anna knits - brooklyn beanie

I was gifted some beautiful North Light Fibers Fingerling 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Bamboo 2 ply yarn a few months ago. I was not sure what to make with it at first, but since I was not in the mood to knit on tiny needles, I decided to hold two strands of the fingerling yarn together and knit a hat with size US6 circular needles. I love the color combination of the gray and blue yarns, so I included a thin contrast stripe at the bottom. This is an easy unisex project that would make a great holiday gift. I included the pattern I used below. 

You can see a different style hat I made with the same yarn here. 

~Brooklyn Beanie Pattern ~

Yarn: I used 2 strands of North Light Fibers Fingerling 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Bamboo 2 ply held together in main color (MC) Stone Wall, and 2 stands of North Light Fibers Fingerling 80% Baby Alpaca, 20% Bamboo 2 ply held together in contrast color (CC) Cerulean Sea Glass. A thick sport or light worsened weight will get the same result.  

Needles: US6 circular and double pointed

Gauge: 25 stitches = 4", 30 rows = 4" in ribbed (K2, P2) stitch.

Finished hat size: fits 20" - 23" head circumference

K = knit

P = purl

K2tog = knit 2 stitches together

P2tog = purl 2 stitches together

Cast on 100 stitches in MC to circular needles

Round 1: Join work, place marker, and work K2, P2 around

Rounds 2-7: (K2, P2) around

Round 8: Switch to CC and K2, P2 around

Rounds 9-11: (K2, P2) around

Round 12: Switch to MC and K2, P2 around

Continue with K2, P2 until hat measures 7" - 7.5" from Round 1

Crown Shaping (switch to double pointed needles when needed):

Round 1: (K2tog, P2) around (75 stitches)

Round 2: (K2, P1) around

Round 3: (K1, P2tog) around (50 stitches)

Rounds 4-6: (K1, P1) around

Round 7: K2tog, (K2tog, P2tog) around (25 stitches)

Round 8: K1, (P1, K1) around

Round 9: P1, (K1, P1) around

Round 10: K1, (P1, K1) around

Round 11: K1 (K2tog, K1) around (17 stitches)

Cut yarn and weave through remaining stitches. Draw firm and fasten on inside. Weave in loose ends.  

Block using your preferred method.

See the Ravelry posting here. 

top braided headband pattern

I have spent my holiday vacation making a bunch of new knit headbands. They are fun, quick, and a great way to practice cabling. As an end of the year treat, I am sharing my pattern for a top braid headband. The wide band in the back keeps your ears nice and warm, while the cute braid in the front pulls the band out of your eyes. I use a super bulky 50% wool, 50% acrylic yarn. (All wool would be too scratchy.)

If you don't feel like knitting your own, you can purchase one knit by yours truly from my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/annaknitsetc!

See pictures of me sporting this headband in spearmint here, here, and here. See me in DC wearing a charcoal version here.

~Top Braided Headband Pattern ~

Yarn: Super Bulky, I used Loops & Threads Cozy Wool
Needles: US15
K=knit
P=purl

Cast on 12 stitches
Rounds 1-16: Knit stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next, repeat) starting with a knit row and ending with a purl row (or until you reach about 5 1/2 inches).
Round 17 (or however many rows you needed to reach 5 1/2 inches): Slip 4 stitches to cable needle or double pointed needle and hold in the back, K4 from the left hand needle, K4 from the cable needle or double pointed needle, K4.
Round 18: P
Round 19: K
Round 20: P
Round 21: K4, Slip 4 stitches to cable needle or double pointed needle and hold in the front, K4 from the left hand needle, K4 from the cable needle or double pointed needle.
Round 22: P
Round 23: K
Round 24: P
Repeat rounds 17-24. 32 rounds complete.
Repeat rounds 17-21. 37 rounds complete. 
Rounds 38-end: Knit stockinette stitch (knit one row, purl the next, repeat) starting with a purl row until the headband fits tightly around your head (about 14 rows). Remember, the headband will stretch slightly when blocked.
Bind off leaving a tail long enough to sew the back seam.  

Block using your preferred method.

Using mattress stitch, or your preferred method, attach the two ends of the headband together.

Go outside and test your Top Braided Headband! 

See the Ravelry posting here. 

anna knits - cable knit headband pattern

I finished my cable knit headband a few weeks ago, and I am now getting around to posting the pattern. It is a quick knit, and a great way to practice cables. See my progress here and my inspiration here. Enjoy!

~ Cable Knit Headband Pattern ~

I used 2 strands of Rowan Pure Wool 4 ply yarn in Toffee (453) together on a size US8 needle, but you could also use a single stand of worsened weight yarn, or even a thicker yarn for a chunkier headband.

Cast on 18 stitches

Round 1: K6, P6, K6

Round 2: P6, K6, P6

Round 3: K6, P6, K6

Round 4: P6, K6, P6

Round 5: K6, P6, K6 

Round 6: P6, K6, P6

Round 7: K6, P6, K6

Round 8: P6, slip 3 stitches to cable needle or double pointed needle and hold in the back, K3 from the left hand needle, K3 held in back from the cable needle or double pointed needle, P6

Repeat rounds 1-8 until your headband is long enough - you can test it around your head, but know that it will stretch out after it is blocked. My headband took 13 rounds.

Blocking will help to flatten out your headband, although I like a little curl to the edges. 

After blocking, attach the ends with mattress stitch. 

See the Ravelry posting here.