Headband #1: Barú
Overview
This is a headband that has two layers, Which makes it warmer than simpler headbands:
- Inner layer, invisible, sitting directly on your forehead
- Outer layer, exposed, sitting over the inner layer
The headband is knit in the round for twice the desired (final) length (height), folded inwards, and closed with Kitchener stitch.
You can change yarns to:
Add colorful stripes.
Combine scratchy/rough yarns for the outer layer with soft/gentle yarns for the inner layer.
I typically knit it in this order (which only matters if you’re using different yarns):
- Roughly half of the inner layer
- The full outer layer
- The remaining half of the inner layer
I think I associate this construction with Barú and the Caribbean mainly due to its simplicity; typically no fancy textures (just Stockinette stitch). There’s also the fact that due to being double-layered, it’s warmer than regular headbands.
Instructions
Size
Determine the desired row length, based on:
- Your head’s circumference
- The cm-per-stitch for your specific gauge
- The desired negative ease
Provisional cast-on
Use provisional cast-on for the desired number of stitches and get rid of the provisional cast on, capturing live stitches on a cable.
Knit
Knit in the round in your desired texture:
For the inner layer, I typically use Stockinette stitch
For the outer layer, I sometimes use Stockinette stitch but sometimes a more interesting stitch (such as moss stitch, seed stitch or double Moss stitch).
At desired length, change colors/yarns.
When you switch yarns, you’ll knit the entire row in the new yarn. When you are about to start the 2nd row in the new yarn, skip the next stitch (i.e., the very first stitch you knitted with the new yarn): slip it purlwise (i.e., without twisting it). This helps avoid vissible jogs.
Loop in
At desired length, fold the headband and use Kitchener stitch to join the top (most recent stitches) and bottom (first stitches from your provisional cast on).