Cadwyn Headband

Cadwyn Headband by Kelly Menzies

What is Being Made

The Cadwyn Headband is a knitted accessory designed as a one-size-fits-all headband measuring approximately 54cm (21.25 inches) in length and 10cm (4 inches) in width. This intermediate-level knitting project creates a finished piece suitable for wearing as a decorative or functional headband.

Craft and Technique

This is a knitting project that employs several advanced knitting techniques to create texture and shaping. The pattern utilizes short-row shaping through wrap-and-turn methods, which allows the designer to create contoured sections without increasing or decreasing the overall stitch count dramatically. This technique is essential for achieving the headband's fitted shape and dimensional structure.

The pattern incorporates increases and decreases strategically throughout the design. Increases are created using the knit front and back (kfb) and purl front and back (pfb) methods, which add stitches by working into both the front and back loops of a single stitch. Decreases are accomplished through knit two together (k2tog) and purl two together (p2tog) techniques, which reduce stitch count by combining two stitches into one.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k) – the fundamental stitch creating the base fabric
• Purl stitch (p) – used in combination with knit stitches for textural variation
• Knit front and back (kfb) – an increase method that creates a new stitch
• Purl front and back (pfb) – a purl-based increase method
• Wrap and turn (w&t) – a short-row shaping technique that creates smooth transitions in contoured areas
• Pick up wrapped stitch and knit (pu&k) – used to rejoin wrapped sections seamlessly
• Pick up wrapped stitch and purl (pu&p) – the purl variation of picking up wrapped stitches
• Slip stitch with yarn in back (sl1 wyib) – creates a neat edge or texture detail
• Slip stitch with yarn in front (sl1 wyif) – alternative slip stitch for different effects
• Knit two together (k2tog) – a right-leaning decrease
• Purl two together (p2tog) – a decrease worked on the purl side

Materials and Tools

This project requires 3-ply yarn, with the pattern sample photographed in Malabrigo Sock yarn in the colorway Reflecting Pool. Approximately 25 grams of yarn is needed, which equals roughly 100 meters or 110 yards of yardage.

The pattern calls for 3.75mm (US 5) straight knitting needles. The gauge is established at 26 stitches and 60 rows per 10cm x 10cm swatch when worked on 3.75mm needles with the specified yarn.

Additional notions required include a yarn needle for weaving in ends and finishing the completed headband.

Pattern Format

The Cadwyn Headband pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF in written form instructions, making it accessible for knitters who prefer traditional written directions over charted formats.