This loom knit braided cable hat was knit on a 48 peg chunky Flexee loom with a 5/8 inch gauge. You can also use a 48 peg CinDWood loom with very similar results.

pink braided cable hat on mannequin head on top of chunky knitting loom

Finished size

I found the hat to be a bit too snug for my head. But I have a bigger than average head, and very thick hair.

The circumference on this version is slightly larger than the hat in the video, thanks to 48 stitches rather than 40 stitches, but it’s also a bit shorter. Even though I did 34 rounds on both version, the top of this hat ends up with 24 stitches at the end, and it’s a bit puckered at the top.

Height: 8.5 inches or 2 centimetres

Circumference: 16.5 inches or 42 centimetres

Steps

  • Mark loom
  • Cast on
  • Rib stitch brim
  • Braided cables
  • Crown decrease
  • Bind off
  • Tighten cast on

Supplies

  • 48 peg round loom with 5/8 inch gauge
  • one ball of Wool Ease Thick and Quick #6 yarn (you need it to stretch)
  • hook
  • another hook, or cable needle, or stitch holder, or your fingers
  • loom markers

wool ease yarn and flexee chunky loom

Mark loom

  1. Mark peg 1 with something, I used green tape.
  2. Mark every fourth peg to indicate purl stitches during the braided cable body.

Cast on

Do an e-wrap cast on.

Rib stitch brim

Do a 1 by 1 rib stitch brim by doing a “knit 1 purl 1” sequence for four rounds in total.

Braided cable body

Round 5: Knit 3, Purl 1, repeat to end.

Round 6: Knit on peg 1, do a left twist on pegs 2 and 3 (see video), Purl on peg 4. Repeat to end.

Rounds 7 and 8: Knit 3, Purl 1. repeat to end.

Round 9: Do a right twist on pegs 1 and 2 (see video), Knit in peg 3, Purl on peg 4. Repeat to end.

Rounds 10 and 11: Knit 3, Purl 1. repeat to end.

Rounds 12 to 30: Repeat the rounds 6 to 11.

Crown decrease

Round 31 for rigid loom: Move the stitch from peg 4 to peg 3 (see video). Knit on pegs 1, 2 and 3. Repeat to end.

Round 31 for a Flexee loom: Un-snap your loom after 8 pegs. Move stitch 4 to 3, move stitch 8 to 7. Shift stitches to right. Link for peg 7 and 8 should be empty. Remove that link. Knit all six stitches. Repeat to end.

Round 32: Knit on all remaining stitches (36 stitches).

Round 33 for rigid loom: Move the stitch from peg 3 to peg 2 (see video). Knit on pegs 1 and 2. Repeat to end.

Round 33 for a Flexee loom: Un-snap your loom after 6 pegs. Move stitch 3 to 2, move stitch 2 to 1. Shift stitches to right. Link for peg 5 and 6 should be empty. Remove that link. Knit all four stitches. Repeat to end.

Round 34: Knit on all remaining stitches (24 stitches).

Note: If you want your hat to be taller, or for the top of your hat to be flatter, you can decrease further. This hat ends with 24 stitches, so the top is a bit puckered. The top is not flat.

Bind off

Do a gather bind off

Tighten cast on

You can optionally tighten the cast on for a more polished look.

This tutorial will help you.