Slipped stitches and cables combine to make a striking, textured cap.
This design was originally created in collaboration with Madelinetosh for the “Hometown Edition” of their hat club. It was first released to club subscribers in December 2025 and is now available as an individual download.
For the past several years, I’ve counted Portland, Oregon as my hometown. The railroads that pass through town are a remnant of its industrial past and serve as the main inspiration for this design. The Railroad Switch Hat plays with the shapes of parallel lines created by train tracks and the switches that you might see in a railyard. A switch allows a train to move to a different track and change direction, which is captured here with cables and textured ribbing.
Your purchase of a digital download will include the pattern in PDF format.
———
MEASUREMENTS
18”/ 45 cm in circumference and 7.5”/19 cm high from brim to crown after blocking.
YARN
Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage; 100% Superwash Merino Wool, worsted weight (203 yds/114g per skein); pattern uses approximately 165 yds or 1 skein. Shown in the Telegraph Wire colorway.
NEEDLES
Size A: US 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Size B: US 6 (4.0mm) 16” circular needles, or a needle one size smaller than Size A.
You will also need a set of DPNs in Size A to decrease for the crown, or you may use your preferred method for small circumference knitting.
GAUGE
26.5 sts and 39 rows = 4”/10 cm in cabled pattern from chart or written instructions under “Main Motif,” worked in the round on Size A needles, after blocking.
TOOLS
Stitch marker to note beginning of round, cable needle (optional), tapestry needle to weave in ends.
SKILL LEVEL
Advanced Beginner
SKILLS REQUIRED
Long Tail Cast On, swatching and working in the round, cabling with or without a cable needle, working with floats, decreasing.
Slipped stitches and cables combine to make a striking, textured cap.
This design was originally created in collaboration with Madelinetosh for the “Hometown Edition” of their hat club. It was first released to club subscribers in December 2025 and is now available as an individual download.
For the past several years, I’ve counted Portland, Oregon as my hometown. The railroads that pass through town are a remnant of its industrial past and serve as the main inspiration for this design. The Railroad Switch Hat plays with the shapes of parallel lines created by train tracks and the switches that you might see in a railyard. A switch allows a train to move to a different track and change direction, which is captured here with cables and textured ribbing.
Your purchase of a digital download will include the pattern in PDF format.
———
MEASUREMENTS
18”/ 45 cm in circumference and 7.5”/19 cm high from brim to crown after blocking.
YARN
Madelinetosh Tosh Vintage; 100% Superwash Merino Wool, worsted weight (203 yds/114g per skein); pattern uses approximately 165 yds or 1 skein. Shown in the Telegraph Wire colorway.
NEEDLES
Size A: US 7 (4.5mm) 16” circular needles, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Size B: US 6 (4.0mm) 16” circular needles, or a needle one size smaller than Size A.
You will also need a set of DPNs in Size A to decrease for the crown, or you may use your preferred method for small circumference knitting.
GAUGE
26.5 sts and 39 rows = 4”/10 cm in cabled pattern from chart or written instructions under “Main Motif,” worked in the round on Size A needles, after blocking.
TOOLS
Stitch marker to note beginning of round, cable needle (optional), tapestry needle to weave in ends.
SKILL LEVEL
Advanced Beginner
SKILLS REQUIRED
Long Tail Cast On, swatching and working in the round, cabling with or without a cable needle, working with floats, decreasing.
