Turkey Trot 2025 | Keystone Cabled Knit Hat | Day 4
Hey BiCrafty Besties! Welcome to Day 4 of the Keystone Cabled Knit Hat in the 7th Annual Marly Bird Turkey Trot Make-Along 2025. If you’ve been loving watching those Keystone cables stack up into a rich, textured fabric, today is the moment where everything starts to come together at the top.
We’re shaping the crown!
This is the stage that turns your tube of gorgeous cables into a real hat with that clean, polished finish. And I’m not gonna lie… it’s super satisfying. 😄
If you ever need the master link list (or you’re hunting for Day 5 later), the Turkey Trot hub post is your home base:
https://marlybird.com/blog/7th-annual-marly-bird-turkey-trot-make-along-2025/
Crown Shaping — The Home Stretch Begins! 🧶✨
Day 4 is all about crown shaping.
You’ll follow the decrease chart to taper the hat smoothly while keeping the cable motif looking intentional and beautiful.
No stress — I’ll be adding the full written instructions and chart here, so you can follow right along.
Before You Begin the Crown (Read This First!)
These quick checkpoints make a huge difference in how the top of your hat looks and fits.
✔️ Make Sure You Ended After a Round 5
The crown shaping is written assuming your last round in the body was Round 5.
If you adjusted the height at all (totally fine!), double-check that you still ended there. It matters for lining up the decreases cleanly with the stitch pattern.
✔️ Check the Height
Try the hat on, or measure it against your head.
You want the fabric to sit a little taller than your head before shaping the crown.
Why? Because once you start decreasing — especially over cables — the hat will naturally shorten and “ride up.” Nobody wants chilly ears. ❄️ The crown will add approx. 1.5″ to the body of the hat.
A little extra height now = cozy coverage later.
Just make sure you end after a round 5.
All Sizes Follow the Same Crown Chart
One of my favorite things about this pattern is that every size uses the same crown decrease chart.
What changes from size to size is only:
- how many repeats you have around the hat
Not the crown shaping itself.
That means every Keystone Hat, from tiny to large, gets a balanced, harmonious top. Love that for us.
Maintaining the Pattern Up the Crown
As we decrease, we do our best to:
- preserve the flow of the cable lines
- keep knit columns and purl gutters visually tidy
- shape the crown in a way that looks great with or without a pom-pom
Some cable hats get a little “meh” at the top because the cables collapse weirdly.
Not this one. This crown was designed to look polished all the way up.
Tips for a Smooth Crown
A few friendly reminders that keep this part fun and frustration-free:
- Move your stitch markers up each round so you don’t lose your place.
- Pay close attention on decrease rounds — they come quickly now.
- If there was ever a time for a lifeline, this is it!
Note: do not put the lifeline through the stitch markers. Remove markers, run the lifeline through stitches only, then place markers back on your needle. - Keep that purl-after-knit tension snug, even during decreases, so your cable ditches stay crisp.
You’re so close, my friend. Let’s shape this crown and make some hat magic. ✨
Day 4 Written Pattern Instructions
SKILL LEVEL
Adventurous Beginner
MEASUREMENTS
To Fit Sizes
Baby – Toddler (Child, Teen – Adult S, Adult M – Adult L)
To fit head circumference ranges:
12 – 14¼ (14¼ – 16½, 16½ – 19½ , 19½ – 22½ )”
[30.5 – 36 (36 – 42, 42 – 49.5, 49.5 – 57) cm]
Finished Measurements
Note: Hat fabric is extremely stretchy. The Cable Panels pattern behaves like a rib and so the measurements are flexible. The circumference of the Hat can grow up to 25-30% when worn, so be sure to choose a size that is smaller than your real head circumference when laid flat.
Circumference when laid flat: 11½ (13¾, 16, 18¼)” [37 (44.5, 51.5, 59) cm]
Circumference when fully stretched: 14½ (17½, 20¼, 23¼)” [29 (35, 40.5, 46.5) cm]
Height: 6¼ (7¾, 8½, 10)” [16 (19.5, 21.5, 25) cm]
Gauge
28 sts and 26 rounds = 4 x 4” [10 x 10 cm] in Cable Panels pattern laid flat and unblocked.
MATERIALS
Yarn
Universal, Deluxe Worsted (100% wool, 220 yds / 208 m, 3½ oz / 100 g, CYCA #4 worsted)
1 (1, 1, 2) #12174 Ginseng
Needles
U.S. 8 [5 mm] 16” [40.5 cm] circular needle or size needed for gauge, set of 5 double-pointed needles in same size.
Notions
- Removable stitch markers: https://erinlanebags.com/collections/stitch-markers
- Cable Needle
- Tapestry needle: https://amzn.to/42LkAui
- Quality project bag: https://erinlanebags.com/collections/view-bags
- Leather tag (optional): https://tidd.ly/47hQAaW
- Leather rivets (optional) https://amzn.to/4eSByem
- Faux Fur Pom (optional)
ABBREVIATIONS
K – Knit
K2tog – Knit 2 together
Kfb – Knit into the front and back of the same stitch (see Special Stitches)
P – Purl
P2tog – Purl 2 together
Pfb – Purl into the front and back of the same stitch (see Special Stitches)
RS – Right Side
Sl – Slip
Ssk – Slip, slip, knit (see Special Stitches)
St(s) – Stitches
WS – Wrong side
SPECIAL STITCHES
⭐️ Ssk (Slip, Slip, Knit): Slip 2 stitches, one at a time, as if to knit. Insert left hand needle into the front of these 2 stitches and knit them together from this position – 1 stitch decreased.
