Do you love crochet cable hats but feel a bit intimidated by them? The Catena Hat free pattern is a great beginner-friendly pattern that features a single crochet cable which is perfect for getting your feet wet with crochet cables. Worked side-to-side, this hat can be easily adjusted to your preferred fit.
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I can’t wait to introduce you to Julia Schwartz of Designs by Diligence. Julia is a talented maker living in Kansas and she has shared her quick & easy crochet cable hat free pattern with us this week for The Catena Hat.
The hat body of this free crochet pattern is worked back and forth in flat rows. The cable pattern is created using front post double crochet stitches. This cable is almost as simple as you can get for a crochet cable, without it being a straight, up and down cable, It has a snug fit and although the sample in the photos does not show one, you can add a faux fur pom pom on top.
Get to know Julia better in the below interview with her and make sure to thank her for the quick & easy crochet cable hat free pattern by giving her a follow on social media (links at the end of the post).
Feel free to sell the finished product made with this cable hat crochet pattern, however, please credit Designs by Diligence as the designer when posting online.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
I’m a midwest girl who loves to create. I’ve recently just moved back to the midwest after being in Toronto, Canada for the last 5 years. My husband is a preacher at a local church. I also have 2 daughters who also have the creating bug. I love learning new things and teaching so having a blog has been a great fit for me.
How long have you been crocheting?
My mom taught me to crochet when I started college back in 2003. I’m a fidgeter and I picked at my nails so I was looking for something that I could keep my hands busy. When I was a little girl she taught me how to sew so it was a natural progression. A few years later my mother-in-law taught me how to knit. Knitting was really slow for me and I had a hard time enjoying it.
When I moved to Canada I gave knitting another try. After lots of practice I can now say that I’m just as fast on knitting as crochet and I probably knit more now than I crochet. I love that I can use different muscles and hands for each craft. It helps with pain and flexibility when I can switch from one to the other on a given day.
Are there any other crafts that you enjoy doing?
I love any and all of the fiber arts. I also like baking and card making. I tell people if I’m using creativity and my hands I probably love doing it.
What is your favourite thing to crochet?
A lot of people talk about being process or project oriented when creating. I’m very project oriented. I like to get done and move on to something else, so I tend to do smaller projects. Even with blankets I would much rather make squares and sew them together than just making a giant blanket. With all that said, my favorite makes are hats.
When did you start pursuing a business as a maker and why?
Back in 2011, I had just joined Ravelry. I had already been making my own improvised patterns and building on patterns that already existed. There was a call for submissions for a new online crochet magazine called Crochetvolution. I decided to submit something, and the pattern was accepted. I worked with the magazine for 2 years and the writing bug struck. I decided to start a blog to put my other ideas and patterns on. I had no idea that people made money from these things and it has been a learning experience since then as I try and make a business out of what I love.
What are your aspirations for your business?
I don’t have any huge aspirations for my business. In the end I want people to say that I taught them new things and I gave them the desire to try new things. Fiber arts has a huge rich history that I love and I’m just happy to be a part of that. I can’t wait for my girls to grow up and find a love for it too. Through having a business I hope I’m showing them that they can reach and work for what they want and achieve it.
How do you organize yourself and stick to your goals?
I usually have one crochet project, one knitting project, and one on the go project that I’m working on. I have a weekly schedule that I try and follow so I can publish 2 patterns a month. Sticking to the schedule really helps me focus on the important things that have to get done.
For organizing I use secret pinterest boards and google docs to collect my thoughts. I have also started using Stitch Fiddle for chart making, that have been a game changer for me when I want to remember ideas. I also try and follow other publishing schedules of the different fiber arts magazines that are out there.
Other Free Crochet Hat Patterns to Check Out:
- Savvy Muse Beanie
- Snowella Snowman Hat – sizes newborn baby to adult woman / man
- Shifting Posts Beanie – crocheted with worsted weight yarn
What tips would you give to someone wanting to start out with a maker business?
