WOOF WOOF -- This pattern is part of the Designer’s Dogs Collaboration with Knitted Wit yarns and 9 other pattern designers for the 2020 Portland Rose City Yarn Crawl.

PICK of the LITTER - Cable Hat
In the Fall of 2018, I suddenly lost my dog of 13 years and very soon thereafter rescued a shepard-mix puppy, so while training and socializing my puppy, Luna, I began to see many “Designer Dogs” at the dog park; a variety of intentional mixed-breed dogs of all shapes and sizes. As a designer, I am always thinking about colors, yarn and knitting-- seeing those various dogs inspired an idea, so I approached Lorajean of Knitting Wit Yarns in the Summer of 2019 to see if she would be interested in a yarn-dyeing theme with a play on words: Designer’s Dogs. A yarn based on the colorways of various knitwear designer’s dogs, with a splash of color added. Lorajean loved the idea!! Knitted Wit DK Designer’s Dogs Yarn features 10 colorways, and 10 dog-owning designers, each creating a pattern from one skein of yarn in their Knitted Wit colorway. My Colorway is Luna— black, white, brown and pink. The cable swirl surface design that adorns the Pick of the Litter Hat is inspired by Luna’s swirly/curly tail.

MATERIALS
Yarn
Knitted Wit DK (100% Super Wash Merino Wool; 280 yds/256 m per 4 oz/113 g skein); one skein. (Hat, plus medium pom-pom, uses approximately 260 yds (S/M) & 270 yds (M/L).
Images: hand-painted colorway, Luna (size M/L); also shown in Knitted Wit DK solid colorways, Carbon (dark grey, size M/L) and Dusty Rose (pink, size S/M).

Needles
US #6/4 mm 16” needle for brim/ribbing.
US #7/4.5 mm 16” needle for body of hat, or in size to obtain gauge.
US #7/4.5 mm needles for working small circumference in the round: traditional or flexible DPNs, 1 long circular, 2 short circulars, or in size to obtain gauge.

Notions
Cable needle, 10(11) stitch markers— one in a different color or style. Yarn needle and pom-pom maker, if pom-pom desired.

GAUGE
21 sts/29 rnds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch (in-the-round) using US #7/4.5mm needles

SIZES
S/M Adult (M/L Adult)

Finished Measurements
Circumference— Hat Body: 22(24) inches/51(56) cm
Length— Brim to Crown: 8(9) inches/20(22) cm

TECHNIQUES & SKILLS REQUIRED
Cable Cast-On. Knit & purl. Cast-on, bind-off. Cables. Increasing and decreasing. Working in the round on circular needles. Working small circumference in the round: traditional or flexible DPNs, 1 long circular, 2 short circulars.

PATTERN NOTES
Hat is constructed brim to crown with an option to lengthen hat before crown decreases. (Note: If adding length to hat before crown decreases, keep in mind more yardage is necessary.) Pattern offers two options for ribbing detail: 1x1 rib or 2x2 rib. (images in paint yarn 1x1 rib; solid yarn in 2x2 rib). Instructions include details in body of the hat for removing and replacing stitch markers, every other round, to maintain the swirl of the traveling cable pattern. The swirling Luna Cable Cross cable pattern continues into the crown of the hat. Written instructions, no chart.

Pattern: 5 color pages

Every effort has been made to create this knitting pattern. Prior to publication, I have the pattern reviewed by a paid professional technical editor. I then hire test knitters to knit the pattern to ensure you receive user-friendly, clearly written instructions for your knitting success. Because this is a PDF download, I cannot refund your purchase. If you have any questions, please contact me at lisa@handworksnw.com prior to purchasing this pattern.