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Learn to Knit Cables with These Basic Patterns

May 14, 2024 by Sarah White

Cable knitting is, to me, more of a winter project, but I don’t really know why. I guess I associate cables with big, warm sweaters covered in cable patterns (even though I’ve never knit one of those) so they feel like something you should want to make in the winter. But the truth is, cables are for all times of year.

Cable knitting is a technique that seems complicated until you know how it works. Cables are made by working stitches out of order from the way they are presented on the needle. To make that work, you hold some stitches temporarily (on a cable needle or spare double-pointed knitting needle) then you work some stitches from the left hand needle, then you work the stitches from the cable needle.

Whether those stitches were held to the back of the front, how the stitches of the cable and the stitches around them are worked (knit or purl) and how often the cable is twisted determine how a cable looks. So just like regular knitting can do a lot of things with just knit and purl stitches, cables can look a lot of different ways just by changing up a few basic moves.

If you’ve never knit cables before, it’s a great idea to start with some swatches of basic cables before embarking on a cabled project.

This post from Handy Little Me includes eight basic cables, including cables worked on 4 or 6 stitches and twisted to the right or left, a 12-stitch cable you might see called staghorn cable, and one she calls cells that you might find elsewhere called a honeycomb cable.

Once you’ve worked a few of these with cables turned in different directions, you’ll be ready to take on some cable knitting projects. I love a project like this hat as a first cable project because there’s only a little bit of cabling to do, or check out this collection of skill-building cable knitting patterns.

[Photo: Handy Little Me]

Next Pattern:

  • Knit Bits: Learn to Knit Cables!
  • Learn How to Knit Cables with This Hat Knitting Pattern
  • A Beyond-Basic Vest to Knit for Fall or Spring
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Bucket Hat Knitting Patterns

As I was starting to write this post I thought that it was true that I’d never done a roundup of bucket hat knitting patterns before. But then I looked, and I actually did one last year (which you can find here) but there are plenty of cute bucket hats to do another post about, right? 

The one that made me want to write about this (again) is the Red Heart Knit Fanfare Bucket Hat from Yarnspirations. This cute striped hat can be worked in team colors, and while I might prefer a non-acrylic yarn for a summer hat, it would be fine when it’s not too hot outside (or try a cotton yarn instead). 

Claire Slade’s Sunlit Bucket Hat has an angled brim to help keep the sun out of your eyes. It’s worked from the bottom up using worsted weight cotton yarn, and comes in three sizes. You can find the pattern on Ravelry. 

Get a little air flow in your bucket hat with the Shady Bucket Hat from Wool & Beyond. This one uses DK weight yarn and an eyelet pattern throughout the body to keep it cool. It comes in sizes ranging from newborn to adult large, and is worked in one piece from the top down. You can grab the pattern (in English or Swedish) on Ravelry. 

If you’re looking for a fun, floppy sun hat for kids or adults, this pattern from Muki Crafts is a little more slouchy than a traditional bucket hat but it’s super cute. It comes in baby, toddler and bigger kid sizes and adult. I uses worsted weight yarn and is worked from the bottom up. 

Another variation on the classic bucket is this one that’s more of a cloche style. Made by branda, it uses bulky yarn so it’s more of a winter bucket hat, but now’s a fine time to knit it if you live somewhere that’s warm right now (or even more so if you live somewhere that’s cold right now). 

Another one to get you ready for colder weather is Tirmety, a two-layer bucket hat from ViTalina Craft, which has a textured stitch pattern on one side and stockinette on the other. You can wear either side out or even make them different colors if you want. The pattern is sized for toddlers, kids and adults. 

And if you want to add some extra cuteness to your bucket hat, I love this (of course totally optional but also totally adorable) embroidered deatila on the New York Bucket Hat from Pauline Fanguin. It uses two strands of DK weight yarn held together for extra sturdiness, and uses changes in needle size to shape the hat. Of course you could also knit stripes or use different textures of yarn to change up the look. This pattern is made to fit your head and is available in French and English. 

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