The Free Pattern

See "The Details" tab for size, yarn, needle, and gauge information.

Glossary:
Ch = chain; DPN(s) = double-point needle(s); K = knit; St(s) = stitch(es).

Cast on:
Work provisional crochet cast-on as follows:

Make a slip knot with waste yarn and place loop onto crochet hook. Hold one double-point needle and waste yarn in left hand and crochet hook in right; form an ‘X’ with left-pointing hook on top of right-pointing needle, and yarn behind needle (knitting needle is ‘sandwiched’ between hook and yarn).

*Using crochet hook, Ch 1, pulling yarn through loop on hook and catching needle under chain. Bring yarn back behind needle.* Repeat between * * until 24 sts are cast onto needle. Continuing with waste yarn and hook only, Ch 3; place a locking marker into last chain; cut yarn, tighten around locking marker.

Divide sts onto 3 double-point needles. [8/8/8]

Knit:
Join in the round, being careful not to twist. Clip a locking marker onto the first st to mark beginning of round.

Knit every round until piece measures approx. 20"/51cm long, or desired length (aim for 1–2"/2.5–5cm shorter than head measurement), leaving approx. 2 yds/m for grafting.

Prepare to graft:
Distribute 24 sts onto two double-point needles. [12/12]

Remove locking marker from chain and unzip provisional cast-on chain, picking up live sts onto two double-point needles. Make sure you have 24 sts and each st is sitting with correct orientation on needle (i.e., right leg in front). [12/12]

Grafting:
Bring ends together to form a loop, aligning cast-on tail with beginning of last round. Thread long tail onto darning needle (darner). Hold two needles parallel in left hand (first needle form last-worked round and first needle in cast-on end), with left index finger inserted down between needles to keep sts slack, and graft as follows:

Set-up steps: Insert darner into first st on front needle purlwise. Leave st on needle and pull yarn through. Insert darner into first st on back needle knitwise, leave st on needle and pull yarn through.

Step 1: Insert darner into first st on front needle knitwise. Lift st off needle, but do not pull yarn through st yet.

Step 2: Insert darner into next st on front needle purlwise. Leave st on needle and pull yarn through (do not pull up tightly).

Step 3: Insert darner into first st on back needle purlwise. Lift st off needle, but do not pull yarn through st yet.

Step 4: Insert darner into next st on back needle knitwise. Leave st on needle and pull yarn through (do not pull up tightly).

Repeat Steps 1–4; when first needles are empty, use tip of darner to adjust tension of grafted sts to match tension of knitted rounds. Repeat for remaining needles, ending with Steps 1 then 3.

Finishing:
Weave in tails as invisibly as possible and bury them inside headband; trim tails close.

Soak headband for 20 minutes in tepid water with no-rinse wool soap. Gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Roll in towel and squeeze out more moisture. Lay flat on moisture-safe blocking surface. Allow to dry thoroughly.