Knitters who love beautiful stitch patterns are delighted with the Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible: 260 Exquisite Designs by Hitomi Shida, recently published in English. Join the translator to knit the lacy cabled hat from this book, and gain experience and insight into the complex charts and symbols. The hat is a good first project because it’s worked in the round, and you don’t have to worry about wrong-side patterning. We'll start the body with a provisional cast-on, then practice chart-reading and some of the more complex maneuvers, to be sure you can finish the project later at home. The pattern will be provided; no need to purchase the book ahead of time.

Technique Requirements: knit/purl, cast on/bind off, increase/decrease, working in the round, cables, beginner lace, chart reading, basic finishing techniques, provisional cast-on

To be ready to start, use your smooth waste yarn to make a provisional cast-on of 145 sts onto your larger circular needle, then knit the first round with your chosen yarn. This way, you'll be ready to start on the body of the hat. The type of provisional cast-on isn't important as long as it's removable.

Approximately 220 yards of DK- or sport-weight yarn. Your yarn and needles should give you a gauge of 22 to 24 sts and 34 rows to 4" in stockinette. Use needles to obtain gauge in your preferred method of circular knitting (magic loop, dpns or two circulars). (Recommended: 16” circular and DPN’s of the same size, plus 16” circular two sizes smaller for ribbing.) Small amount of smooth waste yarn. Cable needle.