Vermont Cabled Hat

My first knitting pattern, created on the fly as we drove up through New Jersey and New York into Vermont this fall. I've had this lovely yarn sitting on my shelf since my birthday yarn shopping spree last year, and just decided to grab it on the way out the door. Unfortunately that means Rowan is no longer making it (though it can be found...) so I'm going to knit it again with a diffrerent bulky yarn. The pattern below makes a lovely hat for a small-medium size woman's head (18-20 inches), but alas my noggin is a full 22", thus the display on my friendly blender. A friend is test knitting for me, so expect updated pics when she finishes. Please send me a picture if you test drive it for me.



Yarn: Rowan Polar, 100yd/skein, requires less than 1 skein
Gauge: stockinnette stitch: ~3sts/inch, ~18 rows/4"
Needles: size 10 ½ 16" circular, spare needle (any size)
Finished Size: small/medium female (18-20" circumference)

Techniques:
Minicable (MC) - K2tog but then before you slip the two stitches off the left needle, insert the right needle between them and knit the first stitch again, then slip them both off the needle. You will end up with two stitches on the right needle, and the stitches will be twisty.
4x6 turn - This is a 4 stitch right-turning cable that is turned every 6 rows. Insert a cable needle or spare needle into two stitches on left needle. Hold these to the back and knit the next two stitches. Move the stitches from the spare needle back onto the left needle and knit these.

Pattern:
Cast on 64 sts, join in the round.
Repeat the following 6 rows a total of 5 times (there will be 5 big-cable twists)
Row 1: [K4, P1, K2, P1] repeat 8 times
Row 2: [K4, P1, MC, P1] repeat 8 times
Row 3: [K4, P1, K2, P1] repeat 8 times (same as row 1)
Row 4: [K4, P1, MC, P1] repeat 8 times (same as row 2)
Row 5: [K4, P1, K2, P1] repeat 8 times (same as row 1)
Row 6: [K4, P1, MC, P1, 4x6 turn, P1, MC, P1] repeat 4 times

Decreases:
Row 1: [K1, K2tog, K1, P1, K2tog, P1, K4, P1, K2tog, P1] repeat 4 times (52 sts)
Row 2: [K3, P1, K1, P1, K4, P1, K1, P1] repeat 4 times
Row 3: [K1, K2tog, P1, K1, P1, K2tog, K2tog, P1, K1, P1] repeat 4 times (40sts)
Row 4: [K2, P1, K1, P1] repeat 8 times
Row 5: [K2tog, P1, K1, P1] repeat 8 times (32 sts)
Row 6: [K2tog] repeat to end (16 sts)
Row 7: [K2tog] repeat to end (8sts)

Draw yarn through remaining stitches, pull tight and weave in loose ends.