Gunnison Headband - a loom knit pattern

Gunnison Headband by Dayna Scoles Designs

Project Overview

The Gunnison Headband is a beginner-friendly loom knit headband pattern designed by Dayna Scoles Designs. This downloadable PDF pattern provides complete instructions for creating a cozy, textured headband using circular loom knitting techniques. The finished piece features a classic garter stitch pattern combined with ribbed sections, making it an ideal project for those new to loom knitting who want to develop foundational skills.

What is Being Made

This pattern creates a fitted headband suitable for adult wear. The headband is constructed in the round using a circular loom, resulting in a seamless tubular fabric that wraps comfortably around the head. The design combines multiple stitch patterns to create visual interest and texture throughout the piece.

Loom and Equipment

The Gunnison Headband is worked on a 5/8" gauge round loom with 48 pegs, specifically the Knifty Knitter purple 48-peg adult hat loom. This standard circular loom size makes the pattern accessible to loom knitters with common equipment already in their craft collection.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for chunky and heavy worsted weight yarn. The sample shown uses Hobby Lobby's I Love This Chunky in French Blue, with approximately 75 yards required to complete the headband. The chunky yarn weight ensures quick project completion and creates a substantial, warm fabric ideal for a headband.

Stitches and Techniques Used

• E-wrap knit stitch (k) — the fundamental loom knitting stitch that creates a standard knit fabric
• Purl stitch (p) — used to create texture and pattern variation throughout the headband
• K1, P1 ribbing — alternating knit and purl stitches in single-stitch intervals, worked for the first 8 rows to create an elastic, fitted edge
• Garter stitch — created by alternating rows of knit and purl stitches, producing horizontal ridges and texture
• Crochet or chain cast-on — the method used to establish the initial 48 stitches on the loom
• Basic bind-off method — a standard loom knitting technique for securing stitches and finishing the edge

Pattern Structure and Row Sequence

The Gunnison Headband follows a specific stitch progression across 29 rows (or more, depending on desired length). The pattern begins with 8 rows of K1, P1 ribbing, which creates a stretchy, fitted section at one end. This is followed by a garter stitch section that comprises rows 10 through 29, with the sequence repeating three times to build length and texture. The garter ridge hack technique is recommended as a shortcut for efficiently creating garter stitch ridges, and the K1, P1 hack is noted as helpful for tracking alternating stitch rows.

Difficulty Level

Rated as a beginner pattern, the Gunnison Headband is designed for loom knitters who are new to the craft or developing basic skills. The pattern uses only fundamental loom knitting stitches and straightforward row-by-row instructions, making it an excellent introductory project that builds confidence with essential techniques.

Pattern Format

This pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF, allowing crafters to access instructions digitally and reference them while working on their loom. The format includes written row-by-row instructions and references to helpful video tutorials for visual learners seeking additional guidance on specific techniques.