The idea for this headband came from a variation of the Entrelac Hat pattern in the Aug.–Oct. 2009 issue of Cast On. I knit the hat pattern to gain experience with entrelac as I found some examples in Bavaria of Calf warmers, which are used in traditional costume. I picked a variegated yarn in my stash, which meant that there were no distinct color changes for each pattern round. The first modification I made was to line the ear area with acrylic baby yarn. After completing the lining, I noticed that it would make a nice headband. Next, I knit a sock with an entrelac cuff that transitions from the ankle to the leg and from the leg to the toe without picking up stitches. I liked this transition with live stitches from the rolled edge to the entrelac using decreases in the triangles at the beginning and increases at the end. I’ve incorporated these techniques into this headband pattern.

The headband is worked in the round and cast on with two yarns: worsted weight wool in both the primary and the contrasting color. For the edge I made a rolled edge effect by purling three rounds. Then it goes from stockinette stitch to entrelac. After the entrelac section is complete, the final rounds are the reverse of the beginning rounds. Once the rolled edge is finished, I knit the second needle with the baby yarn, making a lining the width of the pattern section. Then the lining is Kitchener stitched to the pattern section, closing the circle. The thinner yarn draws the lining in, which snugs it to the wearer’s head.