Free Cable Beanie Pattern: This Free Cable Beanie Pattern is a great addition to your free hat knitting patterns if you want a classic knit hat with pretty cable texture and sizes for the whole family.
The Selah Beanie is a worsted weight cable hat pattern that works well when you want something a little more interesting than a plain stockinette beanie, but still simple enough to actually finish. This Free Cable Beanie Pattern includes sizes from newborn through large adult, so you can make one for a baby gift, a child, yourself, or anyone else who needs a handmade hat. The cable repeat gives the beanie a beautiful textured look without making the whole project feel too fussy.
This free cable beanie pattern is a good choice if you want to practice cables while still working on a practical, wearable project. I love that the Selah Beanie has a simple ribbed brim, a repeating cable section, and shaped decreases at the top so the finished hat looks neat and polished.
It is also one of those projects that works well in several sizes, which makes it easy to come back to again and again. Once you understand the cable repeat, you can knit the same general style for babies, kids, teens, and adults.
What materials do you need for this Free Cable Beanie Pattern?
For this Free Cable Beanie Pattern, you will need 60–220 yards of worsted weight yarn, depending on the size you are making. I used KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted, which works nicely for cables because it has good stitch definition and helps the texture stand out.
You will also need size 8 (5mm) DPNs or circular needles, size 6 (4mm) DPNs or circular needles, a cable needle, and a yarn needle. The smaller needles are used for the ribbing, and the larger needles are used for the main cable section of the hat.
The gauge for this pattern is 5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch, and the cable pattern should measure about 2 inches per repeat. Taking a few minutes to check gauge can help your finished hat come out closer to the intended size.
The Selah Beanie includes sizes from newborn through large adult, with approximate head circumferences listed for each size. That makes this free cable beanie pattern a helpful one to save when you want a hat pattern you can use for more than one person.
How do you knit this Free Cable Beanie Pattern?
This Free Cable Beanie Pattern is worked in the round, beginning with a simple k1, p1 ribbed brim. After the ribbing, you switch to the larger needles and begin the cable repeat, which uses knit stitches, purl stitches, and cable crosses to create the raised texture.
The main cable section is repeated until the hat reaches the correct length for the size you are making. After that, the decreases shape the crown while still keeping the cable design looking intentional as the top of the hat closes.
This is a nice pattern for knitters who are ready to practice cable stitches because the repeat is easy to follow once you get going. The abbreviations section includes the cable instructions, along with p2tog, ssk, and vdd, so you can check each technique as you work.
When you finish the decreases, you do not bind off. Instead, you cut the yarn, pull it through the remaining stitches, cinch the top closed, weave in your ends, and block as desired.
What other free hat knitting patterns should you try next?
Here are a few more free hat knitting patterns to check out next:
• Grace Beanie
• Thomas Beanie
• Evergreen Beanie
• Nicolas Beanie
• Abner Beanie
These are great options if you love knitting hats and want more patterns to keep on your needles. Some have texture, some have cables, and some are simple enough for easy everyday knitting.
The Selah Beanie is a great Free Cable Beanie Pattern to add to your pattern list because it gives you that classic cable hat look in a practical worsted weight yarn. It is also a fun pattern to make more than once, especially since the size range goes from newborn all the way to large adult.
