These cable knit headbands are my latest addiction. I have first seen them in a book and knitted one for myself. Then forgot all about it and gave the book back to the library without copying the diagram. Then my cousin and a couple of friends loved my headband and asked me to make one for them each. Only then I remembered I didn't have the diagram anymore.
So I took the prototype, checked it for hours (literally, I'm not much of a knitting guru) and came up with more or less a similar pattern, all by myself (cheers!).
Cable knit may seem difficult at first glance but once you get a grip, it goes on smoothly and you don't even have to check the diagram anymore. But if you are a beginner level knitter, you may just want to practice with some left over yarn first and then move on to the real thing!
So, first cast on 28 stitches and rib stitch the first row (1 knit, 1 purl, .... and so on). Then, repeat the following diagram until the headband reaches the desired length (~50-52 cm). By the way, I almost always slip the first stitch of each row to have a neater edge.
Cable knit headband diagram
Well, I'm sure experienced knitters will grasp it at a glance but for those inexperienced ones just like myself: Odd numbered rows (1 ,3 ,5 ,7) are on the front; and even numbered ones (2, 4, 6, 8) are on the back side. So, when you're knitting the front, you should go from right-to-left; and when knitting the back, from left-to-right.
Once you reach the desired length, cast off by knitting two stitches together and always transfering that knitted stitch to the left needle...
And sew the two ends together by using the tail with a yarn needle. You may finish your headband at this point; but if you want a fancier one, you can gather the seam to resemble a bow.
If you want even a fancier one, you can cast on another 15 stitches and make a rib stitched (1 knit-1 purl...) piece to cover the bow area and decorate it with a cute button. And wrap this piece around the headband.
So you have 3 alternatives for a headband from a very plain one (if you call cable knit plain!) to a very fancy one. You can finish it in front of the TV in a couple of nights and show off with it! But I must warn you: Be prepared for some requests from family and friends :o)
Wonderful! I love your artistic talent - thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat size needle and yarn did you use?
ReplyDeleteThere is something wrong with this pattern..the diagram instructions does NOT match the picture shown..I followed the diagram to a T and ended up with seed stitches on each side of the cable. Not a happy camper
ReplyDeleteThis is what the pattern should be:
DeleteCO 29 st
Row 1: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K3, C6L (3 st onto cable needle hold front, K3, K3 off cable needle), C6R (3st onto cable needle hold back, K3, K3 off cable needle), K3,P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Row 2 & 4 (back side): P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, P15, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1.
Row 3 (front side): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K15, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Row5: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, C6R (3st onto cable needle hold back, K3, K3 off cable needle), C6L (3 st onto cable needle hold front, K3, K3 off cable needle), K3, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Rows 6-8: repeat rows 2-4
Repeat rows 1-8 until desired length.
Hopefully I didn’t mess up anywhere.
Oops, I did.
DeleteIGNORE previous posting.
This is what the pattern should be:
CO 29 st
Row 1: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K3, C6L (3 st onto cable needle hold front, K3, K3 off cable needle), C6R (3st onto cable needle hold back, K3, K3 off cable needle), P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Row 2 & 4 (back side): P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, P15, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1.
Row 3 (front side): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K15, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Row5: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, C6R (3st onto cable needle hold back, K3, K3 off cable needle), C6L (3 st onto cable needle hold front, K3, K3 off cable needle), K3, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Rows 6-8: repeat rows 2-4
Repeat rows 1-8 until desired length.
I followed this, turned out great!
DeleteI tried this and it worked really well too
DeleteHow long did it take you to make it?
DeleteAnd what size needles did you use?
Thanks
What kind of yarn is this?
ReplyDeleteThis is what the pattern should be:
ReplyDeleteCO 29 st
Row 1: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K3, C6L (3 st onto cable needle hold front, K3, K3 off cable needle), C6R (3st onto cable needle hold back, K3, K3 off cable needle), P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Row 2 & 4 (back side): P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, P15, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1.
Row 3 (front side): K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K15, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Row5: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, C6R (3st onto cable needle hold back, K3, K3 off cable needle), C6L (3 st onto cable needle hold front, K3, K3 off cable needle), K3, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1.
Rows 6-8: repeat rows 2-4
Repeat rows 1-8 until desired length.