Don’t be afraid of “ oversaturating the market.” Everyone has creativity and has something to bring to the table. You are going to have something new and something that is yours, that alone makes it special.
What are your biggest struggles as a maker?
I have a lot of imposter syndrome. Especially when I find a mistake in one of my patterns. I feel terrible, and I wonder why I keep designing. I have to remind myself that I have something to show and I do have a lot of knowledge about fiber arts. Everyone starts somewhere and everyone deserves grace, even myself.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I get a lot of inspiration in art in general. I love working with different texture and lines. Lately tile work and rugs have been where I have been getting my ideas from. Also just life in general is inspiration. When there is a need that arises I always think of ways to solve it with yarn.
What’s your favourite yarn/fibre to work with?
I just like yarn, but don’t we all. I would much rather work with fingering weight yarn than any other size. I’m pretty in love with any kind of superwash merino wool.
Who inspires you? Who are your favourite makers?
For Crochet: Kim Guzman: She is the Tunisian crochet queen. Her youtube videos are my go to when I need to remember how to do something. She is a wonderful advocate of other crochet designers, and I love her crochet group Only Free Crochet Patterns. It’s a no drama no extra group.
Heather Anderson from the Unraveled mitten: I met her a few years ago in a blogging group. She set her mind to starting a crochet blog and she did it, very successfully. She loves cables and texture just like me.
For knitting I love the gals from Tin Can Knits. They make beautiful well thought out patterns. Not just their finished products but also their printable PDF patterns when you purchase from them you know you are getting high quality work.
What are your favourite tools?
I love a well planned out project bag. I like to make big drawstring bags to put my wips in. In each bag I put everything I will need for the project, so the hook, needles, darning needle, measuring tape, printed pattern, stitch markers, scissors, and of course yarn. With that said I have lots of everything and sometimes I still can’t find what I need. The tools that I use more than anything else would be my addi interchangeable set for knitting and crochet. It was an investment but it was well worth it. I use the crochet hooks even when I’m not working on Tunisian projects.
If time and money were not an issue, what would your dream project be?
My dream crochet project would be to make the Reminisce Sweater by Heide May, with a Knit Picks Dk. But of course i would find some way to add some texture somewhere.
Anything else you’d like to tell us about? (i.e. exciting future projects, fun tidbits, etc.)
I am in the beginning stages of making a CAL for the crochet version of Welsley Hat. The Project will be called the Ansley Hat. The CAL will be hosted on my Facebook page and Instagram, so you can be on the look-out for that. I also live on Pinterest so I would love to follow you.
Check out the links to find Julia on social media and links to her blog at the bottom of this post! Up next, Julia’s easy crochet cable hat free pattern for the Catena Hat.
Grab an ad-free PDF printable version of this pattern in Julia’s Ravelry shop, where it’s available as an instant download pattern.
Quick & Easy Crochet Cable Hat Free Pattern: The Catena Hat
Materials Needed
- Bernat Softee Baby 100% acrylic, 4.25 oz./ 120 g., 310 yrds/ 283 m.
- Hook: 4.00 mm, US G/6 (or whatever hook size needed to match gauge)
- Tapestry needle / Yarn needle
Size:
- Adult Size (21 inches)
Gauge:
- 18 hdc x 14 rows = 4 in/ 10 cm
Stitches Used:
- Chain (ch)
- Half Double Crochet (hdc)
- Slip Stitch (sl st)
- Front Post Double Crochet (fpdc)
- Front Post Double Crochet 2 together (fpdc2tog)
Notes:
● This hat is worked flat using short rows.
● Testers made a note that the fpdc stitches liked to pull the fibric tight. To keep gauge keep your fpdc stitches loose and pull them up to meet the height of the current row.
