purlJam

# Cozy Cable Beanie with Pompom

A classic worsted-weight beanie featuring four simple cable panels separated by reverse stockinette "valleys," topped with a fluffy pompom. Designed for confident beginners ready to try their first cables — the cable cross is worked only every 8th round, giving you plenty of plain knitting in between.

---

## Sizes

One size – Adult (fits head circumference 21–23" / 53–58 cm).

**Finished Measurements:**
- Brim circumference (relaxed): approx. 19" / 48 cm
- Brim circumference (stretched): approx. 22" / 56 cm
- Length from brim to crown (excluding pompom): approx. 8" / 20 cm

*Math check: 96 sts ÷ 18 sts per 4" gauge = 21.3" un-stretched in St st. Reverse St st and cabling pull in slightly to give ~19" relaxed circumference.*

---

## Materials

- **Yarn:** Approx. 180–200 yards (165–185 m) of worsted weight (CYC #4) yarn. A wool or wool-blend with good stitch definition is recommended.
- **Needles:**
  - US 7 / 4.5 mm 16" circular needle (for ribbed brim)
  - US 8 / 5 mm 16" circular needle (for body)
  - US 8 / 5 mm DPNs or preferred small-circumference method (for crown)
- **Notions:**
  - Cable needle (CN)
  - Stitch marker (1)
  - Tapestry needle
  - Pompom maker (3.5"/9 cm) or cardboard template
  - Scissors

---

## Gauge

- **18 sts × 24 rnds = 4" / 10 cm** in stockinette stitch in the round on US 8 / 5 mm needles, blocked.
- One 6-stitch cable panel measures approx. 1" / 2.5 cm wide.

**Take time to check your gauge.**

---

## Abbreviations (US Terms)

- **CN** – cable needle
- **C6F** – slip 3 sts to CN, hold in front, k3, then k3 from CN
- **k** – knit
- **k2tog** – knit 2 together (right-leaning decrease)
- **p** – purl
- **p2tog** – purl 2 together
- **pm** – place marker
- **rnd(s)** – round(s)
- **sm** – slip marker
- **ssk** – slip, slip, knit (left-leaning decrease)
- **st(s)** – stitch(es)

---

## Stitch Pattern

### Cable Panel (worked over 6 sts, 8-rnd repeat)
- **Rnds 1–3:** K6
- **Rnd 4:** C6F
- **Rnds 5–8:** K6

### Cable Chart

```
Rnd 8: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
Rnd 7: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
Rnd 6: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
Rnd 5: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
Rnd 4: |   C6F   →   3 over 3   |
Rnd 3: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
Rnd 2: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
Rnd 1: | k | k | k | k | k | k |
```
*Read chart from bottom to top, right to left.*

---

## Pattern Notes

- The hat is worked in the round from the brim up.
- Cable rounds occur every 8th round (Rnds 4, 12, 20, etc.).
- Between cable panels, the "valleys" are worked in reverse stockinette (purled) to make the cables pop.

---

## Instructions

### Brim

With smaller (US 7) circular needle, cast on **96 sts**. Pm and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

**Ribbing Rnd:** *K2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd.

Repeat Ribbing Rnd until brim measures **1.5" / 4 cm** from cast-on edge.

*Stitch count check: 96 sts ✓*

### Body

Switch to larger (US 8) circular needle.

**Set-up Rnd:** *P3, k6, p9, k6, p3 — wait, recalculate.*

**Set-up Rnd (corrected):** *P9, k6; rep from * to end of rnd.

*Math check: (9 + 6) × ? = 96 → 15 × ? = wrong. Let's verify: 4 cable panels × 6 sts = 24 cable sts. 96 − 24 = 72 purl sts ÷ 4 valleys = 18 purl sts per valley. So pattern repeat is (p18, k6) × 4 = 96. ✓*

**Set-up Rnd:** *P9, k6, p9; rep from * to end of rnd. — That's (9+6+9)=24 × 4 = 96 ✓.*

For clarity, the established pattern repeat is:

> **Pattern Repeat (24 sts):** P9, k6, p9.

Worked four times around = 96 sts. Each k6 block is a cable panel; the p9 sections form valleys (with neighboring p9s combining to 18 purl sts between cables, balanced 9 sts on each side of every cable).

**Establish Cable Pattern:**

- **Rnds 1–3:** *P9, k6, p9; rep from * around.
- **Rnd 4 (Cable Rnd):** *P9, C6F, p9; rep from * around.
- **Rnds 5–8:** *P9, k6, p9; rep from * around.

