Rib & Braid Headband

Rib & Braid Headband

I wish I had a cool origin story for this headband, but the truth of the matter is that I was in the mood for a small project and I wanted to use my leftover yarn (the rest of this color went into the Zigazig Ah Scarf). Other than that, I went with a dainty cable to suit the light weight of the fiber, and a smaller needle so the ribbing would be nice and tight!

Yarn: Lang Yarns Merino 150 (100% Virgin Wool; 164 yards [150 meters]/50 grams); #197.0085 - one skein

A better look at the cute little pattern.

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size US 3, cable needle (cn)

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 27 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette on size US 4 needles

So let's make a headband! We'll start by casting on 144 stitches loosely, and then placing a stitch marker and joining in the round. Then we'll move straight to the main pattern, which is a variation on Rib and Braid Pattern from page 201 of Barbara G. Walker's A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and for which you'll need the following notation:

front cross (fc): slip 1 stitch to cn and hold in front; p1, k1 from cn

Honeycomb Headband

Honeycomb Headband

The story behind this pattern is simple: I got a request for another headband pattern and then basically fell in love with this yarn. And while the headband has lots going for it - it's thick enough to keep your earsies warm! It's not too vertically stretchy! It looks cool! - I am especially pleased with the way it turned out in this particular fiber. The variegation lines up perfectly with the stitch pattern for a very tidy result.

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print (100% Merino Superwash Wool; 114 yards [105 meters]/50 grams); #47008 Roma - one skein

I'm not sure I've ever had a yarn stripe quite this
well before...

Needles: One pair of US 6 needles, one US 7 needle for provisional cast on, and a cable needle (cn) or double pointed needle for cabling

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 22 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette

So let's make a headband! Using your larger needle, cast on 28 stitches provisionally. Transfer cast on to your size 6 needles. Then, we'll begin our main pattern, which is basically just Aran Honeycomb from page 273 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and some garter edging, for which we'll need the following notation. Oh, and this pattern is an excellent choice if you're ready to cable without a cable needle as well.

Feathered Arrow Headband

Feathered Arrow Headband

One of knitting's greatest challenges (in my opinion, at least) is finding a good way to use your yarn scraps. I never have the heart to throw them away, after all, and then I never have quite enough yarn to do anything really spectacular with my leftovers. Luckily, the humble headband can be a great solution to this problem - quick, fun, and gratifying to knit, they're also highly wearable and a great gift. Case in point: the Feathered Arrow Headband, which uses less than 50 yards of yarn and is easy to customize for teens to adults.

Yarn: Patons Classic Wool (100% Pure New Wool; 210 yards [192 meters]/100 grams); #202 (Cream) - one skein

The pattern.
Subtle, but niiiiice.

Needles: straight needles in size US 8, straight needles in size US 10 (for provisional cast-on)

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches

So let's make a headband! First, then, using your size 10 needles and a provisional cast on, cast on 17 stitches loosely. Then, we'll move straight to our size US 8 needles and our main pattern, which is Expanded Feather Pattern from page 194 of Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, and goes as follows:

Blue Angel Headband

Blue Angel Headband

Yes, this headband is named after a Marlene Dietrich movie for a reason; something about the shape and size reminds me of Old Hollywood, when actresses swanned around in turbans and smoked from only the most elegant of cigarette holders (side note: my five-year-old asked me what a cigarette was the other day. Precious!). It's also a super quick knit, made in super bulky yarn with the largest needles I've ever purchased. One thing to note, however, if you're going to make it: if you're not sure what size you need, size down - knitting with this gauge of yarn gives it plenty of stretch. You may also need to size down if you're working with an especially elastic yarn, or simply want a more snug fit.

Sizes: Adult Small (Adult Medium; Adult Large) (the small should fit up a 21" - 22" head; the medium a 22" - 23" head; the large a 23" - 24" head)

Yarn: Schachenmayr Lova (67% Acrylic, 30% Wool, 3% Polyamide; 55 yards [50 meters]/50 grams); #0083 Green Flash - 1 - 2 skeins (2 skeins; 2 skeins)

A closer look at the cabling

Needles: One set of needles in size US 15, one cable needle (cn)

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 11 stitches = 4 inches

So let's do this! First, cast on 15 stitches loosely. Then, knit the following rows:

Row 1 (wrong side): k1, p13, k1

Row 2: k1, (slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib), k1) 7 times

Knit rows 1 & 2 until piece measures roughly 6.5" (7"; 7.5") and you've just finished row 2 of the pattern. Then, we'll move to our cabled center, for which we'll need the following notation:

Around We Go Headband

Around We Go Headband

The story behind this piece is simple: recently, I saw one of the other moms at my kids' preschool in a knitted headband similar to this one and I thought, "hey, that's cool." And yes, the story is boring, but the finished product is still striking, with lots of graphic appeal. It's also very easy to size to various lengths, which I'll talk about more in a bit, and is a great stashbuster. Yay, busting stashes!

Sizes: Child (Adult)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cascade 220 Heathers (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #2439 Gelato - one skein

The pattern.
Plus some of the fine make up airbrushing that went into
my lovely fake head.

Needles: One set of needles in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches

So let's get started! To begin, cast on 18 (22) stitches. Then we'll move right to the main pattern, which I've written separately for each size. First, then, the terminology:

rt (right twist): knit two together, leaving stitches on left-hand needle; next, insert right-hand needle from the front between the two stitches just knitted together, and knit the first stitch again.  Finally, slip both stitches from left-hand needle together

lt (left twist): with right-hand needle behind left-hand needle, skip one stitch and knit the second stitch in back loop; then insert right-hand needle into the backs of both stitches and k2tog-b (knit two together through back loops, inserting right needle from the right)

Heart Headband

Heart Headband

As you may have guessed, I mostly knit this headband as a good way to get rid of some more of that skein of yarn I used for the Twilled Stripe Arm Warmers.  I also, admittedly, love hearts.  Finally, the adult version of this headband is intended for a head of about 22 inches in circumference; it would be easy to knit this pattern for a child by omitting 12 stitches, which would shave about 2 inches from the final circumference (and you'd cast on 84 stitches instead of 96).  And that's all I've got...

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash Paints (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #9860 Jelly Bean - maybe 1/3 skein?

Needles: One 16" circular needle in size #8

How it looks without the whole head-stretching-out aspect.

Notions: Tapestry needle, stitch marker

Gauge: 18 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette (once again, I kinda made that up and I didn't knit a test swatch. The label says that 5 stitches = 1 inch on US 7 needles, and yet again I'm using 8's since I don't have 7's in a circular needle either.  However, it's a pretty standard worsted weight, so any worsted weight yarn should work)

Cast on 96 (84) stitches, place marker, join in round.  Knit two rows in seed stitch, or in other words,

Row 1: * k1, p1; rep from *

Row 2: * p1, k1 *