Knitted Beanie with Smocked Cables

Last night Freya asked for a hat. To borrow. No one wants to borrow a hat from me. Well, not if they are smart. This is what I made her in her choice of colours. And I loved the smocked cables. It's cool.
You will need:
4mm needles
5.5mm needles
3 colours of dk yarn (less than 1/2 ball each shade)
Cable needle

This was made in grey, blue and purple. You can change the colours.

On size 4mm needles, cast on 70 stitches in grey.
Rib 10 rows.
Change to 5.5mm needles. Change to blue wool.
Knit 2 rows. Change to grey wool. Knit 2 rows.
Change to purple wool.
Knit 1 row.
K1, (yarn to the front, knit 2 together) repeat () to end.
Knit the whole row, treating the yarn over needle bits as stitches.
K1, (yarn to the front, knit 2 together) repeat () to end.
Knit the whole row, treating the yarn over needle bits as stitches.
K1, (yarn to the front, knit 2 together) repeat () to end.
Knit the whole row, treating the yarn over needle bits as stitches.
K1, (yarn to the front, knit 2 together) repeat () to end.

Change to blue wool. Knit 2 rows. Change to grey wool. Knit 2 rows.

Change to purple wool. Knit 2 rows.

This is the smocked bit. 


Change to blue wool.
Knit 1 row.
Row A: K3, p4. Slip the 4 purl stitches onto a cable needle. Wrap the yarn around all 4 stitches, then slip the stitches back onto the needle. Knit 3. Repeat these steps across their whole row.
Row B: p2, s1 onto cable needle behind, knit 2, p1 from cable needle, s2 onto cable needle forward, p1, k2 from cable needle, p2 - repeat over the whole row
Row C: k2, p2, k2, p2, k2 - repeat over whole row
Row D: p1, s1 onto cable needle behind, k2, p1 from cable needle, p2, s2 onto cable needle forward, p1, k2 from cable needle, p1 - repeat over whole row
Row E: k1, p2, k4, p2, k1 - repeat over the whole row
Row F: s1 onto cable needle behind, k2, p1 from cable needle, p4, s2 onto cable needle forward, p1, k2 from cable needle. Repeat to end of row.
Row G: p2, wrap those 2 stitches, (k6, p4, wrap the 4 stitches as earlier.) repeat to the end of the row.
Row H: s2 onto cable needle in front, p1, k2 from cable needle, p4, s1 onto cable needle behind, k2, p1 from cable needle - repeat to end of row
Row I: as Row E
Row J: p1, s2 onto cable needle in front, p1, k2 from cable needle, p2, s1 onto cable needle behind, k2, p1 from cable needle, p1 - repeat to end of row
Row K: as Row C Row L: p2, s2 onto cable needle in front, p1, k2 from cable needle, s1 onto cable needle behind, k2, p1 from cable needle, p2 - repeat to end of row
Repeat Rows A-G
Cut off blue yarn leaving 30cm for sewing up.

Change to purple yarn Knit 2 rows. Cut off purple yarn leaving 30cm for sewing up.

Change to grey yarn.
K1 row
P1 row
K3, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K1, k2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row
Purl
K2 together over the whole row

Cut yarn, leaving 30cm, thread all stitches onto the yarn, pull to tighten. Stitch up the side.
Sew tassels or a pom-pom on the top.