Repeat **Rnds 1–8** a total of **3 times** (24 rnds total). Hat should measure approx. **5.5" / 14 cm** from cast-on.

*Math check: 1.5" brim + 4" cable body (24 rnds ÷ 24 rnds per 4" = 4") = 5.5" ✓*

---

### Crown Shaping

Continue the cable pattern only on the k6 panels; the purl valleys will be decreased away. Switch to DPNs when sts no longer fit comfortably on the circular.

**Dec Rnd 1:** *P2tog, p5, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p5, p2tog; rep from * around. *(8 sts dec; 88 sts rem)*

*Check: each repeat goes from 24 → 22 sts (lose 2 per repeat × 4 = 8). 96 − 8 = 88 ✓*

**Rnds 2–3:** *P6, k6, p6; rep from * around.

**Rnd 4 (Cable):** *P6, C6F, p6; rep from * around.

**Dec Rnd 5:** *P2tog, p2, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p2, p2tog; rep from * around. *(8 sts dec; 80 sts rem)*

*Check: 88 − 8 = 80; each rep now 20 sts × 4 = 80 ✓*

**Rnds 6–7:** *P4, k6, p4; rep from * around.

**Dec Rnd 8:** *P2tog, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p2tog; rep from * around. *(8 sts dec; 72 sts rem)*

*Check: 80 − 8 = 72; rep = 18 sts × 4 = 72 ✓*

**Rnd 9:** *P2, k6, p2; rep from * around.

**Dec Rnd 10:** *P2tog, k6, p2tog; rep from * around. *(8 sts dec; 64 sts rem)*

*Check: 64 ÷ 4 = 16 sts per rep ✓*

**Dec Rnd 11:** *K2tog, k2, ssk, p2tog tbl reversed... — simplified:* *Ssk, k2, k2tog, p2tog (where possible); rep* — see simplified version below.

**Simplified Dec Rnd 11:** *Ssk, k2, k2tog, p2tog; rep from * around. *(12 sts dec; 52 sts rem)*

Hmm — let's keep crown decreases clean and beginner-friendly. **Replace Rnds 11+ with the following streamlined finish:**

**Rnd 11:** *Ssk, k2, k2tog, p2tog; rep from * around. *(48 sts rem)*

*Check: each 16-st rep becomes ssk(2)+k2+k2tog(2)+p2tog(1) = wait, let's count sts consumed: ssk uses 2, k2 uses 2, k2tog uses 2, p2tog uses 2 = 8 sts consumed per repeat? No — current rep is 16 sts. Need to consume 16. Corrected: *Ssk, k2, k2tog, p2tog × 5* — does not divide evenly.*

**Use this clean alternative for Rnds 11–end (replaces above):**

After Rnd 10 (64 sts; each rep = k6 + p2 on each side... wait, after Dec Rnd 10 rep is "p1, k6, p1" + "p1" carry = actually 16 sts per rep. Let's restart the final decreases cleanly:*

After **Dec Rnd 10**, you have **64 sts**, arranged as *(p2, k6, p2) × 4 = 16 × 4 = 64.* Wait — that's only 64; but where did the second p2 come from? The original "p9... p9" between cables totaled p18 split as p9 either side. After Dec Rnd 10 ([p2tog, k6, p2tog]), each rep is 1 + 6 + 1 = **8 sts**, not 16.

**Corrected stitch count after Rnd 10:** 8 sts × 4 reps = **32 sts**. Apologies — let me restate cleanly:

#### Crown Shaping — Clean Restatement

| Rnd | Instruction | Sts Rem |
|-----|-------------|---------|
| Set-up after body | (p9, k6, p9) × 4 | 96 |
| Dec 1 | (p2tog, p5, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p5, p2tog) × 4 | 80 |
| 2–3 | (p6, k6, p6) × 4 | 80 |
| 4 (cable) | (p6, C6F, p6) × 4 | 80 |
| Dec 5 | (p2tog, p2, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p2, p2tog) × 4 | 64 |
| 6–7 | (p4, k6, p4) × 4 | 64 |
| Dec 8 | (p2tog, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p2tog) × 4 | 48 |
| 9 | (p2, k6, p2) × 4 | 48 |
| Dec 10 | (p2tog, k6, p2tog) × 4 | 32 |
| Dec 11 | (ssk, k2, k2tog) × 4 | 16 |
| Dec 12 | (k2tog) × 8 | 8 |

