Both of these hats begin with the same ribbing. Hat I is a more simple pattern since the cabling is contained in the repeat area. I would recommend having experience with both knitting in the round and with cabling before attempting Hat II. Because the cabling is across the entire hat, on some rows stitches will need to be shifted between needles to accommodate cable stitches.
Sizes:
Preemie – 10″ circumference
Newborn – 12″ circumference
Gauge:
22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in stockinette
Materials:
0.5 to 0.6 oz (40 to 50 yards) of DK weight baby yarn
Size 6 (4 mm) 40″ circular needle (for magic loop) or set of size 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles
Cable needle
Yarn needle
Abbreviations:
k = knit
p = purl
t3f = twist 3 front – Slip the next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front of work. Purl the next stitch from the left-hand needle, knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
t3b = twist 3 back – Slip the next stitch onto cable needle and hold behind work. Knit the next 2 stitchs from left-hand needle, purl the stitch from the cable needle.
c4f = cable 4 front – Slip the next 2 stitches onto cable needle and hold in front of work. Knit the next 2 stitches from left-hand needle, knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.
k2tog = knit two together
ssk = slip one knitwise, slip one knitwise, insert left needle into front of both slipped stitches and knit.
* = repeat instructions between *’s across the round. Instructions before a * are for the beginning of the round and instructions after a * are for the last stitches of the round.
Cast on and Ribbing:
Cast on 60 for preemie size or 72 for newborn. Join to knit in the round. Divide stitches between double pointed needles or needles for a magic loop. For Hat I, divide with multiples of 12 on each needle.
Ribbing (6 rounds for preemie size, 8 rounds for newborn size: *k2, p2*
Hat I
Rnd 1: *t3f, p4, t3b, p2*
Rnd 2: *p1, k2, p4, k2, p3*
Rnd 3: *p1, t3f, p2, t3b, p3*
Rnd 4: *p2, k2, p2, k2, p4*
Rnd 5: *p2, t3f, t3b, p4*
Rnd 6: *p3, k4, p5*
Rnd 7: *p3, c4f, p5*
Rnd 8: *p3, k4, p5*
Rnd 9: *p2, t3b, t3f, p4*
Rnd 10: *p2, k2, p2, k2, p4*
Rnd 11: *p1, t3b, p2, t3f, p3*
Rnd 12: *p1, k2, p4, k2, p3*
Rnd 13: *t3b, p4, t3f, p2*
Rnd 14: *k2, p6, k2, p2*
Rnds 15-28: Repeat Rnds 1-14
Rnd 29: *k1, ssk, p4, k2tog, k1, p2*
Rnd 30: *k2, p4, k2, p2*
Rnd 31: *k1, ssk, p2, k2tog, k1, p2*
Rnd 32: *k2, p2, k2, p2*
Rnd 33: *k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, p2*
Rnd 34: *k4, p2*
Rnd 35: *ssk, k2tog, p2*
Rnd 36: *k2, p2*
Rnd 37: *k2tog, p2tog*
Cut the yarn with several inches to work with. With a yarn needle, pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end.
Hat II
Rnd 1: *k2, p2, k2, p6*
Rnd 2: *k2, p2, k2, p6*
Rnd 3: *t3f, t3b, p6*
Rnd 4: *p1, k4, p7*
Rnd 5: *p1, c4f, p7*
Rnd 6: *p1, k4, p7*
Rnd 7: *t3b, t3f, p6*
Rnd 8: *k2, p2, k2, p6*
Rnd 9: k2, *p2, t3f, p4, t3b* (last t3b includes k2 from beginning of round)
Rnd 10: p3, *k2, p4*, k1
Rnd 11: k1, *p4, t3f, p2, t3b* (last t3b includes k1 from beginning of round)
Rnd 12: p5, *k2, p2, k2, p6*, k2, p2, k2
Rnd 13: *p6, t3f, t3b*
Rnd 14: *p7, k4, p1*
Rnd 15: *p7, c4f, p1*
Rnd 16: *p7, k4, p1*
Rnd 17: *p6, t3b, t3f*
Rnd 18: *p6, k2, p2, k2*
Rnd 19: p1, *p4, t3b, p2, t3f* (last t3f includes p1 from beginning of round)
Rnd 20: *p4, k2*, p4, k1
Rnd 21: k1, p3, *t3b, p4, t3f, p2*, t3b, p4, t3f (last t3f includes k1, p1 from beginning of round)
Rnd 22: *p2, k2, p6, k2* p2, k2, p6
Rnd 23: *t3f, t3b, p6*
Rnd 24: *p1, k4, p7*
Rnd 25: *p1, c4f, p7*
Rnd 26: *p1, k4, p7*
Rnd 27: *t3b, t3f, p6*
Rnd 28: *k2, p2, k2, p6*
Rnd 29: k2, *p2, K1, ssk, p4, k2tog, k1*, p2, k1, ssk, p4, move first stitch from prior round to end of this round, k2tog. This stitch is now permanently moved.
Rnd 30: *k1, p2, k2, p4, k1*
Rnd 31: *k1, p2, k1, ssk, p2, k2tog*
Rnd 32: *k1, p2, k2, p2, k1*
Rnd 33: *k1, p2, k1, ssk, k2tog*
Rnd 34: *k1, p2, k3*
Rnd 35: k1, *p2, ssk, k2tog*, p2, ssk, move first stitch from prior round to end of this round, k2tog. This stitch is now permanently moved.
Rnd 36: *p2, k2*
Rnd 37: *p2tog, k2tog*
Cut the yarn with several inches to work with. With a yarn needle, pull the yarn through all the remaining loops, secure and weave in end.
Edits:
12/17/2015 – replaced a broken link for Magic Loop method
11/13/2018 – corrected wording of parenthetical on rnd 21.