⭐️ Kfb (Knit Front & Back): Knit through front and back of next stitch – 1 stitch increased.
⭐️ Pfb (Purl Front & Back): Purl through front and back of next stitch – 1 stitch increased.
CABLE STITCHES
⭐️ 2/2 LC (2/2 Left Cable): Slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front, k2 from left hand needle, k2 from cable needle.
⭐️ 2/2 RC (2/2 Right Cable): Slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in back, k2 from left hand needle, k2 from cable needle.
⭐️ 2/1 LPC (2/1 Left Purl Cable): Slip 2 sts onto cable needle and hold in front, p1 from left hand needle, k2 from cable needle.
⭐️ 2/1 RPC (2/1 Right Purl Cable): Slip 1 st onto cable needle and hold in back, k2 from left hand needle, p1 from cable needle.
STITCH PATTERNS
1 x 1 Rib
Worked in the round over an even number of sts.
Every Round: * K1, p1; repeat from * around.
CHART
Crown Shaping Chart Stitch Fiddle Link: only available via VIP
NOTES
- Directions are for the smallest size; changes for larger sizes are in parentheses. When only one number is given then that number applies to all sizes.
- Hat is worked in the round from the bottom up.
- Hat fabric is extremely stretchy. The Cable Panels pattern behaves like a rib, and so the measurements are flexible. The circumference of the Hat can grow up to 25-30% when worn, so be sure to choose a size where the Hat is smaller, when laid flat, than your real head circumference.
- Optional double-brim may increase the amount of yarn required.
VIDEO TUTORIALS
- How to Long Tail Cast On >> https://youtu.be/vEGwt4cedLM <<
- How to Fix a Dropped Cast On Stitch >> https://youtube.com/shorts/ZlvKpqAqMrc <<
- Knit Stitch (continental style) >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3brKFKg5Yc <<
- Purl Stitch (continental style) >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuDt-8jqh4g <<
- How to Add a Lifeline >> https://youtu.be/FiqYUE_aHAw <<
- How to Tink >> https://youtu.be/c7Gud7k4Y8k <<
- How to Cable >> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn7xpc72xRs <<
- How to Fix a Mis-Crossed Cable >> https://youtu.be/5se7YKWv5xg <<
- How to Do 1 x 1 Ribbing >> https://youtu.be/xx7XFsbEGkE <<
- How to Bury Ends >> https://youtu.be/8_NBGUKjO-E <<
➡️ Click here to watch on YouTube
Before moving to the crown. I want you to stop and measure your hat and decide if you like the height as is. If you do, proceed to the crown.
If you prefer a little taller hat (which will also match the sample) add another 12 rounds.
For reference: sample yellow hat is an Adult Medium-Large and is worked for 53 rounds ending after a pattern round 5. Before the crown shaping it measured 8.75″ tall and after the crown it is 10″ tall.
🚨PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO!
CROWN SHAPING
Note: Change to double-pointed needles when sts become too tight to fit around circular.
80 (96, 112, 128) sts.
Round 1 (decrease round): * K2, ssk, p2, p2tog; repeat from * around.
Count: 60 (72, 84, 96) sts.
Round 2: * K3, p3; repeat from * around.
Round 3 (decrease round): * K1, ssk, p1, p2tog; repeat from * around.
Count: 40 (48, 56, 64) sts.
Round 4: * K2, p2; repeat from * around.
Round 5 (decrease round): * Ssk, p2tog; repeat from * around.
Count: 20 (24, 28, 32) sts.
Round 6: * K1, p1; repeat from * around.
FINISHING
Cut yarn, leaving a 6″ (15 cm) tail.
Use tapestry needle to slide tail knitwise through all remaining sts, then pull tight like a drawstring.
Thread yarn tail to inside and secure.
VIP Reminder (Best Value + All the Extras)
If you want all the ad-free lessons, printable PDFs, and bonus support for Turkey Trot, VIP is still open and truly the best value.
✅ ad-free videos
✅ downloadable PDFs + handouts
✅ bonus technique help
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✅ everything organized by day
Grab VIP here:
https://marlybirdturkeytrot.com
FAQ: Keystone Cabled Knit Hat Day 4 (Crown)
➡️ Why do I need to finish the body on Round 5?
Because the crown decreases align with the stitch pattern based on that round. Ending elsewhere can shift the cables and make the top look off.
➡️ What if my hat is shorter or taller than the pattern suggests?
No problem — adjust the height if you need to. Just make sure your final body round is still Round 5 before starting the crown.
➡️ Do all sizes really use the same crown chart?
Yes! The crown shaping is identical across sizes. Only the number of repeats around the hat changes.
➡️ Should I add a lifeline before the crown?
I highly recommend it. Decreases happen fast here, and a lifeline makes any fix stress-free.
Note: do not run the lifeline through stitch markers.
➡️ My cables look tighter during decreases — is that normal?
Yep. As stitches compress, cables can look snugger. Focus on even tension and keeping purl gutters tidy.
➡️ Where do I find Day 5?
All daily links are in the Turkey Trot hub post:
https://marlybird.com/blog/7th-annual-marly-bird-turkey-trot-make-along-2025/
Final Pep Talk
You’re in the home stretch! Crown shaping is where your Keystone Hat gets its polished top, and you’re going to love how these cables resolve. Take a breath, trust the chart, and enjoy this part — it’s pure knitting satisfaction.
💕 Your BiCrafty Bestie,
Marly Bird
