Fun and quick knit cabled hat pattern

The San Antonio Hat is a quick knit with simple and delicate cables criss-crossing all around it.

January 1, 2021

Keeping a hat simple, but interesting is always a fine line for designers. Many knitters sometimes say that they love an intricate pattern. But let’s be honest . . . after the year we had, we need something that is fun, doesn’t require too much brain usage, knits up quickly, and gives us a reason to splurge on some beautiful hand-dyed bulky yarn. I don’t know about you, but I stocked up on a lot of bulky weight yarns this year because I needed some instant gratification projects!

It’s not hard to admit that I also love how the crown decreasing came together. Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to get the crown decreasing to work out properly when you are dealing with cables, but this one came together very beautifully (if I do say so myself).

I love the texture of this cable pattern because it pops, but doesn’t add extra bulk like cables often do (especially with thicker yarn). It’s a warm hat, but won’t make your cranium sweat if the temperature rises a bit. I wore this hat around the beautiful city of San Antonio quite a bit. It was an easy hat to throw in my bag and as the weather turned cool, I would pop it on and it was the perfect amount of warmth.

Choose a color that makes you happy. The pattern shows up really well in just about any colorway or dye method. I had to spend some time looking at the colorways Wool and Vinyl had in bulky weight and once I started knitting it, I couldn't make just one. I’m willing to bet that you are going to want to make more than one once you see how quickly and easily this baby whips up!

Enjoy the San Antonio Hat pattern and be sure and tag @knitsyknits and #explorewithknitsy to show off your creation; I’d love to see where you rock your hat!

SAN ANTONIO Hat Pattern

San Antonio, Texas is the seventh most populated city in the United States. The 750-foot tall Tower of the Americas gives a 360-degree view of the beautiful city. The tower can be seen from any place within the city limits and was built for the 1968 World’s Fair for $5.2 million dollars. The historic Spanish mission, The Alamo, sits in the center of town near the San Antonio River Walk. It was built in 1718 and spans over 5 acres. City law states that no building may cast a shadow over The Alamo.

MATERIALS

Yarn
Wool & Vinyl “Heavy Metal Bulky”
106 yards/97 meters; Bulky
100% Superwash Merino
1 skein (all sizes)
Colorway One: Like It’s 1999
Colorway Two: Kickstart My Heart
Instagram: @woolandvinyl

Needles
US 10.5/6.5 mm 16” circular needle US 10.5/6.5 mm DPNs, second circular, OR 40” circular needle for magic loop
(The smaller sizes will require working the entire hat on DPNs, two circulars, or magic loop.)

Notions
2 Cable Needles
Stitch Marker
Scissors
Tapestry Needle

Gauge
14 sts and 18 rows = 4 in/10 cm in stockinette stitch
18 sts and 20 rows = 4 in/10 cm in stitch pattern

Finished Measurements
To fit head circumference: 12.5 (14, 16, 18.5, 22, 23.5) in / 32 (35.5, 41, 47, 56, 60) cm

Notes
You will be using two cable needles. The first is represented as “cn1” and the second is “cn2.”

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 – put next st on cn and hold to front, K1, K1 off cn
C3RX – put next st on cn1 and hold to back, put next st on cn2 and hold to back, K next st, bring cn1 between needles to front, P1 off cn2, K1 off cn1
C4LX – put next st on cn1 and hold to front, put next 2 sts on cn2 and hold to back, knit next st, P2 off cn2, K1 off cn1
C4RX – put next st on cn1 and hold to back, put next
2 sts on cn2 and hold to back, K next st, bring cn1 between needles to front, P2 off cn2, K1 off cn1
cn – cable needle
K2tog – knit two together (1 dec)
P2tog – purl two together (1 dec)
rnd/rnds – round/rounds
sl2K1p2sso – slip 2 sts together purlwise, K1, pass 2 slipped sts over the K1 (2 dec)
sm – stitch marker
st/sts – stitch/stitches

The Pattern

Using long tail cast on and 16” circular needle, CO 48 (54, 60, 66, 72, 78) sts. Join to work in the rnd. Place sm to note bor and be careful not to twist.

Work last 10 rnds a total of 1 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3)  times.

Work rnds 1 – 4 once more.

Crown Decreasing

Rnd 1: *K1, P2, K1, P2tog* around – 40 (45, 50, 55, 60, 65) sts
Rnd 2: *K1, P2tog, K1, P1* around – 32 (36, 40, 44, 48, 52) sts
Rnd 3: K1, P1, *C3RX, P1* to last 2 sts, work C3RX over next 3 sts (You will be working over the sm. Replace sm after the P1 off cn2.)
Rnd 4: (You have already worked the first st of this rnd.) P1, *K1, P1* around
Rnd 5: *K1, P1* around
Rnd 6: *K1, K2tog, P1* around – 24 (27, 30, 33, 36, 39) sts
Rnd 7: *C2L, P1* around
Rnd 8: *K2, P1* around
Rnd 9: *sl2K1p2sso* around – 8 (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) 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.

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