Rowan Beloved Accessory Knitting Pattern

Rowan Beloved Knitted Headband by Lisa Richardson

What is Being Made

The Rowan Beloved is a luxurious knitted headband accessory crafted from pure cashmere yarn. This elegant piece measures 10 cm (4 inches) wide and wraps around the head with a finished circumference of approximately 50 cm (19¾ inches). The headband is designed to hug the head neatly and provides a sophisticated accessory suitable for everyday wear or special occasions.

Techniques Used

This headband is constructed using seamed and worked flat knitting techniques. The pattern employs a unique construction method where the piece is worked flat on straight needles, then twisted through 180 degrees and grafted at the ends to create a seamless, continuous band. The pattern uses waste yarn for the initial cast-on edge, which is later unravelled to allow the cast-on stitches to be grafted together with the final row stitches, creating a professional finished edge without a visible seam.

Stitches Used

The Rowan Beloved features a classic rib stitch pattern, worked as alternating knit and purl stitches (K1, P1 rib). This stitch pattern is worked continuously throughout the entire length of the headband, creating a stretchy, textured fabric that provides comfort and helps the headband maintain its shape around the head.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 1 x 50gm ball of Rowan Pure Cashmere (photographed in Flannel 100)
• Needles: 1 pair of 3¾mm (US 5) needles
• Extras: Small amount of waste yarn of the same thickness for the temporary cast-on edge, and spare needles for holding stitches during grafting

Tension and Sizing

The pattern requires a tension of 30 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm (measured over rib stitch) using 3¾mm (US 5) needles. The headband begins with 30 cast-on stitches and is worked until it measures 50 cm from the waste yarn edge. The designer recommends wrapping the headband around the head during construction to adjust the length as needed by adding or unravelling a few rows, ensuring a perfect custom fit before the ends are grafted together.

Construction Details

The headband is cast on using waste yarn and 3¾mm needles, then worked in continuous rib stitch. After reaching the desired length, the working yarn is broken leaving a long end for grafting. The waste yarn is then unravelled from the cast-on edge, and both sets of live stitches (30 stitches from each end) are grafted together using the long yarn tail, creating a seamless, twisted band. Pressing is recommended as a final finishing step to enhance the appearance of the completed accessory.