GENEie Knitting Pattern - Cable Version

Update: The GENEie Hat Collection now has 5 different knitting patterns, including a Pussyhat and a headband for warmer climates.  

GENEie - A Thinking Cap for Science Fans (Cable Version)

It is my honor to present the GENEie Hat, a thinking cap for science fans!  GENEie, a DNA Helix Beanie Hat, is a collection with two different complementary designs.  In January 2017, I was contacted by two different knitters who asked me to share some of my designs for the March for Science.  I had a few DNA helix knitting charts already published and have had sketches on how to incorporate them into hats in my design notebook for months.  The requests from other science knitters was the push I needed to finally design and knit these hats.  If you are interested in my other DNA cable knitting patterns make sure to check out the DNA Beer Cozy and DNA Helix Kindle Cover.

I am proud to release two science themed knitting patterns today in support of the March for Science. GENEie, a DNA Helix Beanie Hat, is the perfect hat for scientists and science fans.  I believe that people can and should disagree and debate hypotheses, but they should back up these hypotheses with facts.  You cannot negate data when it doesn't fit your theory, you have to change your theory to incorporate all of the evidence.

The cable version of GENEie is a lighter hat than the stranded colorwork versionand is probably more appropriate for cold spring days.  The March for Science is going to happen on Earth Day - April 22, 2017.  The date had not been selected yet when I was contacted to design some knit hats for the march.  The early mornings might still be cool enough for winter hats, but even if it is warm these hats are a fun way to share your support for science!  

Normally I just provide charts with my patterns, but I wanted to make these DNA hats as accessible as possible to all knitters.  The line-by-line written instructions have been tested and tech edited so they should be free from errors.  The entire pattern is written in this post or you can download the PDF of the GENEie Cable Version Knitting Pattern through Google Drive.   

Materials

• Needles: US 6 (4.0 mm) double pointed needles (or circular needles long enough for magic loop.)  
• Yarn: 110-145 yards Worsted weight yarn.  The sample is knit with KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Dove Heather (50 g, 110 yards.)  
• Gauge: (blocked) – 22 sts/4” & 30 rows/4” over stockinette.   
• Notions: Cable needle, stitch marker to note beginning of round, tapestry needle.
• Finished Size: Adult S/M - 18" around, 7.85" deep after blocking.

Sizing Notes
Some people have had questions about hat sizing. The hat fits me comfortably and I have a 22" size S/M head. The hat fits with negative ease which means that the dimensions of the hat are smaller the head size (it stretches to fit the head.) The hat width stretches a lot - it can comfortably fit around my husband's size L head. However, he needs more length. This can be done in a few ways:

• Add more rounds of ribbing to the bottom of the hat. You can even add a few more inches so the brim can fold up and then you know the hat will fit a variety of sizes.  
• Add rows starting at cable round #26 below row #1 if you want to add on to the cable portion of the hat. (I.e. If you want to add 5 more cable rounds then add rounds 22-26 before you start round #1. Make sure to remember to increase 1 stitch every 10 stitches on the first cable round!)
• Make sure you check your gauge!  If your row count is less than 30 rows/4" on stockinette then you probably need to add some rows.  

Abbreviations Used in this Pattern - Updated with links to video tutorials!  I have a whole playlist of videos to help with the construction of the GENEie collection.  Make sure you check out an introduction to 1x1 cables if you want extra help with the GENEie DNA cable stitches.

• K – Knit
• P – Purl
• Sts – Stitches
• S1 – Slip one stitch purlwise
• P2tog – Purl 2 stitches together
• K2tog-tbl – Knit two together through the back loop
• K-tbl – Knit through the back loop
• CN – cable needle
• PFB – increase one stitch by purling in the front and back of a stitch.  
• C1-fkk -  S1 st on CN and hold in front.  K1, K1 from CN
• C2-bkk -  S1 st on CN and hold in back.   K1, K1 from CN
• C3-fpk -  S1 st on CN and hold in front.  P1, K1 from CN
• C4-bkp - S1 st on CN and hold in back.   K1, P1 from CN

Knitting Instructions – GENEie Hat (Cable Version)

• Cast on 100 sts.  Place marker and join to knit in the round
• Knit 6 rounds of 2x2 ribbing (*K2, P2* around)
• Chart Round 1:  *P5, C2-bkk, P2, PFB* repeat from * around. (110 sts)
• Continue knitting chart rounds 2-33.  There should be 110 stitches at the end of every round.  The chart is read from the bottom up, right to left.  
• Crown Decreases begin on Chart Round 34. Follow the chart until 20 stitches remain (Round 51) 
• Round 52: K2tog-tbl around (10 sts) 
• Round 53 (Not shown on chart): K2tog-tbl around (5 sts)
• Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches.  Weave in loose ends.  Block if desired.  

GENEie Cable Knitting Chart.  Work from the bottom up, right to left. 

