Cabled Headband

Materials:

YARN:

Any worsted super bulky wool; we recommend Erika Knight Maxi, or Cedar House Yarns Windfall Super Bulky

You will need 48m/53 yds

NEEDLES & NOTIONS:

Size 9 millimeter straight needles (or US size XX)

Tapestry needle for sewing in the ends

Scissors

GAUGE:

3 stitches to the inch, although matching gauge exactly isn’t necessary for this project

FINISHED DIMENSIONS:

4” Width, 18” Length

Getting started:

For all abbreviations please check the glossary at the end of the pattern.

Make a slipknot.  To learn how to make a slipknot, CLICK HERE

Using knitted cast-on, cast on (“CO”) 16 stitches. CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.

ROW 1:  

Purl 2 stitches, Knit 12 stitches, Purl 2 stitches

ROW 2:  

Knit 2 stitches, Purl 12 stitches, Knit 2 stitches

ROW 3:  

Purl 2 stitches, Knit 12 stitches, Purl 2 stitches

ROW 4:  

Knit2 stitches, Purl 12 stitches, Knit 2 stitches

ROW 5:

Purl 2 stitches, C6B, C6F, Purl 2 stitches

 

C6B This the abbreviations for a cable stitch.  C6B means a “cable 6 to the back”.   To achieve this slip 3 stitches purlwise onto your cable needle.  Allow the cable needle to fall to the back of your work still holding your stitches.  Knit 3 stitches from your left hand needle.  Slip the stitches from your cable needle back onto your left hand needle being careful not to twist them, and knit 3 stitches.   CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.

 

C6F C6F means “cable 6 to the front”.  This will be very similar to the C6F, but you will hold your cable needle to the front.  So, slip 3 stitches purlwise onto your cable needle.  Allow the cable needle to fall to the front of your work still holding your stitches.  Knit 3 stitches from your left hand needle.  Slip the stitches from your cable needle back onto your left hand needle being careful not to twist them, and knit 3 stitches. CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.

 

ROW 6:  

Knit 2 stitches, Purl 12 stitches, Knit 2 stitches

ROW 7:  

Purl 2 stitches, Knit 12 stitches, Purl 2 stitches

ROW 8:  

Knit 2 stitches, Purl 12 stitches, Knit 2 stitches

 

Repeat Repeat Rows 1-8 nine times

Almost Done:

Then on the next row, bind off (“BO”) all stitches CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.

Leave approximately 12” of yarn attached after finishing the bind off.  This will be used to sew your headband closed.

Blocking:

You have to “block” the headband.  This means that you wet the yarn and relax it a little bit, which will also help even out your stitches.  Because you’re knitting with wool, the yarn will stretch, so you want to gently lay it out so that you don’t stretch it too much, just enough that it will be a few inches smaller than your head, about 18” works for most adult heads.

How do I block? Let the headband sit in cool water for around 30 minutes.  Gently drain the water.  You can gently roll the headband in a towel to remove excess water, or you can let it sit in the sink and drain for an hour or so.  Make sure that you handle the wet fabric gently and don’t wring it out. Once you have removed the excess water, lay the headband out on fresh towels or on a blocking board (you need a surface that will allow the water to drain from the wool), and arrange the headband in a rectangle of the measurements that you desire - keeping the rows even.  Let it dry before picking it up again.   CLICK HERE for a video tutorial.

Finishing:

Wrap the finished headband around to form a loop.  Using the long tail of yarn begin to sew your headband into a loop using the tapestry needle. CLICK HERE to see how to sew up an object.

Click here to download a printable pdf of this pattern