Classic Chunky Cable Hat ~Free Pattern~

 Its cold outside. I mean really cold. Here in northern Minnesota were kind of used to the bluster of winter, it goes with living in the northland but good gosh almighty if it isnt early this year.

I know…. stop the weather time complaining but geesh as if our snowless time isnt cut short enough each year we have to suffer January temps right along with the white stuff? Ahhhhh well, one super awesome thing happen though for a yarnie at this time of the year: Hats. OOOOooOOOoohhhh me OH my hats galore……

Im supposed to be finishing up knitting a sock. The mate to this one here……….

So that I can nab the needles and get started on a pair of very special New York Rangers socks for hubbys super top secret Christmas present…. shhhhhh, please dont tell. ;)But alas instead of doing that (or the bajillion and one other things I could be finishing the “glitter squirrel” came to visit and bam! Hat. I need to make a hat. Not just any hat. MUST BE A CABLED HAT. So here she is, or he is its up to you……

I hope you have fun playing with this one  Im thinking of adding a pom pom or maybe going girly  I have plans for a scarf, wristers, maybe a cowl and a set in fingering weight for those that like a lil more refinement  Come join the fun and tell me what you might like to see over on our facebook page Crochet Supernova and dont forget to check out the YouTube channel to see video patterns and some other fun stuff we have planned  Happy creating <3
Heres what youll need……

Materials:
Worsted weight yarn (I used I love this yarn! from Hobby Lobby)
I hook and a J hook
Scissors
Large eye needle for weaving in ends

With the  I hook ch 6
Row 2: sc in each st across (5). Chain 1 and turn.
Row 3: sc in back loop only of each st across (55 rows) Chain 1 and turn.
Repeat row 3 across until last st and join together in the round stitching up the seam as you create the last (56) row

switch to J hook
(you will be working in the round)
sc in each st across the band …. 56 st . join to beginning. chain 2.
Row 1: HDC in each sc around join with a slip st to the beginning. Chain 2
Row 2: HDC in each stitch around join with slip st to beginning HDC. chain 2.
Row 3: HDC in next 2 HDC, *FPtreb in next 4 stitches 2 rows BELOW, HDC in next 4 HDC; repeat from* all the way around to last 2 st. HDC in last 2 st and join w slip stitch to first HDC. Chain 2
Row 4: Repeat row 2
Row 5: Chain 2 HDC in next 2 HDC, *skip 2 FPtreb stitches below, FPtreb in next 2 FPtreb stiches. FPtreb stitch in the first skipped FPtreb below and then FPtreb Stitch in the second FPtreb stitch skipped forming your crossed cable effect. HDC in next 4 stitches* across ending with HDC in each of the last 2 stitches. Join with a slip st to the top of the first HDC. Chain 2.
Row 6 and 7: Repeat rows 2 and 3

Complete rows 2-7 3 more times then begin to decrease.
Follow in pattern as follows: HDC rows only
HDC decrease 2, hdc 4 (in the cables) HDC decrease over 2, HDC 4 (in the cable stitches) keep decreasing in this way and following the pattern until you have nothing but the 4 stitches that make up the cables left.
Do one row of hdc decreases all the way around and secure yarn and cut. Use your large eye needle and close up the remaining hole gathering it tight and securing and weaving in all ends.
In the picture at the top of the sea glass blue hat I added one more row of cables to make it more of a slouch, the pattern as written makes the graphite colored hat …..

Enjoy your new hat 

Please let me know if you would like a video tutorial on this pattern 

Just had to add this lil update: I finished the mate to that lonely sock up there! My very first complete pair and Im over the moon!!!! Next Im starting on a pair of super secret New York Rangers colored socks for my wonderful hubby..... can I get them done in time for Christmas morning???? Lets see.....

******please note: Im NOT in any way shape or form a professional pattern writer…. just love to craft and love to share….. if there is something wrong that you spot please feel free to contact me so I can correct it to make it more fun for others to follow  Thanks ******

Retro Snow Day Mittens

In our group over on Facebook (click here and join the fun!) we were taking about making mittens, both crochet and knit…. oh my its that time of the year isnt it? Here in northern Minnesota we already have several inches on the ground and I felt kind of caught off guard….. honestly when I went through my hats and mittens box I was shocked to see I had a zillion of everything else BUT matching mittens. I live in the middle of nowhere …. and I am soooooo not kidding. Although nowhere has its advantages one thing it doesnt have is a plethora of stores to jump out and buy a zillion

kidlets winter gear.

So whats a crafty mama in the woods to do? Why make mittens of course BUT as I soon discovered I really didnt dig any of the mitt patterns I was finding for crochet….. I started knitting. Knitting takes a really long time. Did I mention I have SEVEN kids?  Knitting prolly wasnt going to get every ones hands warm any time soon. Still I forged on…. 4 needles, stitch markers, thumb gussets….. sigh…..

Until in the group during this same time we began taking about mittens and overwhelmingly people seemed to loath crocheting them. I have to agree. Im not hip on the look of a worsted weight mitt crochet in the round although I do dig a fingering weight mitt thats crochet with a design or pattern….. but whose got time for all that when you just want some toasty mittens for your wee one and you NEED em like, yesterday?

I had suggested a mitt pattern to a lady in the group that was easy (found here), crochet and worked up fast. ****there are many of this style pattern out there, worked all in one flat piece and seamed****  I was still plodding away on my knitted mitts until nostalgia took over. As we were taking I remembered hot coco breaks during a cold day of snow fort building or after some tiring walks dragging my sled up the huge hill in the hay field…. on my hands were mittens my mother had made me….. they were crocheted because although she knew how to knit she hated doing it…. loved the look, hated the time it took so she opted to crochet instead. The mitts I remembered were wonderful and similar to the pattern I had suggested for the woman in the group….. I had to make a pattern of my own. I remember my mothers looking somewhat the same but with a more gusseted thumb. Could I recreate my favorite pair? ****they were blue, like Minion blue, and wore them under her hand sewn ‘woolie bear’ mitts (this will be another thing I recreate from my mamas wonderful handmade goodness, oh I do have such wonderful memories of her handicrafts)*****

I think I did it……. Im calling them Retro Snow Day Mittens….. because they just bring me right on back. For now I only have the 2-5 year old size completed but am diligently working on the numbers for the rest as I go up the sizes of my kidlets…… I really hope my kids have fond memories of wonderful snow days in their future <3

*******Writing up the pattern and making a video for these …. total love <3 ******** STAY TUNED