Pure Angora Headband

Pure Angora Headband by Mary Gonzales

Project Overview

The Pure Angora Headband is a knitted newborn accessory designed by Mary Gonzales. This downloadable knitting pattern creates a soft, delicate headband perfect for infants, featuring a two-component construction: a main headband band and a decorative center band that adds visual interest and texture to the finished piece.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a newborn-sized knitted headband measuring approximately 12 inches in length (adjustable to fit individual child head measurements). The headband consists of two distinct knitted components that are sewn together: a primary band that forms the main body of the headband, and a smaller decorative center band that is attached to the front of the headband for embellishment.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Casting On: The pattern uses a basic cast-on method to create the foundation stitches for both the main headband and center band components
• Slip Stitch: The first stitch of each row in the main headband is slipped rather than worked, creating a neat, finished edge
• Stockinette Stitch: The center band is worked entirely in stockinette stitch, alternating knit and purl rows to create the classic smooth, flat fabric
• Binding Off: Both components are finished with a bind-off to secure the final row of stitches
• Seaming: The two knitted pieces are joined together using a yarn needle and whip stitch or similar seaming technique
• Weaving in Ends: Yarn tails are woven through the fabric using a yarn needle to secure them invisibly

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch: The primary stitch used throughout both components of the headband
• Purl Stitch: Used in alternating rows to create stockinette stitch texture and structure
• Slip Stitch: Applied to edge stitches for a professional, finished appearance

Materials and Tools

Yarn: The pattern calls for 1 skein of Plymouth Angora in white, or any comparable light worsted weight yarn. Angora yarn is prized for its exceptional softness and warmth, making it an ideal choice for delicate newborn garments. The light worsted weight classification ensures the yarn works at an appropriate gauge for the specified needle size.

Needles: Size 10 needles are required for this project. The pattern specifically recommends double-pointed needles (DPNs) due to the small circumference of the headband, which allows for easier manipulation of the stitches on smaller needles.

Additional Supplies: A yarn needle (also called a tapestry needle) is essential for seaming the two components together and weaving in yarn ends. Scissors are needed for cutting yarn, and a tape measure ensures accurate length measurement during the knitting process.

Pattern Details

The main headband is created by casting on 10 stitches and working in a modified garter stitch pattern where the first stitch of each row is slipped and the remaining 9 stitches are worked in alternating knit and purl rows. This technique creates a fabric with neat, finished edges while maintaining structural integrity. The piece is worked to approximately 12 inches in length or adjusted to fit the specific child's head circumference, then the ends are bound off and joined together to form a circular band.

The decorative center band is a smaller component created by casting on 5 stitches and working in pure stockinette stitch (knit on right-side rows, purl on wrong-side rows) for 10 total rows, creating 5 complete knit-purl row sets. This band is then sewn to the front center of the main headband using the pattern's provided visual guide as reference, adding dimension and a finished design element to the accessory.