Sunday 10 March 2013

Cabled Headband and Cabling Tutorial

I have a friend who is starting to knit and the only skill left for her to learn is to cable. I told her, as I am telling you, that cable knitting is way easier than it looks! I was afraid for a while until my mom showed me how, and I am hooked! I also put together a mini cabling tutorial at the bottom if you don't know how. I made up this pattern with a simple cable for her to learn, and I am sharing it with you! Around the university, these headbands are really popular, and are great for when your hair is in a ponytail. If you try this pattern, let me know how it went in the comments!




Note: C4F means cable 4 stitches forward. Take the next 4 stitches and slip them onto your spare needle, and leave it at the front. Knit the next 4 stitches from your main needle. Put the 4 stitches from the spare needle back onto your main needle, and knit them. You just cabled! See pictures below for more detailed instructions.


Materials
1 ball worsted weight yarn (4; I used Red Heart Super Saver)
Size 8 (5 mm) needles
Extra needle for cabling

Instructions
Cast on 20 stitches

Row 1: K3 P3 K8 P3 K3
Row 2: K1 P2 K3 P8 K3 P2 K1

Row 3: K3 P3 K8 P3 K3
Row 4: K1 P2 K3 P8 K3 P2 K1


Row 5: K3 P3 K8 P3 K3
Row 6: K1 P2 K3 P8 K3 P2 K1

Row 7: K3 P3 C4F P3 K3
Row 8: K1 P2 K3 P8 K3 P2 K1

Repeat rows 1-8 until it reaches desired length. Sew the two ends together, and weave in the ends.



Mini Cabling Tutorial

Here is a mini tutorial, with pictures of how to cable for the purposes of this hat. It's really not that hard, but I hope that the instructions/pictures make sense! When I say "main needle" I mean the yellow ones, and the spare needle is the purple one.

1. Slip 4 stitches onto a spare needle.



2. Leave the needle with the spare stitches at the front of your work. Knit the next 4 stitches from your main needle.

3. Slip the stitches from your spare needle back onto your main needle.

4. Knit the 4 stitches that you just slipped back onto the main needle, and continue knitting to the end of the row as per the pattern directions.


All done! That wasn't too hard right?


6 comments:

  1. that is so cute! someday maybe i'll have enough patience to learn how to knit! :)

    i found your blog somehow, and i love it! keep up the crafting. :)

    i am nominating you for a Liebster award:

    http://beforeverlovely.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/id-like-to-thank-the-academy/

    i'd love if you check it out! :)

    happy saturday Jenna.

    Barb

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  2. Hi there, i've never cable knitted before but it looks sooo cute. This seems so easy and I can't wait to try it!

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  3. Cool! I am very new to knitting, but cabling does look pretty simple. I think I will give this a go :)

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  4. I had fun making this head band I love working with cables, I wish i could have done it on a round. and it needed to be a little wider

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  5. can you knit in the round on circular needles then you wouldn't have a seam to sew up-you could crochet slip stitch to bind them off. Not sure if this would work

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