I am so psyched by this. I just learned to cable (made a pair of Knitty's Fetching fingerless gloves this week) and decided to try the cable pattern in a child's cap in chunky wool Worked out great! I may have re-invented a pattern, but I worked this out all on my own, so please don't call the copyright police on me. I will post a photo asap, but for now, get out those 17's dpns and some Wool-ease Thick 'n Quick. This project took me a little over two hours.
Anne (aka SewNutzz)
Here are the photos. Also, the hat fits a child...toddler to elementary age. The child modeling is 6 years old. If you want to fit a larger head, add another 5 stitches and another 4 rows k4p1 rib and another cable row before decreasing(sorry I could not post photos directly because I am still new and have not posted enoough to post photos directly to the forum, but check them out on photobucket!)
Green hat:

Red hat:

Materials:
American size 17 DPNs (4 total)
1 skein Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick 'n Quick (you will use about half of the skein)
Cable needle
Yarn Needle
Cast on 45 stitches using a cable cast-on, putting 15 stitches on each needle. ( how to here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer05/FEATsum05TT.html)
Join, being careful not to twist work, place marker.
Knit one round
Knit 3 rounds in k4 p1 rib .
Knit cable round (slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold to front, knit 2, knit the stitches on the cable needle, pearl 1, repeat)
knit 4 rows k4p1 rib
knit cable round
knit 4 rows k4p1 rib
knit cable round
knit 1 row k4p1 rib
Decrease row: k1, k2together, k1, p1. Repeat until you get to end of round
Decrease: k1, k2 together, p1. Repeat until you get to end of round.
Decrease: K2 together, p1. Repeat until you get to end of round.
Decrease: k2 together (you will now have 9 stitches on your needles)
Cut yarn, leaving about 12 inches, thread through yarn needle. Run yarn needle through stitches to close top of hat, secure on the inside and bury the yarn end, cut excess yarn off. Bury tail of beginning of hat.