Easy Headband Knitting Patterns

I used to always say that knitting a scarf was the ideal first knitting project, because it gives you a lot of time to learn the basics and it doesn’t matter if it ends up a little wonky at the edges or with extra stitches because it will still keep you warm.

But a lot of people get bored before they get to the end of a garter stitch scarf, so maybe a headband is a better first project option? They’re a great way to learn just about any knitting stitch you’d like, they make great gifts and are a nice way to add a little warmth when it’s cold inside a building without having to wear a hat.

On my website I have a pattern for learning brioche knitting by knitting a headband, for example, and I taught a class on basic knit headbands as part of a crafts summit, for example. But there’s probably a headband knitting pattern out there for any stitch pattern you want to try or technique you want to learn.

We’ve got garter stitch in Lulu Pattern’s Colorful Twist headband, worked in bulky yarn, sized from newborns through adults and available on Etsy. Or throw in a simple knit purl stitch pattern like on this design using worsted weight yarn from Binge Tricot (that one is in English and French, and you can use a provisional cast on if you want to up the skill level).

Learn cables with an easy pattern in super bulky yarn, like this one from Mirella Moments. Or add a twist to your twists as in the Twist Headband from Muki Crafts, which uses bulky weight yarn and is sized to fit a toddler, child or adult woman.

This pattern from Lara Art UA on Etsy adds a little increasing and decreasing to make a cover for your ears, while the Banda Almena from Beatriz Molina (find it on Ravelry) throws in a bit of colorwork.

Get another take on a brioche headband with this free pattern from Ysolda Teague (also on Raverly), or try your hand at double knitting with this simple headband from Etsy seller Towela Designs. So many fun choices!

Do you have a favorite headband knitting pattern? I’d love to hear about it.

Next Pattern:

Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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Have you read?

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