Free Cable Beanie Pattern is a simple and classic knit hat project that fits right in with my collection of free hat knitting patterns. This post gives you everything you need to knit the Thomas Beanie, including the yarn, needles, sizes, gauge, stitch key, and written directions for each size. If you have been looking for a cable beanie that is easy enough to follow but still has pretty texture, this Free Cable Beanie Pattern is a great one to try. The cable repeats give the hat a polished look without making the whole project feel too complicated.
This beanie is worked with worsted weight yarn and includes sizes from preemie all the way through large adult. That makes it a helpful pattern to save when you want one hat pattern that can work for babies, kids, teens, and adults.
The Thomas Beanie uses a simple cable repeat with ribbing and crown shaping, so it is a nice project if you want to practice cables on something small and wearable. You can knit one for a gift, for your own hat drawer, or just because cable knitting is always a good idea.
What Materials Do You Need for This Free Cable Beanie Pattern?
For this Free Cable Beanie Pattern, you will need 55-150 yards of worsted weight yarn, size 9 double pointed needles, and a cable needle. I used Cascade 220 Superwash because it gives nice stitch definition, which helps the cable texture stand out clearly.
Worsted weight yarn works well for this beanie because it gives the hat structure without making it too bulky. The cable detail needs a yarn that shows the stitches nicely, so a smooth worsted weight yarn is a good choice for this project.
Gauge is important for this pattern because the beanie includes multiple sizes, from preemie through large adult. Taking a few minutes to check your gauge will help the finished hat come out closer to the size you actually want.
The pattern uses basic stitches like knit, purl, k2tog, ssk, and cb4. If you are newer to cables, this is a simple place to practice because the cable repeat is easy to see as you work.
How Do You Knit the Thomas Beanie?
The Thomas Beanie is worked in the round, beginning with a simple ribbed section that helps the brim fit nicely. After the beginning rounds, you will work the cable pattern repeat, then move into the decrease section to shape the crown.
The cable stitch used in this Free Cable Beanie Pattern is cb4, which means you slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle, hold them in back, knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. That small twist is what creates the cable detail in the hat.
Each size has its own cast-on number and repeat instructions, so be sure to follow the section for the size you are making. The decreases are written out round by round, which makes it easier to follow along without guessing where to shape the top.
At the end, you will not bind off. Instead, you cut the yarn, pull it through the remaining stitches, and weave in the ends.
What Other Free Hat Knitting Patterns Should You Try Next?
If you like this Free Cable Beanie Pattern, you may also enjoy these free hat knitting patterns:
• Grace Beanie
• Evergreen Hat
• Abner Hat
• Nicolas Hat
• Selah Beanie
These patterns are great options if you want more handmade hats to add to your project list. Some have texture, some have a more classic look, and all of them give you another reason to grab your yarn and cast on.
The Thomas Beanie is a great pattern to keep handy because it works for so many sizes and uses a yarn weight many knitters already have in their stash. It is also a good choice when you want a hat that looks detailed without needing a huge project commitment.
Thomas Beanie Pattern
Materials needed: 55-150yds of worsted weight yarn (I used Cascade 220 Superwash), size 9 dpn and a cable needle
Sizes – preemie (10ins), newborn (13ins), baby (15ins), toddler (17ins), child (19ins), teen/sm adult (21ins), large adult (23ins)
Gauge – 4sts/1in in stockinette st – ~Gauge is very important!~
Stitch Key:
K – knit
P – purl
k2tog – knit 2 together
ssk – slip slip knit
cb4 – sl the next 2sts onto you cable needle, hold in back, k the next 2sts, k the 2sts on your cable needle
Preemie
Cast on 48sts
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 2 times more
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (40sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, cb4, p1] repeat [ ] around (32sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (24sts)
Round 6 – [k2, k4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (16sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog, k2] repeat [ ] around (12sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Newborn
Cast on 60sts
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 2 times then repeat rounds 1-4 one time more
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (50sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around (40sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (30sts)
Round 6 – [k2, cb4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (20sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog, k2] repeat [ ] around (15sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Baby
Cast on 72sts
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 3 times more then repeat rounds 1-4 one time more
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (60sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around (48sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (36sts)
Round 6 – [k2, cb4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (24sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog, k2] repeat [ ] around (18sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Toddler
Cast on 84sts
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 5 times more
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (70sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, cb4, p1] repeat [ ] around (56sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (42sts)
Round 6 – [k2, k4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (28sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog] repeat [ ] around (14sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Child
Cast on 96sts
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 5 times more then repeat rounds 1-4 one time more
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (80sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around (64sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (48sts)
Round 6 – [k2, cb4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (32sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog] repeat [ ] around (16sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Small Adult
Cast on 108
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 seven more times
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (90sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around (72sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (54sts)
Round 6 – [k2, cb4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (36sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog] repeat [ ] around (18sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Large Adult
Cast on 120
Rounds 1-3 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Round 4 – [k4, p2, cb4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Rounds 5-6 – [k4, p2] repeat [ ] around
Repeat rounds 1-6 eight more times
Decreases
Round 1 – [k4, p2tog, k4, p2tog] repeat [ ] around (100sts)
Round 2 – [k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 3 – [ssk, k2tog, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around (80sts)
Round 4 – [k2, p1, k4, p1] repeat [ ] around
Round 5 – [k1, ssk, k3, ssk] repeat [ ] around (60sts)
Round 6 – [k2, cb4] repeat [ ] around
Round 7 – [k2, ssk, k2tog] repeat [ ] around (40sts)
Round 8 – [k2tog] repeat [ ] around (20sts)
Do not bind off. Cut yarn. Pull through remaining sts. Weave in ends.
Have you knit cables before, or would this be your first cable beanie? Tell me in the comments what size you are planning to make first.
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