Easy Crochet Cable Hat Free Pattern : The Catena Hat
Row 1 (right side): Ch 37, starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, hdc in each chain for a total of 36 hdc. (36)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn, hdc in the first st and each of the next 34 hdc. (35)
Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in the next 33 sts. (34 hdc)
Row 4: Ch 1, turn, hdc in the next 3 sts, make a fpdc around the 6th hdc of row 2, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 3 hdc of the current row, make a fpdc around the 6th hdc of row 2, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 25 sts. (31 hdc, 2 fpdc)
Row 5: Ch 1, turn, sl st into the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in each of the next 31 sts. (32 hdc)
Row 6: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, fpdc around the fpdc of row 4, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 5 hdc of the current row, fpdc around the fpdc of row 4, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 22 sts. (29 hdc, 2 fpdc)
Row 7: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in each of the same st as the last sl st, hdc in the next 29 sts. (30 hdc)
Row 8: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the fpdc of row 6, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 3 hdc of the current row, fpdc around the fpdc of row 6, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 21 sts. (27 hdc, 2 fpdc)
Row 9: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in each of the same st as the last sl st, hdc in the next 27 sts. (28 hdc)
Row 10: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 5 sts, fpdc2tog around the 2 fpdc of row 8, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 21 sts, (26 hdc, 1 fpdc2tog)
Row 11: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in each of the next 25 sts. (26 hdc)
Row 12: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the right post of the fpdc2tog of row 10, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the left post of the fpdc2tog of row 10, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 20 sts, hdc in each of the next 8 hdc (those skipped at the ends of the previous rows). (26 hdc, 2 fpdc, plus 8 hdc at the end= 36 sts)
Row 13: Ch 1 turn, sl st into the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in each of the next 34 sts. (35 hdc)
More Free Patterns for Hats to Check Out
- Into the Fade Beanie
- Pinch Me Lobster Hat
- Polar Puff Messy Bun Hat – I LOVE messy bun hats!
Row 14: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 2 sts, fpdc around fpdc of row 12, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 5 hdc of current row, fpdc around fpdc of row 12, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 25 sts. (32 hdc, 2 fpdc)
Row 15: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in each of the next 32 sts. (33 hdc)
Row 16: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the fpdc of row 14, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 3 hdc of the current row, fpdc around the fpdc of row 14, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 24 sts. (30 hdc, 2 fpdc sts)
Row 17: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in each of the next 30 sts. (31 hdc)
Row 18: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 5 sts, fpdc2tog around each of the fpdc of row 8, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 24 sts, (29 hdc, 1 fpdc2tog)
Row 19: Ch 1, turn, sl st into each of the next 2 hdc, ch 1, hdc in the same st as the last sl st, hdc in each of the next 28 sts. (29 hdc)
Row 20: Ch 1, turn, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the right post of the fpdc2tog of row 18, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 3 sts, fpdc around the left post of the fpdc2tog of row 18, sk 1 st, hdc in each of the next 20 sts, hdc in each of the next 8 hdc( those skipped in the previous rows). (36 sts)
Continue, repeating rows 13- 20 4 more times. At the end of row 52, finish off leaving a long tail. Using the long tail, whip stitch the two edges together to form the hat. Cinch closed the opening at the top of the hat. Weave in your ends.
Enjoy your finished Catena Hat! We hope that you enjoy your cozy crochet cable hat! If you did, make sure to share this with your crochet friends.
Copyright: Julia Schwartz. Do not reproduce, copy, distribute, or sell this pattern without permission of the designer. This pattern must not be translated, reproduced, or circulated in another language without prior consent. If you have questions about this pattern please contact Julia.diligence@gmail.com. This pattern is for personal use only.
Want to know where to find this talented maker? You can find Julia and Designs by Diligence at the links below:
Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/julia-schwartz
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julia.diligence/
Facebook:www.facebook.com/designsbydiligence
Pinterest:www.pinterest.com/diligence
Blog:www.designsbydiligence.com
Want to meet some other talented makers? Check out the features for Osage County Crochet and Sharky Knows Crochet!
