The interweaving of the lines of the Pentacle called out to me to make them into a cabled pattern even though I had to overcome some strange angles before it could be done.
But here it is: a way to show off who you are on the top of your hat.
Style and sizing
Size: Small/52 cm (Medium/55 cm, Large/58 cm)
The Pentagram Tam is available in two different patterns: one with a wider cabled edge and one with a smaller vintage style ribbed edge.
Size large should fit a man’s head and size small and medium most women’s. The tam with the cabled edge can e used in a slightly larger size since the wider edge will help it stay on even if it’s too big. So if you’re unsure, go up in size for the cabled edge and go down in size for the ribbed edge.
About the yarn
The pattern uses Garnstudio’s Alaska. It is a pure wool worsted yarn that is available in many colours. It has a rather smooth texture that shows off the cables in a good way. Any woollen yarn with similar structure and the same tension/gauge should work fine.
Main Yarn: Garnstudio Alaska, 2 skeins (3 skeins for tam with cabled edge size large) (total: 100/150 g, ca 150/225 m)
Additional Yarn: Contrast yarn for provisional cast on for tam with cabled edge.
Needles: 5 mm/US 8 circular needle 40-60 cm and dpns 4 mm/US 6 40 cm circular needle or dpns (for tam with ribbed edge)
Other tools: cable needle
Tension/Gauge: 17 st = 10 cm
Technique
Difficulty: Experienced
Stitches used: knit, purl, increasing, decreasing, purled decreasing, cables, short rows, picking up stitches, grafting, provisional cast-on
Getting it!
The Pentagram Tam is available as a pdf-file for $5 at my Etsyshop or through Ravelry (available without an account). It has instructions for both cabled and ribbed edge in three sizes. The pattern has written instructions a well as a chart for the cables.
Ravelry – pattern listing with option to buy and download
Etsy – buy trough my store
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Ps. Not a knitter? You can order your knitted Pentagram Tam from my Etsyshop in your size and choice of colour. Ds.
March 20, 2010 at 11:17 pm
[...] is a cabled tam that unites my love for cables, hats and knitting patterns with a pagan flare. The Pentagram Tam is a tam with a cabled pentacle on the top since I just couldn’t resist the temptation of [...]
January 4, 2011 at 9:06 pm
Hi Caroline,
I purchased yor pentagram tam a few months ago, and have just begun the pattern. I have a query about this pattern which I will endeavor to explain.
I am knitting the large size tam in which 84 stitches are cast on.
After completing 6 rows of rib the pattern asks for an increase row, in st stitch, of 56 stitches, (84 + 56 = 140), patterned thus: k1 inc 1, k2 inc 1. I followed this, ending up with only 114 sts, when the pattern tells me I should have 140. I have worked out the logistics of this increase and it appears impossible. Is there something I have overlooked? I hope that you can offer me some light on what appears to be an anomaly?
Kind regards,
Cayt
January 5, 2011 at 2:13 am
Hi Cayt,
I think the problem lies in how you do your increases. If you use a stitch while doing them the number won’t add upp but if you do your increases between your stitches, through lifting up the strand of yarn between the stitches and knitting it through the back of the loop, then you won’t knit one in order t increase one and the numbers will add upp. If you prefer another way of increasing you can still do thing the same way as long as you count the knitted stitch in you increase.
Good luck with your knitting!
/Caroline