Friday, January 1, 2010

First Pattern - Quick Cross Headband


Need a quick gift that can also be environmentally friendly - Try this headband knit from bulky wool. I've tested it with my Mom's really beautiful homespun merino (pretty good from a sustainability standpoint) and some Bernat Natural Blends Alpaca (sounded better than it really is - only 30% alpaca and the rest is acrylic.)   Stretches to comfortably keep ears warm. 

I think these can be easily completed in a few hours and can readily be made larger or smaller (see notes in pattern). This is my first pattern design - so feel free to provide suggestions for improvement.  Please feel free to use this pattern for personal or charity use - but refrain from using it for any type of commercial purpose.


Skill Level: easy


Materials:

1 skein bulky weight yarn. Sample knit in Bernat Alpaca natural blends. Actually uses about 60 yards.

1 size 8, 16-inch circular needle, or longer if using magic loop method, or size to get gauge

1 cable needle

1 stitch marker

Finished measurement:

3” wide; 16” around – will easily stretch to fit 20-21” head.

Gauge:

18 stitches and 20 rows = 4” in stockinette stitch

Headband Directions:

Loosely cast on 88 stitches and join to knit in the round. Be careful not to twist the stitches. Place a marker at the beginning of the round.

Rounds 1-6: *K2, P2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 7: *K6, P2. Repeat from * to end of round.

Round 8: *place 3 stitches on the cable needle and bring to front, K next 3 stitches and then K 3 from the cable needle, P2. Repeat from * to end of round.

Round 9: *K6, P2. Repeat from * to end of round.

Round 10 -15: *K2, P2, repeat from* to end of round.

Bind off loosely in K2P2 rib pattern.

Weave in ends.

Notes:

The headband can be made larger or smaller by casting on more or less stitches in multiples of 8 (80, 88, 96, etc).  The headband can be made wider by adding rows of K2P2 ribbing before and after the cable twist section.

You may be tempted to add another row of ribbing after the twist section (6 vs 5) so that there are an equal number of ribbing rows before and after the cable twist section, but that will result in a slightly wider section of ribbing after the cross than before the cross (the bind-off row actually adds a row of width).

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