String Reagan Hat Knitting Pattern

String Reagan Hat: Luxurious Knitted Cable Beanie

What Is Being Made

The Reagan Hat is a sophisticated, one-size knitted beanie designed by Lisa Hoffman. This seamless hat features an elegant cable pattern and is crafted to fit a circumference of 21 inches (53.5 cm). The finished hat combines luxury fibers in a coordinated two-yarn blend, topped with a decorative fur pom pom for added visual interest and texture.

Construction Method and Techniques

This hat is worked seamlessly in the round from the bottom up, eliminating the need for seaming. The construction begins with a cast-on of 88 stitches using a 16-inch circular needle, then transitions to double-pointed needles when the circumference becomes too small for the circular needle during the crown shaping phase. The bottom-up approach allows the knitter to try on the hat as it progresses and easily adjust the length if needed.

The hat employs cable techniques as its primary design element. Two distinct cable crosses are worked into the pattern: C12F (cable 12 front) and C12B (cable 12 back), each involving slipping 6 stitches to a cable needle and crossing them over 6 knit stitches. These cables are spaced strategically throughout the hat and repeated to create visual rhythm and texture.

Stitch Patterns and Details

The Reagan Hat uses the following stitches and stitch patterns:

• K2, P2 Rib: The foundation stitch used for the bottom 4.25 inches of the hat, creating an elastic, fitted cuff that hugs the head comfortably
• Knit and Purl: Stockinette sections frame the cable panels, allowing the cables to stand out prominently
• Make One (M1): Used during the set-up round to increase stitches from 90 to 120, distributing increases evenly to prepare for the cable pattern
• Knit 2 Together (K2tog): Used in the crown decreases to shape the top of the hat
• Cable Crosses (C12F and C12B): The signature stitch pattern, worked on rounds 4 and 16 of the main pattern repeat, creating 12-stitch cables that twist and cross

The pattern is worked in repeating 30-stitch segments (marked with stitch markers) that are repeated around the circumference. The main pattern repeat spans 23 rounds and is worked twice before shaping the crown.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Reagan Hat calls for two premium luxury yarns worked together:

• STRING CLASSICA: 2 balls of 100% cashmere in color 100006 pearl (1.75 oz/50g per ball; 125 yards/115 meters per ball)
• STACY CHARLES FINE YARNS "S LINE" BLUEBELL: 2 balls of a sophisticated blend containing 42% mohair, 40% polyester, and 18% silk in color 349 rose beige (0.88 oz/25g per ball; 136 yards/125 meters per ball)

These yarns are held together throughout construction, creating a soft, luxurious fabric with subtle color variation and exceptional warmth. The combination of cashmere and the mohair-silk blend produces a hat with excellent drape and a refined appearance.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires the following equipment:

• One size 6 (4mm) circular needle, 16 inches long, for working the body of the hat in the round
• One set of size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles for the crown shaping when stitches become too few for the circular needle
• A cable needle for executing the cable crosses
• Stitch markers to denote pattern repeats and the beginning of rounds
• A yarn needle for weaving in ends and attaching the pom pom
• A fur pom pom for the crown finish

Gauge and Fit

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 23 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in pattern. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, as the hat is designed for one size with a finished circumference of 21 inches. The pattern includes specific instructions to check gauge before