Free Original Patterns!
Buy Actual Headband Here: My Etsy Listing
So, technically, I made these over Christmas break and I had no homework to do! I definitely should have been applying to some summer REUs, internships, and scholarships though, so I count it as a procrastinatory project nonetheless! Each headband took about four hours, the braided ones taking longer, 6-8.
I knit these headbands as Christmas presents for my close friends, sisters, and mom. Each one is a unique color/pattern combo so nobody got the same one.
Let me describe the different patterns, we’ll go from left to right in the picture above:
I knit these all as rectangles as I do not currently own circular knitting needles (broke college student), and sewed them together at the end.
The two head bands on the far left are beige and teal. They’re made from casting on ~80 stitches on size 7 needles (this can vary depending on the size of your head, so it might take some adjusting). I knit 2 purl2 all the way accross. For the second row you purl the knits, and knit the purls, and create a nice ribbed pattern. Continue until you reach your desired headband width. I like a big head band for optimal warmth, but I played it safe as these were for gifts.
The next beige headband was knit vertically. It was made from 12 stitches cast on size 7 needles. This band was made from the simplest of ribs, knit1purl1. If you keep your stitch count an even number you will always be knitting the first stitch of the row. This headband has much less stretch, so make sure you make it the right length for your head, which is easier as you can determine that as you go not when you cast on.
The next headband is teal and is made from the seed stitch. Again cast on about 81 stitches (keep an odd number) onto size 7 needles. You will be doing the same stitch as the previous headband k1p1, but as you have an odd number of stitches, when you knit the first stitch of every row your final pattern will end up as the seed stitch. This is a denser stitch and doesn’t look anything like the ribbing the previous pattern creates.
The next two head bands are a nice grey with brown and black sprinkles, and a beautiful olive green that looks brown in some light. I cast on about 80 stitches onto size 7 needles, and proceeded to do the k1p1 rib for 5 or 6 rows. I then switched to the stockinette stitch for 10-14 rows. This stitch is completely knitting one row, then purling the next entire row, and repeating. Once done with this section I went back to k1p1 and did a matching 5 or 6 rows.
The final set of head bands, by far the most popular, were the braided headbands on the far right. I am yet to perfect cable knitting, so this headband is a good alternative to cabling and is quite easy to create. I cast on 8 stitches and knit a k1p1 rib until the piece fit around my head perfectly without any stretching. Repeat this two more times. Once you have three pieces braid them together so that they remain flat and create the braid density you desire. Once you’ve established the weave, sew the ends of your long pieces together so that you have an infinity braid. Enjoy!
Model pictures coming soon! Click HERE to see what I have so far. I know it’s hard to guess what they’ll look like on you, so I’ll try to help with that!
Also, if you would like a more specific or traditionally written pattern, please leave a comment and I can write one up.
I love them! I’ve never actually made knitted headbands before.
Thank you! This was my first knitting project in a while as I’ve been pretty busy, and this is a good one to practice basic rib stitches!
Those are cure, I especially like the braided variety! I knit a headband once, but it was more delicate, lacy one (and my first time trying anything lacy) and it didn’t work out well..I’ve never really been able to keep them on my head very well, they always pop off.
Yeah I’ve had that problem. A friend complained about it so I made her the one above that’s just made out of k2p2 ribbing. It’s really stretchy so it doesn’t tend to want move around as much. I also find that if I bobby pin my behind my ear that will keep them from popping off.
Beautiful! Check your local thrift store/charity shop for knitting needles. They’re usually 10 or 25 cents and a lot of times they have circulars and dps.
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Thanks for this simple braided headband. It was a perfect project for a friend who I help with knitting. She is at an assisted living facility and has macular degeneration but still knits. As she says, “More from the feel of it than anything else.” She knit the braided headband in three colors for her granddaughter.