Two-by-two ribbed headband

Two-by-two rib — two knits, two purls, all the way along — makes a fabric that pulls in on itself and springs back when stretched. Measured flat and unstretched it is much narrower than the number of stitches suggests, and that is the whole mechanism of the thing: the band grips because it is trying to return to a size smaller than your head.

So the length is worked to roughly 88% of the head measurement. An adult head is commonly 54 to 58cm round the forehead; 48cm of knitting suits the middle of that range and stretches comfortably over either end of it. Measure the head first and scale from there rather than taking the number on trust.

What this was knitted at:

Gauge

24 sts and 30 rows to 10cm in 2×2 rib, relaxed and unstretched, on 4mm needles

Finished band

10cm wide, 48cm round

Fits

a head of about 54–58cm

Cast on

24 stitches — a multiple of 4

1. 1

   Step 1: Cast on 24 stitches

   Twenty-four gives a 10cm band at this gauge. For a wider band cast on in multiples of four — 28 stitches gives about 11.5cm, 32 gives about 13cm.

   You will know it worked when: 24 stitches, a multiple of 4.

2. 2

   Step 2: Every row: k2, p2 to the end

   Knit two, purl two, repeated six times across the row. Because the stitch count is a multiple of four and you start each row on the knit side of the pattern, every row is worked identically — there is no right-side and wrong-side row to keep track of.

   You will know it worked when: Columns of knit stitches with valleys between them, on both faces.

3. 3

   Step 3: Work until the band measures 48cm relaxed

   About 144 rows at this gauge. Measure it lying flat every twenty rows or so; do not stretch it against the head to check, because it will always seem long enough when stretched.

4. 4

   Step 4: Cast off in pattern

   Knit the knits and purl the purls as you cast off. Casting off in plain knit across a rib makes a hard, non-stretchy edge that fights the fabric either side of the seam.

   You will know it worked when: A cast-off edge that stretches as much as the band does.

5. 5

   Step 5: Join the two ends

   Bring the cast-on and cast-off edges together without twisting the band, and sew them with mattress stitch through the outermost column of stitches on each side. Working through the outer column rather than over the edge keeps the seam from standing proud on the forehead.

   You will know it worked when: A ring, with a seam you cannot feel when it is on.

The band length is the only number that changes. Measure round the head above the ears, take 88% of it, and knit to that. For a child of about 50cm that is 44cm of knitting; for a 60cm head it is 53cm.

The width is free — it does not affect the fit, only the look. A 24-stitch band sits like a headband and a 40-stitch one worked at the same gauge sits like an ear-warmer.