How do you make the button ban to go around the headband
ReplyDeleteIs it possible to have the button band written out step by step to follow by. Would greatly appreciate it. lancebelinda@hotmail.com
DeleteWhat size needle did you use for this? I looked over the posting a couple of time and didn't see it in there.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried the modified version? I've already done the one posted by the blogger and had to rip it all out because it was incorrect. I'd hate to do it all over AGAIN with the wrong pattern AGAIN. haha. Trying to get this done for a Christmas present (I'm a newbie knitter, if you can't tell)
ReplyDeleteThe revised version worked well- I used 5.5mm needles
ReplyDeleteWhich of all of the patterns on the comments should be followed? The 3rd from Anonymous?
ReplyDeleteI had no luck with the written pattern, only the diagram.
ReplyDeletehow do you make the button hole?
DeleteButtonholes are made by yarn over knit 2 together....for a big button yarn over twice or 3 times, depending upon the size of the button you want to use....on the next row just knit the yarn over(s) as 1 stitch....easy peasy!!! :)
ReplyDeleteSeriously though...what needle size and yarn weight? I just tried this with us 10's and 5 weight and it turned out wide enough to be a scarf! I'm a rookie in need of some help!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if my post published or not, but realized I didn't press "reply" the first time! Sorry. Here is post #2.
DeleteI'm using a DK yarn weight, and size 4mm needles. I also used the second anonymous post pattern, and it's looking great!
This website is also a good help on different yarn weights:
Deletehttp://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/yarnInfo.cgi?yarnByClass=1
Don't know how to make the button piece...I know I have to cast on 15 and k1 p1 but I don't know where to go from there or how to get the oval shape
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for a lovely pattern! Was looking for a clean edge for a headband I'm working on I found you. Yeah!
ReplyDeleteSo from what I've read from the post and the comments, I have basically gathered that I should use somewhere between size 4-5.5mm needles, DK weight yarn, and go off of the second post by an anonymous user, I assume the one right after the first one they put up correcting it. I have never knitted a day in my life, but I think tomorrow is it. Hopefully Google can help me out, and this pattern isn't too difficult. I'm not too sure on how to approach the little closure button piece though.... maybe I need to go re read the comments and focus on that little part.
ReplyDeleteAny other tips would be greatly appreciated!
Could someone plz tell how to make the button piece??? Im a beginner....also, this might be a dumb question but what does the pattern mean my (front and back) im so confused
ReplyDeleteThe front of your pattern is the side that will be the "outside" (the side people see when you finish, the back is the reverse (so a knit on the front will look like a purl on the back), the reason you knit in opposites is so that the pattern stays consistent and you can make a pattern. Whenever you get to the end of a row, you have to turn your work so that you're working on the other side (this will happen automatically as you set up to knit with your stitches at the right angle)
DeleteWhy does the written out pattern not match the picture of the actual finish product??
ReplyDeleteSo for rows 6-8 you are supposed to repeat rows 1-4 not 2-4. I think that is what is wrong. Can anybody else clarify this?
ReplyDeleteNo, follow 2-4 because you need to be on the front side to do the cable so you cable in row one, row 2 is the back side, row 3 is the front side, row 4 is the back side and then row 5 is the next cable on the front again. That means for 6,7, 8 do the same as 2, 3,4 so that you end up back in the right place to do the cable.
DeleteHello! I followed the corrected pattern and it came out beautifully, thank you! I was wondering if someone could explain how to do the button flap. I am a beginner knitter and I am not sure how to make the shape become oval. I know I will have to decrease, but where? Can someone please help?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Did anyone ever figure out how to do the button band that wraps around? If so please please please share. I'm still a beginner and cannot figure it out. Any help would be great!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHOW DO U DO THE BUTTON BAND? WHY IS NO ONE ANSWERING THIS QUESTION POSED BY OTHER PEOPLE?
ReplyDeleteJust looking at it, I would say cast on 5, knit rib pattern for the first row then do M1F,M1B increases in the middle for each following row til you get to 15sts then knit a rib row and start the k2tog,p2tog in the middle of rib pattern to decrease and cast off again at 5. I will try and let you know. You may have to add a row or two of rib pattern between the increases and decreases to make it long enough to wrap without scrunching. As for the button loop, just use your tail or cast on yarn and tie it to the other side of the same end. You can make it as big or as small as your button that way and it keeps your tail from coming undone.
