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Cable ribbed hat with front post cables and pom pom
Crochet hat pattern using front post double crochet (UK front post treble) cables, both US and UK terms given.
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 6 mm
Intermediate
What the original write-up called it. Nothing here is graded again.
Worsted
What the sample was worked in. Any weight works; the size moves with it.
4-6 hours
What the original page reckoned. Your own pace is the one that matters.
About this pattern
A worked-in-the-round adult hat combining a post-stitch ribbed brim with front post double crochet (UK front post treble) cables and a decreased crown. It starts from a 72-chain foundation, increases to 78 stitches to fit the cable repeat, and finishes with an attached pom pom. Suits an intermediate crocheter comfortable with post stitches and reading a repeat, using worsted weight yarn and a 5mm-6mm hook.
This hat belongs to the post-stitch family of crochet, where stitches are worked around the post of a stitch below rather than into its top loops. The cables are built from front post double crochet (UK front post treble), a technique that pulls certain stitches forward to create raised, twisting columns against a ribbed background. The result reads as a knitted cable but is worked entirely in double crochet (UK treble crochet), making it accessible to crocheters who have never knitted a cable in their lives.
Construction runs in joined rounds from the brim upward. A foundation ring of 72 chains sets the circumference, and a ribbed brim of front and back post stitches establishes stretch before the round count increases to 78 to make room for the cable repeats. The cable pattern then repeats over several rounds until the hat reaches the desired depth, after which the crown decreases while keeping the cable columns intact, finishing with a pom pom at the top.
Materials
Yarn
- Initially Red Heart Heatwave, but Bernat Fabulous or Caron Simply Soft in a medium pink (plum wine color) are also recommended.
Crochet Hook
- Size to match gauge; could be 5, 5.5, or 6 mm depending on the yarn selected.
- Pom Pom Maker (Optional for making the pom pom)
- Four weight yarn or preferred yarn choice for this project
Tools
- Scissors
The list is the pattern's own wording.
Instructions
Every round is printed as the pattern wrote it, brackets and all. Open the key beside a round to see only the short forms that round uses.
Main Pattern
Front post double crochets are used to create the cables, separated by half double crochets for definition.
The decrease process maintains the cable pattern in the round, ensuring the cables get gradually smaller towards the top of the hat.
- Round 1
(Start & Foundation Row): With a slip knot on your crochet hook, chain 72 loosely to begin the foundation of the hat; join with a slip stitch to the first chain to form a ring, chain 2 (does not count as a stitch), then double crochet into each chain stitch in the round. (72)
- Round 2
(Brim Pattern - Row 2): Work 2 front post double crochet, followed by a back post double crochet, around the entire row; repeat this row for three more rows.
- Round 3
(Row 6): To transition to the cable pattern, increment the number of stitches as needed by incorporating increases in specific stitches as described in the full tutorial, increasing to 78 stitches to accommodate the cable pattern. (78)
- Round 4
Cable Pattern Setup Begin working the cable pattern as directed, using front post double crochet for the cables, separated by post stitches and half double crochets; demonstrates the cross using front post double crochet, with the option to lengthen that using treble crochet based on preference.
- Round 5
Continuing the Pattern Continue repeating the cable setup and normal rounds until the hat reaches the desired length before starting the decrease for the crown.
- Round 6
Decreasing for Crown Work the decreasing process in the round as explained in the tutorial.
Making up
- Step 1Complete the hat by attaching a pom pom at the top.
- Step 2Attach the pom pom using a pom pom maker, or make one by hand or with a piece of cardboard; four different methods are offered for flexibility in how you top the hat.
Notes from the pattern
- Match the hook to the chosen yarn and check gauge on the ribbed brim before continuing, since post stitches tighten up more than flat double crochet and can pull the brim smaller than expected.
- Place a stitch marker at the start of each round; the join point can be hard to spot once the cable columns are established, and a lost round marker makes the increase round difficult to count accurately.
- Keep tension consistent when working front post stitches, as pulling too tight distorts the cable's raised look while working too loosely leaves the columns flat and hard to distinguish from the background stitches.
- No colour changes are required for this hat; the entire piece, including the pom pom, uses a single colour of yarn.
The essentials
- Rounds
- 6
- Level
- Intermediate
- Time
- 4-6 hours
- Hook
- 6 mm
- Yarn
- Worsted
Stitches you will use
- Front post double crochet (UK front post treble) Used throughout the brim and cable rounds; work the hook around the post from front to back, keeping tension even so the raised column stands proud without puckering the round.
- Back post double crochet (UK back post treble) Paired with front post stitches in the brim rounds to build the rib; insert the hook around the post from behind, and take care not to accidentally work into the stitch top instead.
- Stitch increasing mid-round Used once, going from 72 to 78 stitches ahead of the cable setup; spread the increases evenly so the cable repeat divides cleanly into the new count.
Troubleshooting
The brim rounds feel tight or won't stretch over the head
Front and back post stitches naturally draw fabric in more than standard double crochet, so check gauge on the swatch before starting and size up a hook if the brim measures small.
The cable columns look flat rather than raised
This usually means the front post double crochet stitches were worked too loosely or into the wrong stitch; work directly around the post of the correct stitch below and keep tension slightly firm.
The stitch count is off after the increase round
The round that goes from 72 to 78 stitches needs the increases spaced evenly around the round; recount in quarters or eighths to confirm the extra six stitches landed where the cable repeat needs them.
Substituting yarn
- Acrylic, worsted weight (US 4 medium)
- Closest match to the pattern as written; keeps the stated hook sizes and stitch counts accurate with no recalculation needed.
- Wool blend, worsted weight (US 4 medium)
- Adds more structure to the cables and better stitch definition, but check gauge as wool blends can knit up slightly denser, sometimes suiting the smaller 5mm hook.
- Cotton blend, worsted weight (US 4 medium)
- Produces a heavier, less stretchy brim with crisper cable definition; sizing up to the 6mm hook helps keep the fabric from becoming too stiff.
Washing and care
- Hand wash in cool water and lay flat to dry, reshaping the brim and crown by hand while damp so the ribbing and cables settle back into place.
- Store folded rather than hung, since the weight of a pom pom can stretch the crown out of shape over time if the hat hangs on a hook.
The photographs taken while this was being made
Every one was taken by whoever published the pattern, in the order the source listed them.
FAQs
Questions
What does front post double crochet mean in UK terms?
In UK terminology this stitch is called front post treble crochet. The technique is identical; only the name for the base stitch changes between US and UK conventions.
Can the pom pom be skipped?
Yes, the pom pom is an assembly step rather than part of the stitch pattern, so the hat is complete and wearable without it. Any of the alternative pom pom methods, or none at all, will not affect the crown decreases.
Why does the stitch count increase from 72 to 78?
The extra six stitches make the round divide evenly into the cable repeat used from that point onward. Skipping this increase would cause the cable pattern to misalign as the rounds continue.
How is the yarn amount determined for this hat?
The pattern is written for a single skein of worsted weight yarn in the stated colour, with hook size adjusted to match gauge. Exact yardage depends on head size and tension, so it is worth checking the remaining yarn before starting the crown decreases.
Does the cable pattern get harder as the hat grows?
No, the same cable and post stitch setup repeats consistently once established. The only change comes at the crown, where decreases are worked while keeping the cable columns visible until the top.
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.