Hilma Cables

By Alison Green

Instagram handle: @alisongrnknits

Alison Green is the manager of Berroco’s design department. She has been working in the knitting industry since 2002 as a designer, tech editor, and teacher. In her free time she enjoys singing and playing music, using tarot cards (for reflection more than for divination), and being the slowest athlete at CrossFit. She lives in Providence, RI, with her partner, John, and her cat, Abraham.

Hilma Cable 1

Inspiration: For my two blocks, I started with the undulating, rounded cables in Hilma Block 1. I found a version of this block in an old stitch dictionary and loved the way the cables travel from the inside to the outside. For Hilma Block 2, I created a more angular diamond pattern, nestled in between zigzagging lines. Twisted stitches are one of my favorite visual elements, so I used twisted stitches framing a single seed stitch to separate the cables.

Tip: Create a lovely accessory set by adding a cowl or scarf to your Hilma Hat. Simply work the block pattern as written (adding an extra pattern repeat if desired), work to your desired length, and bind off. Sew the cast-on and bind-off edges together for a cowl or add fringe if you like for a scarf. With a little extra ingenuity, you could also make mittens using a single repeat of the chart and adapting the decrease pattern of the hat to shape the top of your mitten.

Finished Stitch Block Measurements

8 x 8 inch/20 x 20cm stitch block square, blocked (including garter stitch borders)

Materials

Worsted weight yarn

Size 7 (4.5mm) needles

Gauge

1 chart rep (23 sts) = approximately 3¼” wide

Special Techniques 

2/2 RC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, k2 from cn

2/2 LC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, k2, k2 from cn

2/2 RPC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, p2 from cn

2/2 LPC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, p2, k2 from cn

1/1 RC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, k1 from cn

1/1 LC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, k1 from cn

1/1 RPC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, p1 from cn

1/1 LPC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, p1, k1 from cn

Hilma Block 1 Pattern (multiple of 23 sts)

Row 1 (RS): K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p6, 2/2 RC, 2/2 LC, p6.

Row 2 (WS): P6, k8, p6, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl.

Row 3: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p4, 2/2 RPC, k4, 2/2 LPC, p4.

Row 4: P4, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p4, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl.

Row 5: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p2, 2/2 RPC, 2/2 RPC, 2/2 LPC, 2/2 LPC, p2.

Row 6: P2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl.

Row 7: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2.

Row 8: P2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl.

Row 9: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p2, 2/2 LPC, 2/2 LPC, 2/2 RPC, 2/2 RPC, p2.

Row 10: P4, k2, p2, k4, p2, k2, p4, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl.

Row 11: K1tbl, p1, k1tbl, p4, 2/2 LPC, k4, 2/2 RPC, p4.

Row 12: P6, k8, p6, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl.

Stitch Block Instructions

Bottom Garter Stitch Edging

CO 40 sts.

Knit 5 rows.

Square Body

Increase round (RS): K6, [M1, k2] 14 times, M1, k6. 55 sts.

Establish Chart (WS): K3, p1tbl, k1, p1tbl, work Row 12 of chart twice, k3.

Next row (RS): K3, work Row 1 of chart twice, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl, k3.

Continue as established, working Rows 1–12 of chart four times.

Decrease round (RS): K6, [k2tog, k1] 14 times, k2tog, knit to end. 40 sts.

Top Garter Stitch Edging

Knit 5 rows. 

BO all sts.

 

 

Hilma Cable 2

Finished Stitch Block Measurements

8 x 8 inch/20 x 20cm stitch block square, blocked (including garter stitch borders)

Materials

Worsted weight yarn

Size 7 (4.5mm) needles

Gauge

1 chart rep (21 sts) = approximately 3¼” wide

Special Techniques

2/2 RC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, k2 from cn

2/2 LC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, k2, k2 from cn

2/2 RPC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in back, k2, p2 from cn

2/2 LPC: Sl 2 sts onto cn, hold in front, p2, k2 from cn

1/1 RC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, k1 from cn

1/1 LC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, k1 from cn

1/1 RPC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in back, k1, p1 from cn

1/1 LPC: Sl 1 st onto cn, hold in front, p1, k1 from cn

Hilma Block 2 Pattern (multiple of 21 stitches)

Row 1 (RS): K1tbl, k1, k1tbl, p4, 2/2 RPC, 1/1 LC, 2/2 LPC, p4.

Row 2 (WS): P4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl.

Row 3: K1tbl, k1, k1tbl, p2, 2/2 RPC, p1, 1/1 LC, 1/1 RC, p1, 2/2 LPC, p2.

Row 4: P2, k2, p3, k4, p3, k2, p2, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl.

Row 5: K1tbl, k1, k1tbl, 2/2 RPC, p2, 1/1 LC, k2, 1/1 RC, p2, 2/2 LPC.

Row 6: K2, p4, k6, p4, k2, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl.

Row 7: K1tbl, k1, k1tbl, 2/2 LPC, p2, 1/1 RPC, k2, 1/1 LPC, p2, 2/2 RPC.

Row 8: P2, k2, p3, k4, p3, k2, p2, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl.

Row 9: K1tbl, k1, k1tbl, p2, 2/2 LPC, p1, 1/1 RPC, 1/1 LPC, p1, 2/2 RPC, p2.

Row 10: P4, k2, p2, k2, p2, k2, p4, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl.

Row 11: K1tbl, k1, k1tbl, p4, 2/2 LPC, 1/1 RC, 2/2 RPC, p4.

Row 12: P6, k6, p6, k1tbl, p1, k1tbl.

Rep rows 1-12 for patt.

Stitch Block Instructions

Bottom Garter Stitch Edging

CO 40 sts.

Knit 5 rows.

Square Body

Increase round (RS): K5, [M1, k3] 10 times, M1, k5. 51 sts.

Establish Chart (WS): K3, p1tbl, k1, p1tbl, work Row 12 of chart twice, k3.

Next row (RS): K3, work Row 1 of chart twice, k1tbl, k1, k1tbl, k3.

Continue as established, working Rows 1–12 of chart four times.

Decrease round (WS): K5, [k2tog, k2] 10 times, k2tog, knit to end. 40 sts.

Top Garter Stitch Edging

Knit 5 rows.

BO all sts.