Braided Headband Knitting Pattern

The best way to learn any new skill in knitting is to try it on a small project, preferably something that doesn’t have to be perfect in terms of size.

I love using scarves as learning projects, but if you want something a little smaller you can try a washcloth. Or if you’d rather make something you can wear even as you’re learning new skills, headbands and earwarmers are great projects for that.

These little projects don’t take a lot of yarn or time to knit. They don’t have to fit exactly perfectly because they can stretch (and heads come in lots of different sizes). And they give you a little canvas to play with stitch patterns, colorwork and other kinds of knitting techniques.

In this case, a little cable.

The braided headband pattern from Mirella Moments uses worsted weight yarn and has a braided cable running down the middle. There are smaller cables on each side and a bit of garter stitch edging to hold it all together. The little side cables are so small you can even use them to practice working cables without a cable needle.

The pattern comes in one size but should fit a variety of heads. If you want to make it smaller or larger you can just subtract or add length as you go. The project is knit flat and seamed into a circle when the knitting is done.

Once you get the hang of it, this pattern would make a great gift knit, or you could donate them to charity in the winter months.

You can grab the free pattern from Mirella Moments.

Looking for more easy cable knitting patterns? I love this cable knit hat as a beginner cable project, or you can check out my collection of cable knitting patterns to boost your skills.

[Photo: Mirella Moments]

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If you’re new to lace knitting or just aren’t sure how to incorporate the technique into garments, check out these tops and sweaters that use lace as a decorative element.

The easiest lace out there is eyelets, and you can practice them plenty with this eyelet covered sweater from Knitcro Addict. It uses light/DK weight yarn and is worked in four pieces knit flat. It’s intended to be a little cropped and a little oversized, and includes sizes XS to XXL in the pattern.

If you’re in parts of the world where it’s getting colder as you read this, the Nora sweater from Bummbul might be a good choice. This is actually a great one for learning lace because it’s worked in super bulky yarn, which makes it easier to see what you’re doing and makes the lace super graphic. This one just comes in one size, with a 42 inch (106) cm bust, but that could fit a variety of people depending on how much ease you like.

Minimi Knit Design has a cute allover lace cardigan worked in one piece from the bottom up. It’s worked in lace weight mohair held double, which maybe isn’t the best for those new to lace (because it can be hard to rip out) but it sure is pretty. Sizes range to fit from 30 to 66 inches/76 to 168 cm bust measurements.

If you’d rather not have lace all over your sweater, you can knit the Lumi sweater from Originally Lovely, which has a chevron lace pattern on the yoke and is otherwise worked in reverse stockinette stitch. (It’s worked inside out so you don’t have to purl every stitch.) The pattern has 9 sizes from XS to 5XL and uses worsted weight yarn.

Or try the super romantic sookie blouse from Trust the mojo (available on Ravelry). This sweet top is started working flat from the bottom up and has a V-neck and I-cord edgings. The sleeves are worked separately in the round, and the pieces are all joined together to work in one piece to finish off the top. It comes in eight sizes and is available in English and French.

You can also pair lacy sleeves with an otherwise plain top, like on the Starflower Wrap from Annelise Driscoll Gingrow. This intermediate pattern makes a wrap sweater with generous lacy sleeves and a double wrap belt. The pattern has nine sizes, from XS to 5XL, and is available for free from Hobbi.

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