Knitting Beginner Headband YR-K05

Lane Headband

Row 1 (RS): K2, *p2, k2; rep from * to end.
Row 2 (WS): P2, *k2, p2; rep from * to end.

Knit a narrow strip in your favourite stitch and sew the ends together. Warm ears, no hat hair.

Finished size: 3½ in / 9 cm wide × 21 in / 53 cm around
Fit: Fits a head of about 22–23 in
Yarn: About 85 yd / 80 m of DK weight (category 3) wool or wool blend yarn. Buy 1 skein of 250 yd (this includes 10% extra).
Needles: US 6 (4 mm) straight needles
Notions: Tapestry needle
Gauge: 26 sts and 30 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in 2×2 rib. Swatch first and change needle size if needed: more stitches than this means go up a size, fewer means go down.

Notes

Worked flat across the width, then seamed into a loop. The band is 1–2 in / 2.5–5 cm smaller than the head so it hugs without slipping.
Stretchy and reversible-looking. Measure gauge relaxed, not stretched.

Worked over a multiple of 4 sts plus 2.

Cast on 22 sts, leaving a 12 in / 30 cm tail for sewing.
Work in 2×2 rib (see “Stitch pattern” above), repeating its rows.
Continue until the band measures 21 in / 53 cm from the cast-on edge.
Bind off loosely in pattern, knitting the knit stitches and purling the purl stitches as they face you.

Bring the cast-on and bind-off edges together without twisting the band. Using the cast-on tail, sew them together with mattress stitch. Weave in the ends.