Knotty-Cable Rimmed Beanie

Knotty-Cable Rimmed Beanie
by Kim Helmick



Materials
Worsted weight yarn (~100 yds?)
U.S. #7 - 16" circular needle (or size needed to get gauge)
U.S. #7 double pointed needles (or size needed to get gauge)
cable needle
stitch marker
darning/yarn needle

Gauge = 4 ½ stitches per inch
Hat is knit with the cable band rim first, then stitches picked up along one edge to make crown.

C4F is worked over a total of 4 stitches. Place first two stitches from left needle onto cable needle; hold to front of work. Knit the next two stitches from left needle. Then knit the two stitches off the cable needle.
C4B = worked over 4 stitches. Place first two stitches from left needle onto cable needle; hold to back of work. Knit the next two stitches from left needle. Then knit the two stitches off the cable needle.

Pattern
Using long-tail method, CO 16 stitches.
Purl one row (WS).

Row 1: Slip first stitch, K4, C4F, C4F, K3
Row 2: Slip first stitch, K2, P10, K3
Row 3: Slip first stitch, K2, C4B, C4B, K5
Row 4: Slip first stitch, K2, P10, K3

Repeat rows 1-4 until strip measures 22" (or length needed to fit around your head.)

Bind off. Stitch together beginning and end of band to form bottom brim of hat.

Beginning at seam (which will be the back of the hat), pick up 80 stitches around edge using circular needle. Place stitch marker at beginning of round.

Knit 30-32 rows or until hat measures 8" from bottom of cable band.
Begin decreasing by:
*K1, K2tog* repeat for one round
Knit around, twice
*K2tog* repeat for one round (May need to change to dpn’s at this point.)
Knit 1 round
*K2 tog*
Repeat last two rows until you have 7 stitches on needles. Cut yarn with 6"-8" tail. Using darning needle run tail through the remaining stitches on needles twice. Pull tight. Run yarn through center top to inside and weave in ends. Weave in loose ends from the cable band.

Pattern created January, 2008 - copyright by the designer Kim Helmick. Pattern may be used for personal use as long as this line appears. Not for sale.

New Spindle (& FO!)

I participated in a fun "Homemade/handmade spindle exchange" via a group on Ravelry. The rules were to make a spindle for less than $10, preferrably from things you could recycle from your home. Since I've never made a spindle, it seemed like a good chance for me to learn. Besides, any knowledge acquired along the way might go a long way toward helping me expand from the one store boughten spindle that I own.

The one made for me by a lovely person in NY state arrived on Friday, which also just happened to be my birthday! (BONUS!!!) Here it is:



I'm not sure if the whorl is wooden or not. Part of me believes it may have been fashioned from Fimo (or similar brand) clay and baked. At any rate, I thought it terribly clever to actually paint the dowel as well! (My poor recipient got a plane jane model all around!)

Since this spindle is lighter weight than the one I bought in my "Learn to Spin" kit, I thought I'd give a lighter weight yarn a spin. I think it's going to work splendidly!

After playing around with the spindle on Saturday while watching the forecast, I decided a little knitting was in order owing to the fact I couldn't find a hat to wear in the bitter cold weather that has enveloped our state. Here's the result.



I got inspired by a pattern I saw on KnitPicks.com. However I decided to go with a different cable pattern from a stitch dictionary. Even though it's crappy acrylic yarn which has been in my stash for over 9 years, I think it will do the job of keeping my head warm. If anyone is interested I can type up the pattern and post it. Just say the word!

Happy Spinning & Knitting!
Stay warm!