Deletehow did you make out with the button band
DeleteHaven't got to it yet due to the holidays.
DeleteI accomplished the button piece by starting with a magic circle, casting on 15. http://m.instructables.com/id/Magic-Circle-Cast-On/all/
ReplyDeleteThen, after using a ribbed stitch for several rows, to finish instead of casting off traditionally I used a yarn needle and threaded my long tail through the middle of all of my stitches ( where my knitting needle was) and pulled it tightly to make it gather. I sewed the button to this end, and then slipped my loop from the magic circle over the button and pulled that tight to gather the bottom and form a loop with the whole ribbed piece over the gathered headband. Hope that makes enough sense to help someone.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteChart Correction
ReplyDeleteThe chart symbols for rows 2, 4, 6,and 8 are incorrect. The X's should be Dots and the Dots should be X's. for these rows Knit the Knits and purl the purls. I just finished 13 rows and it looks great. Please note depending on your color of yarn the stitches may be hard to see so be sure to use the corrected chart symbols.
I've been using the original diagram as is and it's coming out beautifully. I haven't done the button part yet, but it really just looks like you make a 15 stitch wide strip and tie a knot through the loops at each each to round it out rather than increasing or decreasing, and then chain a loop with a crochet hook to go around the button.
ReplyDeleteI just completed two headbands using the ORIGINAL diagram. I had absolutely no problems with it and it came out just like the picture. I used a DK weight yarn and 4.0 mm needles. haven't done the button band yet, but I'll probably take 15 sts, K1, P1 to make a rib, then use the cast on tail to gather up the end stitches, and single chain with a crochet hook, on the cast off edge for the button loop. That should give me that oval look.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe pattern works perfectly as the author wrote it except for one thing: she says to rib stitch the first row. This should state to rib stitch two rows in the pattern of rows 3 and 4 before you start row one on the diagram. This gives you a base for the crossover of the cable to come from. The reason anonymous's pattern isn't quite right is it doesn't have the purl in between each strand of the cable to make the cable stand out more from the rest of the knitting. Anonymous's pattern produces a cable but it is less distinct than the original. For those of you who don't knit off of diagrams well here is my translation of the original pattern:
DeleteCO 28 (I used medium weight (4) yarn and 5mm needles)
Row 1 - K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P2,(K2,P1)4 times,K2,P2,K1,P1,K1,P1,K1
Row 2 - P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,K2,(P2,K1) 4 times,P2,K2,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1
Row 3 - K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P2,K2,P1,(slip 2 stitches onto cable needle,
hold in front, K2,P1, K2 off of cable needle, P1) twice,
P1,K1,P1,K1,P1,K1
Row 4 - Repeat Row 2
Row 5 - Repeat Row 1
Row 6 - Repeat Row 2
Row 7 - K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P2,(slip 2 stitches onto cable needle,
hold in back, K2,P1, K2 off of cable needle, P1) twice, K2,P2,
K1,P1,K1,P1,K1
Row 8 - Repeat Row 2
Repeat Rows 1 thru 8 until desired length.
Have you included the two rows of rib in your pattern or do I need to knit those two rows before I knit the pattern as you have written above?
DeleteAlso rows 3 is your first cable row. Do you mean to knit two rows of 1 & 2 rather than rows 3 & 4 of the pattern?
DeleteI agree with using the original pattern. I believe people are not realizing or fully reading the instructions regarding how one works back and forth and how stitch symbols switch and mean different things (opposite) on even and odd rows. They may not realize you read the pattern back and forth - Right to Left for front or right side rows and Left to Right for back or wrong side rows. The Magic Circle cast on method is described on the anonymous entry and works for the small band.
ReplyDeleteReally confused on this pattern. With all the back and forth on which one is right. Love the pattern but confused. Can someone clarify it
ReplyDeleteI just finished a headband with the pattern in the comments. I understand the back and forth and that the symbols mean different things on different rows but the chart here still looked strange to me. The corrected pattern in the comments worked up beautifully. I can't figure out the button part though. Best of luck to everyone =)
ReplyDeletethanks to your post
ReplyDeletethanks : ) this headband is gorgeous. I am Italian and your pattern is perfect.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Venezia.
Daniela
Greetings from Venezia.
Daniela