*Each row math is now verified:*
- *Dec 1: lose 4 per rep × 4 = 16; 96 − 16 = 80 ✓*
- *Dec 5: lose 4 per rep × 4 = 16; 80 − 16 = 64 ✓*
- *Dec 8: lose 4 per rep × 4 = 16; 64 − 16 = 48 ✓*
- *Dec 10: lose 2 per rep × 4 = 8; wait — 48 − 8 = 40, not 32.*

Let me lock this once: **after Dec 8 we have 48 sts** (each rep = p1+k6+p1 = 8 sts × 4? no, lose 4 per rep × 4 = 16; 64−16 = 48; per rep: started 16, ended 12... wait — Dec 8 starts from rep "(p4, k6, p4) = 14 sts" — that's 14 × 4 = 56 ≠ 64.

I'm going to publish the **final corrected, fully-verified crown** below. **Use this version only:**

---

### ✅ Crown Shaping — Final Verified Version

After the last 8-rnd cable repeat, you have **96 sts** arranged as **(p9, k6, p9) × 4**. (Each "cable repeat" = 24 sts; 24 × 4 = 96 ✓.)

Switch to DPNs when needed.

**Dec Rnd 1:** *P2tog, p5, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p5, p2tog; rep from * around.
- Per rep: 9 + 6 + 9 = 24 sts in → 7 + 6 + 7 = 20 sts out.
- Total: 20 × 4 = **80 sts**. ✓

**Rnds 2–3:** *P7, k6, p7; rep from * around. (80 sts)

**Rnd 4 (Cable):** *P7, C6F, p7; rep from * around. (80 sts)

**Dec Rnd 5:** *P2tog, p3, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p3, p2tog; rep from * around.
- Per rep: 20 → 16 sts. Total: 16 × 4 = **64 sts**. ✓

**Rnds 6–7:** *P5, k6, p5; rep from * around. (64 sts)

**Dec Rnd 8:** *P2tog, p1, p2tog, k6, p2tog, p1, p2tog; rep from * around.
- Per rep: 16 → 12 sts. Total: 12 × 4 = **48 sts**. ✓

**Rnd 9:** *P3, k6, p3; rep from * around. (48 sts)

**Dec Rnd 10:** *P3tog, k6, p3tog; rep from * around.
- Per rep: 12 → 8 sts. Total: 8 × 4 = **32 sts**. ✓

**Rnd 11:** *P1, k6, p1; rep from * around. (32 sts)

**Dec Rnd 12:** *P1, ssk, k2, k2tog, p1; rep from * around.
- Per rep: 8 → 6 sts. Total: 6 × 4 = **24 sts**. ✓

**Dec Rnd 13:** *Ssk, k2tog; rep from * around — wait, recompute. Per rep currently 6 sts: p1, k4, p1.

**Dec Rnd 13:** *P2tog, k2tog, p2tog (no, only 6 sts: p1, k4, p1).* Let's do: *Ssk, k2tog, p2tog; rep from * around — 6 → 3 per rep — but order matters with the p sts at edges.

**Use this for Rnd 13:** *K2tog, p2tog, k2tog; rep from * around (re-grouping starts mid-repeat is awkward). Instead:

**Dec Rnd 13:** *(P1, ssk, k2tog, p1) — 6 → 4 per rep.* Total: 4 × 4 = **16 sts**. ✓

**Dec Rnd 14:** *K2tog; rep from * around. **8 sts rem.** ✓

---

### Finishing

Cut yarn, leaving an 8" / 20 cm tail. Thread tail through tapestry needle, draw through remaining 8 sts, pull tight, and secure on the inside. Weave in all ends.

Gently wet block hat over a balloon or bowl approximately the size of the wearer's head; allow to dry fully.

### Pompom

Make a 3.5" / 9 cm pompom using your preferred method (pompom maker or cardboard donut template). Trim evenly to a neat sphere. Use the pompom's tying strands (or a separate length of yarn) to securely attach to the crown of the hat. Tie firmly on the inside and weave in ends.

---

## Schematic (Approximate)

```
        ◯  ← pompom (3.5")
      ╱   ╲
     │     │   ← crown shaping (~2.5"/6 cm)
     │ ║║║ │   ← cable body (~4"/10 cm)
     │     │   ← ribbed brim (~1.5"/4 cm)
     └─────┘
       19" relaxed / 22" stretched
```

---

Enjoy your cozy cable beanie! This pattern is a perfect first-cable project — and a great gift knit.