Berroco Summer Festival Starter Pack Sonar Knitting Pattern

Sónar Bandana by Berroco Summer Festival Starter Pack

What is Being Made

The Sónar is a triangular bandana-style headwear accessory designed by Mel Kennelly. This knitted piece measures approximately 15 inches (38 cm) across and 9½ inches (24 cm) long, not including the decorative ties. The bandana features an elegant lace pattern worked from the bottom up with strategic increases, creating a flattering triangular silhouette suitable for various styling options.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental and decorative techniques to achieve its finished design. The construction begins with a small cast-on of just 3 stitches, which is then systematically increased every other row to expand the piece to its full width. The pattern utilizes yarn overs (yo) paired with decreases to create the lace motif that characterizes the bandana's visual appeal.

Key techniques include knit two together (k2tog) and slip, slip, knit (SSK) decreases, which are strategically placed throughout the pattern to balance the yarn overs and maintain proper stitch counts while creating openwork sections. The pattern can be followed either from written row-by-row instructions or from a charted diagram, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method. Blocking after completion is essential for achieving accurate finished measurements and ensuring the lace pattern displays properly.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (k): The foundational stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl stitch (p): Used on all wrong-side rows to create proper fabric structure
• Yarn over (yo): Creates the decorative eyelets and lace openings throughout the pattern
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used to balance yarn overs
• Slip, slip, knit (SSK): A left-leaning decrease providing visual symmetry in the lace design
• Knit three together (k3tog): A double decrease creating more dramatic openwork sections in the pattern

Materials and Tools

The Sónar bandana is worked using Berroco Summer Sesame yarn in the colorway #5236 Coral, with one 100-gram ball providing sufficient yardage for the complete project. The yarn is worked on size 6 (4 mm) knitting needles to achieve the specified gauge of 18 stitches and 30 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in the charted pattern, or 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch. The pattern also calls for two double-pointed needles in size 6 (4 mm) for working the decorative ties.

Proper gauge measurement is emphasized as critical to the project's success, with the recommendation to check gauge after blocking to ensure accurate finished dimensions. The use of Berroco Summer Sesame yarn is specifically recommended for optimal results, as yarn substitutions may affect the final appearance and fit of the finished bandana.