What you need
| Sizes | Child (head 48–52 cm), Adult S/M (53–56 cm), Adult L (57–60 cm) |
|---|---|
| Knitted length | Strip knitted to 42 cm (Child), 47 cm (Adult S/M) or 51 cm (Adult L), about 8 cm shorter than your head |
| Yarn | About 40–60 g of smooth Aran (weight 4) yarn, any colour |
| Needles | 5 mm (US 8) straight needles |
| Also | Tapestry needle, tape measure and scissors |
| Tension (gauge) | Not critical. 22 stitches in 2×2 rib are about 9 cm wide when relaxed. |
Skills you’ll use
- The long-tail cast-on
- Knit and purl in the same row
- 2×2 rib, reading which stitch is a knit (V) and which is a purl (bump)
- Joining a new ball of yarn at the start of a row
- Casting off in rib so the edge stays stretchy
- Sewing the short ends together and weaving in ends in rib
What’s in the PDF
- How to measure your head and choose your size
- Materials, tension and abbreviations
- Cast-on and the two-row rib repeat
- Casting off in rib, sewing the ends together edge to edge, and weaving in
- Tips for keeping your place in the rib
Questions about this pattern
Which headband size should I knit?
Measure around your head, over the tops of your ears. Child fits 48–52 cm, Adult S/M 53–56 cm and Adult L 57–60 cm. Rib is very stretchy, so the strip is knitted about 8 cm shorter than your head.
How much yarn does the ribbed headband use?
About 40–60 g of smooth Aran (weight 4) yarn, in any colour.
Is the headband knitted in the round?
No. It’s worked flat as a long strip on straight 5 mm needles and sewn into a ring at the end.
My cast-off edge is too tight. What can I do?
A tight cast-off edge won’t stretch over your head. Cast off in rib with a needle one size bigger (5.5 mm) in your right hand, or just work very loosely.