How to Knit the Ends of a Headband
A knit headband is a perfect way to reflect your personality and style. Any type of yarn will do, since you can make a thick wool headband that covers your ears during winter, and a light cotton or linen blend of yarn can be used for a headband that's cut out for the warmer months. While it's a quick and satisfying knitting project, it's important not to rush the finishing touches. The way that your headband connects at the back of the head is just as important as any cabling or intricate stitch patterns that are visible from the front. You can finish the ends of your headband in a way that makes it comfortable for you to wear, incorporating some small embellishments that add to the overall design.
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Things You'll Need
- Yarn
- Knitting needles
- Tapestry needle
- Button (optional)
- Embroidery thread (optional)
Instructions
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Seaming the Two Ends Together
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1
Knit the headband to the desired length. Bind off the stitches using your preferred bind-off method. A looser bind-off may be helpful if you are new to seaming your knitting. Cut the yarn, making sure to leave a length of yarn that is at least twice the length of your bound-off edge.
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2
Place the headband on a flat surface with the right side (outer side) down and the wrong side (inner side) facing up. Fold the length of the knitting together, creating a loop where the two shorter ends touch each other. Make sure that the left-over length of yarn is hanging from the edge closest to you.
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3
Seam up the two short sides using the mattress stitch, with a tapestry needle and the length of yarn from your bind-off. After threading through all of the end stitches, pull the yarn to draw the two ends of the headband together.
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4
Weave in any loose ends, and block if desired.
Adding a Button/Buttonhole
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5
Knit 1 inch beyond desired length if you want to create a buttonhole. For example, if your target length is 18 inches, knit until your headband measures 19 inches.
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6
Create a buttonhole over the next two rows, using your preferred method.
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7
Knit for 1/2 inch more and then bind off, using your preferred method.
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8
Turn your work so that the right side of the cast-on edge is facing you. Sew on the button, using a needle and either embroidery thread or leftover yarn. Leave about 1/2 inch of space between the button and the cast-on edge.
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9
Weave in any loose ends, and block if desired.
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1
Tips & Warnings
When making a buttonhole, you can adjust the length of your knitting according to the size of the button and your personal preferences. It's important to leave enough knitted area between the edges of your work and both the button and the buttonhole; otherwise, any tension from connecting the two ends around the head may stretch or damage your headband.
If adding a button, you can choose to create two or three buttonholes along the end of the headband before binding off. This allows the wearer to adjust the circumference of the headband.
After completing the buttonhole, you can shape the end of the headband in a variety of ways, such as tapering it with paired decreases.
Resources
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