Inside: Free pattern for the needle knti Cabled Headbands with written instructions for 2 different cable designs and tutorial videos for both right and left handed knitters.
Keep off the chill with these two beautiful needle knit Cabled Headbands.
Cables are a classic design and we all love the twisted look they give. If you’re new to knitting cables a headband is a great beginner project. It’s short enough to give you some practice while you’re learning, but still gives you a complete project.
Cables are made when you twist two sets of stitches. In this pattern I used a 2 over 2 cross cable. You skip 2 stitches by moving them to a cable needle, knit the next 2 stitches then knit the 2 stitches on the cable needle. This crosses the stitches over each other. Cables can be either right or left depending on the direction you twist them.
The Rope Cable Headband uses a single cable with few rows in between to create the traditional twisted rope design. The Squiggle Cable Headband features a cable that twists left and right meandering in a playful design. This design uses both right and left cross cables.
Squiggle Cable (bottom)
Pattern includes written instructions for both designs and links to fully captioned tutorial videos demonstrating the cables.
Needle Knit Cabled Headbands
By Kristen Mangus
A downloadable PDF of this pattern is available in my Etsy store or from Ravelry at the links below:
MATERIALS
(Materials list may contain affiliate links to products I used to make this project. Using these links costs you nothing, but helps support GKK.)
Yarn
Bulky (#5) weight yarn
Yarn Bee Soft & Sleek Chunky (211 yds/5 oz., 193 m/142 g)
in color Sage used in sample. 1 ball
Needles
US 10 (6 mm) needles
Knitter’s Pride Karbonz DPNs used in sample.
Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
Measuring tape
GAUGE 4 sts x 5 rows = 1” (2.5 cm) in 2×2 ribbing
SKILL LEVEL
Rope Cable Headband – Beginner+
Squiggle Cable Headband – Intermediate
MEASUREMENT
Approx. 3” wide x 21.5” long* (7.6 x 54.5 cm)
*Finished headband should measure 2-2.5” less than head circumference of wearer. Adjust length to fit the wearer.
ABBREVIATIONS
2/2LC = 2 over 2 Left Cable
2/2RC = 2 over 2 Right Cable
K = Knit
Rep = Repeat
RS = Right side
Sl = Slip stitch
St(s) = Stitch(es)
WS = Wrong side
New to knitting? I’ve got a How to Knit Beginner Video Series to teach you ALL the basics.
NOTES
Cast on: I recommend the long tail cast on.
Bind off: Bind off in pattern. “In pattern” means you knit the knits and purl the purls as you work your bind off.
Slip stitch: Slip stitch purlwise, bring the working yarn to front before slipping on a purl row.
Ribbing: 2 x 2 ribbing (knit 2, purl 2) is used in this pattern as the border for the cable.
Headband length: Measure the circumference of the head then subtract 2-2.5” (5-6.5 cm). Be sure to measure as you knit and adjust the number of pattern repeats to get the correct length.
Rope Cable Headband
NOTES
Our Rope Cabled Headband features a single cable repeated every 4 rows. If you prefer more spacing between the cables, add extra rows by repeating Rows 1-2 of the Cable Pattern one or two additional times.
2/2LC: 2 over 2 Left Cable. Remove next 2 sts with cable needle and let hang to front of work. Knit next 2 2 stitches making sure to draw up first stitch tighter. Next work 2 sts held on cable needle in order. Knitting may be tight for next row but will ease up on next cable row.
TIP: I used a letter J-shaped cable needle; take sts off with smaller end of J-hook then knit stitches in order using longer part of J-hook as you would from a needle.
INSTRUCTIONS
Cast on 14 stitches.
Set Up for Cables:
Row 1 (WS): Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 2 (RS): Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Rows 3-6: Rep Rows 1-2 twice.
Row 7: Rep Row 1.
Cable Pattern:
Row 8 (RS): Sl. K2, P2. 2/2LC, P2, K3.
Row 9: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 10: Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Row 11: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Rep Rows 8-11 21 times [approx 20” (51 cm)].
Rep Rows 10-11 twice or to desired length.
Finishing:
Bind off in pattern leaving long tail for seaming.
From wrong side, sew ends together without twisting the headband. Weave in ends.
Squiggle Cable Headband
NOTES
The Squiggle Cable Headband uses both right and left twist cables.
2/2LC: 2 over 2 Left Cable. Remove next 2 sts with cable needle and let hang to front of work. Knit next 2 2 stitches making sure to draw up first stitch tighter. Next work 2 sts held on cable needle in order. Knitting may be tight for next round but will ease up on next cable row.
2/2RC: 2 over 2 Right Cable. Remove next 2 sts with cable needle and let hang to back of work. Knit next 2 stitches making sure to draw up first stitch tighter. Next work 2 sts held on cable needle in order. Knitting may be tight for next row but will ease up on next cable row.
TIP: I used a letter J-shaped cable needle; take sts off with smaller end of J-hook then knit stitches in order using longer part of J-hook as you would from a needle.
INSTRUCTIONS
Cast on 14 stitches from right to left.
Set Up for Cables:
Row 1 (WS): Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 2 (RS): Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Rows 3-6: Rep Rows 1-2 twice.
Row 7: Rep Row 1.
Cable Pattern:
Row 8 (RS): Sl. K2, P2. 2/2LC, P2, K3.
Row 9: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 10: Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Rows 11-12: Rep rows 9-10.
Row 13: Rep row 9 once.
Rows 14: Sl. K2, P2. 2/2LC, P2, K3.
Row 15: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 16: Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Rows 17–20: Rep rows 15-16 twice.
Row 21: Rep row 15 once.
[Serpentine Right]
Row 22: Sl. K2, P2. 2/2RC, P2, K3.
Row 23: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 24: Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Row 25: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 26: Sl. K2, P2. 2/2LC, P2, K3.
Rows 27-29: Rep rows 23-25
Rows 30-37: Rep rows 22-29 once.
Rows 38-41: Rep rows 22-25 once.
Row 42: Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Row 43: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Row 44: Sl. K2, P2, K4, P2, K3.
Row 45: Sl. P2, K2, P4, K2, P3.
Rep Cable Pattern Rows 8-45 once.
Rep Cable Pattern Rows 8-21 once.
[Headband should measure approximately 21” (53.5 cm).]
If needed, rep Row 1 and 2 until desired length.
Finishing:
Bind off in pattern leaving long tail for seaming.
From wrong side, sew ends together without twisting the headband.
Weave in ends.
PIN IT!
Needle Knit Cabled Headbands Tutorial Videos
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The following tutorial videos demonstrate the 2 over 2 cables (2/2RC and 2/2LC) used in these patterns.