A Warm Headband - Free Headband Patterns

A Warm Headband

This headband fits an average adult head - add or subtract a multiple of 4 stitches to make it larger or smaller. It is knit in the round and it incorporates short rows to cover the ears and is reversible.
Gauge:
5.5 sts per inch.

Materials:
Small amount of dk weight yarn,
5 markers - At least two should be in the same color, ***color A***.

One 16 inch size 6 circular needle and one size 8 needle.

Pattern:
CO 92 stitches using provisional cast on.

Join, place a marker, and knit 15 rows.

Row 16 knit 13 sts, put marker (color A), knit 10 sts, put a marker, knit 46 sts, put a marker knit 10 sts, put a marker (color A), knit 13 sts. (13 + 10 + 46 +10 + 13 = 92)

The two markers of like color help you to remember that they are the stitches near the back of the headband. You want the fabric covering the ears to be nearer the back of the head than the front of the head.

In brief, you will knit three short rows for each ear. The first row will be 15 sts wide, the second 11 and the third 7 stitches wide.

Row 17 Knit to second marker + 5 (28sts), slip one, wrap, turn, slip back and purl to the color A marker.

Again, slip, wrap, turn, slip and knit around to the next color A marker making sure to knit the first wrap when you come to it.

At the second marker A, slip, wrap, turn, slip and purl to five stitches beyond the next marker,

slip, wrap, turn, slip, continue knitting (again incorporating the first wrap) and in 28 sts you will be to the back of the band.

One complete short row for each ear has been done.

Repeat two more times, making sure you pick up the second wrap from the previous short row. This is a bit tricky, because the wrap is to the right of the stitch, not to the left. EZ says to slip this wrap when you come to it, knit the next st and pass the slipped wrap over the knit stitch.

Decrease each successive short row by a total of 4 sts.

Row 18: Work 3 sts beyond (other) marker and stop 2 sts short of color A marker on both ears.

Row 19: Work 1 st beyond (other) marker and stop 4 sts short of color A marker on both ears.

Row 20: Purl across. This is for the turning edge. After this, you can change colors or even yarns. I often switch to mohair as it is nice and warm against the head and ears.

Now, reverse the short rows and then knit the final 16 rows.

Put the live stitches from the invisible cast on onto a needle. To spare everyone the kitchener stitch, do a three needle bind off in a needle TWO SIZES LARGER. This will prevent a too tight bind off and it will give you a more or less matching ridge to the purl ridge on the bottom and if you use 2 colors, it looks quite nice. You are more than welcome to kitchener the headband together. I did it once and thought it more work than the headband deserves. Feel free to add stripes or fair isle to jazz it up.

Copyright 1996 Joan Ruuska. E-mail: m1jrl00@FRB.GOV