Ribbed Headband in Plymouth Encore Tweed - F426

Ribbed Headband in Plymouth Encore Tweed – Pattern F426

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn Design Studio (pattern number F426) guides knitters through creating a classic ribbed headband with a professional, polished finish. The finished accessory measures approximately 5 inches wide and 21 inches long, making it a versatile and comfortable fit for most adults. It is an ideal quick-knit project for those looking to use up a single ball of yarn or to create a practical, stylish handmade gift.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a knitted ribbed headband designed to be worn around the head for warmth and style. The headband features a shaped, wider central panel that sits across the forehead and a narrower ribbed tab closure secured with a button, giving it a neat, tailored appearance. The construction begins and ends with a narrow ribbed band, which widens through a series of deliberate increase rows to create a contoured shape that flatters the wearer.

Materials Required

• Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Tweed in color W005 Tan – just 1 × 100g ball is required, making this an economical and stash-friendly project
• Needles: Size 6 straight knitting needles are used as the primary needle for the ribbed sections and main body of the headband; size 8 needles are referenced in the gauge information for stockinette stitch
• Notions: One button for the closure at the tab end of the headband

Yarn Details

Plymouth Yarn Encore Tweed is a worsted-weight yarn well known for its durability, ease of care, and attractive flecked tweed appearance. The tweed texture adds visual interest to simple stitch patterns like ribbing, elevating what might otherwise be a plain fabric into something with genuine character and warmth. Its worsted weight makes it ideal for accessories like headbands, where structure and stitch definition are important.

Gauge

Achieving the correct gauge is important for this pattern to ensure the headband fits properly. The pattern specifies:

• 5 stitches and 7 rows = 1 inch in stockinette stitch on size 8 needles
• 7 stitches = 1 inch in 1×1 rib on size 6 needles

Techniques Used

This pattern is suitable for knitters with some experience beyond the absolute beginner level, as it incorporates several shaping and finishing techniques. Key techniques include:

• Slipped stitch selvedge: The first stitch of every row is slipped, creating a clean, even edge along the length of the headband
• Buttonhole construction: A yarn over (yo) paired with a k2tog decrease creates a neat, single-stitch buttonhole within the ribbed tab for attaching the button closure
• kfb (knit front and back): Used in the first increase row to double the stitch count from 15 to 30 stitches, expanding the fabric to create the wider headband panel
• pfb (purl front and back): Used alongside kfb in the same increase row to maintain the rib pattern while increasing
• m1 knit wise and m1 purl wise (make one increases): Used in subsequent increase rows to add stitches at specific points while preserving the integrity of the rib columns
• Button attachment: A button is sewn on to correspond with the worked buttonhole, completing the adjustable closure

Stitches Used

The headband is worked primarily in 1×1 rib and transitions into a 2×2 rib in the wider central section, achieved through the increase rows. Specific stitches and stitch patterns featured include:

• 1×1 ribbing – alternating knit 1, purl 1 across the