Have a Circular Knitting Machine? Make a Twisted Headband!

Over the holidays I started getting into using my circular knitting machine more, and though I would never give up on knitting and crocheting with real needles and hooks, I’ve got to say it’s a lot of fun for quick little projects. I have a Sentro 40 pin (and a 22 pin that I actually haven’t used yet!) and it’s been a lot of fun learning what they can do.

One of the classic early projects that a lot of people do when they first get a machine is to knit a twisted headband. It’s a really quick and easy project, and when you do it on a 40 or 48 pin it’s wide enough that it can double as earwarmers when you need it.

I shared my method for making a twisted headband over at Our Daily Craft, and this project comes in clutch for bad hair days or when you’re growing out your bangs like I (still) am. It’s almost like a messy bun hat.

They’re really quick and easy to make and this would be a great gift to stockpile for the holidays. You can make it on whatever machine you have, using whatever weight 3 or 4 yarn you have lying around. The one pictured here is Berroco Ultra Alpaca, which is great for a winter headband, but you could use an acrylic or a blend with less wool for headbands to wear year round.

Use the same pattern to make one on a 22-pin and it would be great to wear any time regardless of fiber.

Don’t have a knitting machine and you want to make one of these? It’s just a knit tube so you can cast on 22, 40, or any number of stitches you like, knit in the round until it is almost as long as your head is around where you would want to wear it (I did 20 inches/51 cm). Bind off and follow the instructions in the pattern to make the twist.

Grab the pattern at Our Daily Craft.

Getting ready for back to school makes me think about pencil crafts, so let’s take a look at some pencil themed knitting patterns!

I recently made a pencil on a circular knitting machine, and it was a fun, quick, easy project that uses little bits of leftover yarn (and if you don’t have yellow you can make it a colored pencil using whatever color’s your favorite). And if you want to make a bigger version check out this pattern from Orange Olive Road on Etsy.

If you want to knit a pencil pillow by hand, check out Sketchy, available on Ravelry from Shana S. Cohen. This one uses worsted weight yarn and has two size options and the choice to make a pencil with an eraser or a colored pencil.

Pencil scarves seem to be the most popular kind of pencil knitting pattern, and there are lot of cute ones. This one from Cosy Craft UK mostly uses garter stitch, with some welts to add texture and what looks like an I-cord edging. It calls for DK weight yarn.

If you want to go all garter stitch try this version from Emsley Co Creations, which uses five colors of DK weight yarn and just a little shaping to make the point of the pencil.

There’s also this fun, mostly stockinette so it looks like it curls a bit, pencil pattern that looks like it’s worked in chunky yarn from Little Knits Studio. This one uses just a little garter stitch and easy shaping for the point.

If you don’t want a pencil scarf, how about some pencil socks? The No. 2 Pencil Socks from The Yarn Enabler are available from Ravelry and use five colors of sock yarn. They feature wide ribs to mimic the texture of a pencil and have options to be worked from the top down or the toe up.

Needs Sharpening by Alexander Walker is a free pattern on Ravelry that uses five colors of sock yarn to make a sort of shortie sock. The little bit of black at the tips of the toes inspired the name. These, too, can be worked in either direction and are available in three sizes.

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