Classic Aran Hat by Roxanne Wood

This hat was inspired by my love of images of the intricate and hardy jerseys, guernseys, and arans worn by fishermen of old. It features a nice length of cable which is seamed together to make a horizontal band. The crown and the ribbing are worked in either direction from this central piece. A nice way to say ‘You’re appreciated’ to any man in your world, or if you are indeed a male knitter, a great way to treat yourself.

Sizes

One size – 22 inch head (will stretch to fit up to 24 inches)

Yarn

Louet Gems (100% Merino Wool; 175yd/160m per 100g hank) color ‘charcoal’ : 1 hank

Needles

US#6 (4 mm): set 5 DPNs
US#6 (4 mm): 16” circular knitting needle

Gauge

22 sts and 28 rows = 4” in st st

Notions

Cable needle, yarn needle, scissors

Abbreviations

Special Stitches for cable pattern:
Front Cross (FC) – Slip two knit stitches to cable needle and hold in front; p1, then k2 from cable needle
Back Cross (BC) – Slip one purl stitch to cable needle and hold in back; k2, then p1 from cable needle
Front Double Cross (FDC) – Slip two knit stitches to cable needle and hold in front; k2, then k2 from cable needle
Back Double Cross (BDC) – Slip two knit stitches to cable needle and hold in back; k2, then k2 from cable needle

Please see our standard list of abbreviations.

Chart

Pattern Notes

Cabled band is worked first and seamed together, then stitches are picked up to make the crown and ribbing.

Pattern

Cabled Hat Band

CO 30 and work rows 1-24 a total of 6 times (144 rows).
Note: For a more seamless look, cast on provisionally so you can graft the two ends together.
Refer to the chart or use the written instructions below.
Row 1 (WS): K7, (p4, k2) twice, p4, k7.
Row 2: P6, (BC, FC) 3 times, p6.
Row 3 and all other WS rows: knit all k stitches and purl all p stitches.
Row 4: P5, BC, (p2, BDC) twice, p2, FC, p5.
Row 6: P4, BC, p2, (BC, FC) twice, p2, FC, p4.
Row 8: P3, (BC, p2) twice, FDC, (p2, FC) twice, p3.
Row 10: (P2, BC) three times, (FC, p2) three times.
Row 12: Knit all k stitches and purl all p stitches.
Row 14: (P2, FC) three times, (BC, p2) three times.
Row 16: P3, (FC, p2) twice, FDC, (p2, BC) twice, p3.
Row 18: P4, FC, p2, (FC, BC) twice, p2, BC, p4.
Row 20: P5, FC, (p2, BDC) twice, p2, BC, p5
Row 22: P6, (FC, BC) 3 times, p6.
Row 24: P7, (FDC, p2) twice, FDC, p7.
If you started with a provisional cast on, unpick the cast on and place on a spare needle. Graft the two ends together to for the band.
If you did not use a provisional cast on, bind off in patt – bind off purl stitches purlwise, knit stitches knitwise. Cut yarn leaving a 12 inch tail.
Match up the ends of the piece, and with right sides facing, seam using preferred method.

Crown

With hat band seamed together, we are ready to move on to the crown.
With RS facing, and a 16” circular needle, pick up 72 sts around one edge of the cabled band. Begin knitting circularly.
Knit 2 rounds even.
Now we’ll begin to decrease as follows:
Note: Change to DPNs when the circular needle is too long to work comfortably.
Rnd 1 (Dec Rnd): (K10, k2tog) six times; 66 sts rem
Rnd 2: Knit
Rnd 3 (Dec Rnd): (K9, K2tog) six times; 60 sts rem
Rnd 4: Knit
Rnd 5: (K8, k2tog) six times; 54 sts rem
Rnd 6: Knit
Rnd 7: (K7, k2tog) six times; 48 sts rem
Rnd 8: Knit
Rnd 9: (K6, k2tog) six times; 42 sts rem
Rnd 10: Knit
Rnd 11: (K5, k2tog) six times; 36 sts rem
Rnd 12: (K4, k2tog) six times; 30 sts rem
Rnd 13: (K3, k2tog) six times; 24 sts rem
Rnd 14: (K2, k2tog) six times; 18 sts rem
Rnd 15: (K1, k2tog) six times; 12 sts rem
Rnd 16: K2tog around; 6 sts rem
Cut yarn leaving a 12 inch tail. Thread tail onto a yarn needle and in a clockwise manner, pass threaded yarn through all six of the remaining sts twice.
Bring tail to the inside of the hat and weave in.

Ribbing

Now the crown is complete, we are almost there! A simple ribbing with a checkerboard look will add a bit of interest.

With RS facing and 16” circular needle, pick up 72 sts along the free edge of the cable band. Begin to knit circularly as follows:
Knit 1 rnd.
Next 6 rnds: *K5, p3, rep from * to end.
Next 6 rnds: *P3, k5, rep from * to end.
Next 6 rnds: *K5, p3, rep from * to end.

Finishing

BO ribbing using sewn method.
To perform the sewn bind off, continue as follows: Cut yarn leaving a 36-48 inch tail.
Thread yarn onto needle.

Bring yarn needle through first two sts on the knitting needle purlwise.
Bring yarn needle back through the first st knitwise. Slip this first st off the needle.

Repeat previous two steps until all sts are bound off. Bring yarn back through the remaining stitch purlwise, and weave in tail.

Weave in all ends. Block hat.

About the Designer: Roxanne Wood

Roxanne Wood is an auditor by day,an obsessive knitter by night, and a blessed mother of one. She lives in the hilly Ozark ‘mountains’ and can sometimes be found tatting, beading, or crocheting. Of course, knitting remains the only true love when it comes to crafting.