanks Hat, pick one that makes you happy. Don’t worry too much about keeping your colorway simple (unless you like simple, which is totally good in my book!). You can even make this hat out of a dark colored yarn, but keep in mind that unless you have bionic eyesight, seeing a hat’s full potential is a little more tricky on darker colors. Enjoy the Fairbanks Hat pattern and be sure and tag @explorewithknitsy and use hashtags #explorewithknitsy and #fairbankshat to show off your creation; I’d love to see your cables shine!
Want another bulky hat with some awesome cables? Check out the This is the Sound hat pattern for a different take on the bulky cabled hat!
FAIRBANKS Hat Pattern
With a population of over 30,000, Fairbanks is the second largest city in Alaska (with Anchorage being first at ten times that population). Located approximately 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle, Fairbanks was named after Senator Charles W. Fairbanks, who would go on to become the 26th Vice President of the United States under President Roosevelt. Gold mining was popular in the early 1900’s, but with the construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline, oil is now Alaska’s most lucrative export.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Malabrigo “Rasta”
90 yards/82 meters: Super Bulky
100% Merino Wool
1 skein
Colorway One: Baya Eléctrica
Colorway Two: Cherry Vanilla
Instagram: @malabrigoyarn
Needles
US 11/8 mm 16” circular needle
US 11/8 mm DPNs, second circular, OR 40” circular needle for magic loop
I love to use these metal Knit Picks needles or these wood Knit Picks needles.
If you really want to splurge. My ABSOLUTE favorite needle set is the ChiaoGoo 4” interchangeable needles.
Notions
Cable Needle
6 inch Pom Pom (I buy mine from FFFabuknits, Thread Head Knits, or I Dream of Yarn)
Stitch Marker
Scissors
Tapestry Needle
Gauge
11 sts and 16 rows = 4 in/10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needle.
Finished Measurements
To fit head circumference: 22 in / 56 cm
Notes
When you get to the decrease section and the stitches begin to become tight around your needle, switch to your preferred method of working in the round – DPNs, two circular needles, or magic loop.
Abbreviations
*. . .* - repeat between asterisks
bor – beginning of rnd
C2L – Place next st on cn and hold to front, K1, K1 st off cn
C3L – place next 2 sts on cn and hold to front, P1, K2 sts off cn
C3R – place next st on cn and hold to back, K2, P1 st off cn
C4L – place next 2 sts on cn and hold to front, K2, K2 sts off cn
cn – cable needle
K2tog – knit two together (1 dec)
P2tog – purl two together (1 dec)
rnd/rnds – round/rounds
sm – stitch marker
SSK – slip, slip, knit two slipped sts together (1 dec)
SSSK – slip, slip, slip, knit three slipped sts together (2 dec)
st/sts – stitch/stitches
Colorway One. I love a good pom pom to top off my hats!
The Pattern
Using long tail cast on and 16” circular needle, CO 56 sts. Join to work in the rnd. Place sm to note bor and be careful not to twist.
*K2, P2* for 14 rnds.
Set Up Rnd: *C3L, C3R, P2* around. Remove the bor sm and P the next st. Replace bor sm to right needle. This is your new bor.
Colorway One. This hat kept me warm in an Alaskan winter!
Rnd 5 : *C4L, P4* around
Work rnds 1 – 5 a total of 3 times.
Work rnds 1 – 2 once more.
Crown Decreasing
Next Rnd: (K4, *P2tog* twice) around – 42 sts
Next Rnd: *K4, P2* around
Next Rnd: *C4L, P2tog* around – 35 sts
Next Rnd: *K4, P1* around
Next Rnd: *K4, P1* around
Next Rnd: *K2tog, SSK, P1* around – 21 sts
Next Rnd: *C2L, P1* around
Next Rnd: *SSSK* around – 7 sts
Cut yarn leaving a tail. Weave tail through remaining live sts several times and cinch tight. Weave in your ends. If necessary, block lightly. Attach pom pom to top.
Whip one up for all your friends and go be awesome!
Leave a comment below and let me know if this was your first cable experience and how it went! And remember: don’t forget to tag me @explorewithknitsy and use hashtags #fairbankshat and #explorewithknitsy so I can see your awesome creations!
Colorway Two
Join fellow knitters inside the Learn with Knitsy Academy and learn to make this project one step at a time. Lots of tricks and techniques are taught and the finishing tips will make your hat flawless!
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If you love hats with cables, I’ve got you covered! The American Girl hat has a fun little cable design you will love making and love wearing even more!
And if you want to throw in a color element, pop on over to the Austin Hat and work cables over a colorful background!
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PDF download of the Arctic Circle Hat pattern. This single pattern is ad free.
You’ll receive an email with a link to an immediately downloadable PDF so you can start knitting right away! Do you want step by step tutorials to make this hat? Click here and check out this cowl in The Knitting Rockstar Academy and upgrade your knitting skills!
[Please note that this is only the pattern for our Arctic Circle Hat, not a finished hat.]