GENEie Colorwork Chart Key

Blocking helped open up the cables and give the hat a light fabric with a lot of drape.  The colorwork version of the GENEie hat, in contrast, is a lot thicker and warmer. 

As Neil deGrasseTyson said, “Once science has been established, once a scientific truth emerges from a consensus of experiments and observations, it is the way of the world [...] When different experiments give you the same result, it is no longer subject to your opinion. That’s the good thing about science: It’s true whether or not you believe in it. That’s why it works.” 

Full  Line-by-line Written Instructions – If you don’t want to follow the chart, here are the row-by-row written instructions.  

- Cast on 100 sts.  Place marker and join to knit in the round

- Knit 6 rounds of 2x2 ribbing (*K2, P2* around)

- Follow the 53 rounds of the Helix Cable Pattern  as follows:

1. *P5, C2-bkk, p2, PFB* repeat from * around. (110 sts)

2. *P4, C2-bkk, C1-fkk, P3* repeat from * around

3. *P3, C2-bkk, K2, K-tbl, P3* repeat from * around

4. *P2, C4-bkp, P3, C3-fpk, P2* repeat from * around

5. *P1, C2-bkk, K5, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

6. *P1, K-tbl, K6, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

7. *C4-bkp, P6, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

8. *K-tbl, K6, C4-bkp, P2* repeat from * around

9. *K-tbl, K6, K-tbl, P3* repeat from * around

10. *K-tbl, P5, C4-bkp, P3* repeat from * around

11. *C3-fpk, K3, C4-bkp, P4* repeat from * around

12. *P1, K-tbl, K2, C4-bkp, P5* repeat from * around

13. *P1, C3-fpk, C4-bkp, P6* repeat from * around

14. *P2, C2-bkk, P7* repeat from * around

15. *P1, C2-bkk, C1-fkk, P6* repeat from * around

16. *P1, K-tbl, K2, C1-fkk, P5* repeat from * around

17. *C4-bkp, P3, C3-fpk, P4* repeat from * around

18. *K-tbl, K5, C1-fkk, P3* repeat from * around

19. *K-tbl, K6, K-tbl, P3* repeat from * around

20. *K-tbl, P6, C3-fpk, P2* repeat from * around

21. *C3-fpk, K6, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

22. *P1, K-tbl, K6, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

23. *P1, C3-fpk, P5, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

24. *P2, C3-fpk, K3, C4-bkp, P2* repeat from * around

25. *P3, C3-fpk, K2, K-tbl, P3* repeat from * around

26. *P4, C3-fpk, C4-bkp, P3* repeat from * around

27. *P5, C2-bkk, P4* repeat from * around

Rounds 28-33 repeat Rounds 2-7

34. (First decrease round) *K-tbl, K6, C4-bkp, P2tog* repeat from * around (100 sts) 

35. *K-tbl, K6, K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

36. *K-tbl, P5, C4-bkp, P2tog* repeat from * around (90 sts)

37. *C3-fpk, K3, C4-bkp, P2* repeat from * around

38. *P1, K-tbl, K2, C4-bkp, P1, P2tog* repeat from * around (80 sts)

39. *P1, C3-fpk, C4-bkp, P3* repeat from * around

40. *P2, C2-bkk, P2, P2tog* repeat from * around (70 sts)

41. *P1, C2-bkk, C1-fkk, P2* repeat from * around

42. *P1, K-tbl, K2, K-tbl, P2tog* repeat from * around (60 sts)

43. *C4-bkp, P1, C4-bkp, P1* repeat from * around

44. *K-tbl, K2, K-tbl, P2tog* repeat from * around (50 sts)

45. *K-tbl, K1, C4-bkp, P1* repeat from * around

46. *K-tbl, C4-bkp, P2tog* repeat from * around (40 sts)

47. *C4-bkp, P2* repeat from * around

48. *K-tbl, P1, P2tog* repeat from * around (30 sts)

49. *K-tbl, P2* repeat from * around

50. *K-tbl, P2tog* repeat from * around (20 sts)

51. *K-tbl, P1* repeat from * around

52. K2tog-tbl around (10 sts)

53. K2tog-tbl around (5 sts)

- Break yarn and pull through remaining stitches.  Weave in loose ends.  Block if desired.  

Make sure you check out the GENEie Colorwork Version Knitting Pattern!  

The first generation of GENEie comes in forms, the textured cable version and the stranded colorwork version.  Did I just say first generation?  Could there possibly be other GENEie's in the works?  Stay tuned to find out!  

GENEie Cable Hat Knitting Pattern © 2017 ChemKnits & Rebecca Roush Brown.  This pattern is available for free via www.ChemKnits.com for your personal or charity use.  You are not to copy or distribute this pattern without the permission of the publisher, ChemKnits.

This post contains some KnitPicks affiliate links.  I became an affiliate in October 2018 after using KnitPicks yarns for many years.  All yarn selections and options are my own.