String Clara Hat Knitting Pattern

String Clara Hat: Luxurious Cashmere Knit with Cable Details

What Is Being Made

The Clara Hat is a sophisticated, one-size-fits-most knitted hat designed by Teresa Chorzepa. This elegant headpiece features a finished circumference of 19 inches (48 cm) and a height of 8½ inches (21.5 cm), making it a versatile accessory suitable for various head sizes. The hat combines classic ribbing with striking cable work, creating a refined aesthetic perfect for everyday wear or as a thoughtful handmade gift.

Techniques Used

This hat is worked in the round from the bottom up, a popular method that eliminates the need for seaming and creates seamless, professional-looking results. The construction begins at the brim and progresses upward to the crown, with the crown closed using a drawstring technique. The pattern employs cable crossing techniques to create textured, dimensional stitches that add visual interest and sophistication to the finished piece. Knitters will also use increases and decreases to shape the hat, transitioning from the wider brim to the narrower crown.

Stitches Used

The Clara Hat features two primary stitch patterns. The brim begins with a K3/P3 Ribbed pattern, which alternates knit and purl stitches in groups of three. This ribbing provides stretch and helps the hat maintain its shape and fit. The main body showcases a Cable Pattern worked over a 12-stitch multiple, incorporating 3/3 left crosses (3/3 LC) and 3/3 right crosses (3/3 RC)—cable techniques that create twisted, rope-like textures. The cable pattern is worked over 12 rounds, with stockinette stitch (knit rounds) alternating with cable crossing rounds to build the dimensional cable design.

Materials and Tools

The Clara Hat pattern calls for 1 ball of String Geneva yarn, a premium blend of 90% cashmere and 10% lambswool. This luxurious fiber combination provides exceptional softness, warmth, and breathability. The yarn comes in a 1.75-ounce (50-gram) ball with 156 yards (143 meters) of yardage, available in the sophisticated khaki green colorway #517108. Knitters will need two US 5 (3.75 mm) and US 8 (5 mm) circular needles, each 16 inches (40 cm) long, allowing for the transition from ribbed brim to the larger cable pattern. Additional supplies include a cable needle for executing the cable crosses, a pom pom for the crown finish, and a yarn needle for weaving in ends. The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the cable pattern when worked with the larger needle.