Selah Beanie Free Pattern
Materials Needed: 60-220yds worsted weight yarn (I used KnitPicks Wool of the Andes Worsted), size 8 (5mm) dpn or circular, size 6 (4mm) dpn or circular needles, cable needle, yarn needle
Gauge: 5sts/in in stockinette st (cable pattern should measure 2ins/repeat)
Sizes (appx head circumference) [appx finished measurements laid flat]:
Newborn (13ins) [6.5x5ins], infant (14ins) [7×5.5ins]
baby (16ins) [8×6.5ins], toddler (17ins) [8.5x7ins]
child (18ins) [9×7.5ins]
teen/small adult (20ins) [10×8.5ins]
large adult (22ins) [11x9ins]
NEWBORN
Cast on 72 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p3] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 3.5ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p3] repeat [to] across (60sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (54sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p2] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p2] repeat [to] across (42sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p2] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog] repeat [to] across (36sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p1] repeat [to] across
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (24sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (18sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (6sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
INFANT
Cast on 84 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p3] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 4ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p3] repeat [to] across (70sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (63sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p2] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p2] repeat [to] across (49sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p2] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog] repeat [to] across (42sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p1] repeat [to] across
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (28sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (21sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (7sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
BABY
Cast on 96 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p3] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 5ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p3] repeat [to] across (80sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (72sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p2] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p2] repeat [to] across (56sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p2] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog] repeat [to] across (48sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p1] repeat [to] across
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (32sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (24sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (8sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
TODDLER
Cast on 104 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p4] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p4] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p4] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p4] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 5.5ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p4] repeat [to] across (88sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p4] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p1, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (80sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p3] repeat [to] across (64sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (56sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p2tog] repeat [to] across (48sts)
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (32sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (24sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (8sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
CHILD
Cast on 108 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p3] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 6ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p3] repeat [to] across (90sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (81sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p2] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p2] repeat [to] across (63sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p2] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog] repeat [to] across (54sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p1] repeat [to] across
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (36sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (27sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (9sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
TEEN/SMALL ADULT
Cast on 120 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p3] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 7ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p3] repeat [to] across (100sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (90sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p2] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p2] repeat [to] across (70sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p2] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog] repeat [to] across (60sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p1] repeat [to] across
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (40sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (30sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (10sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
LARGE ADULT
Cast on 132 on smaller needles. Join in the round.
Work 1ins k1p1 ribbing.
Switch to larger needles.
Row 1 – [k9,p3] repeat [to] across
Row 2 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c4b, k1, c4f, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 4 – [k9, p3] repeat [to] across
Repeat rows 1-4 until your work measures appx 7.5ins from cast on edge ending after completing a row 4.
DECREASES
Row 1 – [k3, vdd, k3, p3] repeat [to] across (110sts)
Row 2 – [k7, p3] repeat [to] across
Row 3 – [c3b, k1, c3f, p2tog, p1] repeat [to] across (99sts)
Row 4 – [k7, p2] repeat [to] across to last st
Row 5 – [k2, vdd, k2, p2] repeat [to] across (77sts)
Row 6 – [k5, p2] repeat [to] across
Row 7 – [c2b, k1, c2f, p2tog] repeat [to] across (66sts)
Row 8 – [k5, p1] repeat [to] across
Row 9 – [k1, vdd, k1, p1] repeat [to] across (44sts)
Row 10 – [k2, ssk] repeat [to] across (33sts)
Row 11 – [vdd] repeat [to] across (11sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn leaving appx -10ins. Pull yarn through remaining stitches and cinch the top tight. Weave in ends. Block as desired.
Abbreviations and Tutorials
K – knit
p – purl
p2tog – purl 2 stitches together
ssk- slip next stitch knitwise, slip next stitch knitwise, knit the 2 slipped sts together
C4b – slip next 3sts onto cable needle, hold in back, knit the next st, knit 3 sts from cable needle
C4f – slip next st onto cable needle, hold in front, knit the next 3sts, knit st from cable needle
C3b – slip next 2sts onto cable needle, hold in back, knit the next st, knit 2 sts from cable needle
C3f – slip next st onto cable needle, hold in front, knit the next 2sts, knit st from cable needle
C2b – slip next st onto cable needle, hold in back, knit the next st, knit st from cable needle
C2f – slip next st onto cable needle, hold in front, knit the next st, knit st from cable needle
Vdd – slip the next 2 sts together as if to knit, knit the next st, pass over the 2 slipped sts together
Have you knit cables before, or would this be your first cable beanie? Leave a comment and tell me which size you are making first!
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