Stella by Starlight: Beaded Fingering Weight Headband Knitting Pattern with Cat's Paw Lace Insert

Finished Size: About 3.25 inches (8.25 cm) wide and 16 inches (40.6 cm) long, without ties. I-cord or ribbon lacing is 22 inches (56 cm) long. Yarn: about 54 yd (50 m) of fingering weight yarn. Shown here: handspun 3-ply yarn spun from ramie top (from Halcyon Yarn), about 20 wraps per inch (1,225 yards per pound). Any commercial fingering or sportweight yarn can be substituted. Beads were strung onto singles before plying. I used a small amount of 2-ply ramie spun without beads for the i-cord. You can easily substitute ribbon or twisted cord.

STELLA BY STArLIGHTBY LEE JUVAN

Spinning a beaded yarn can be time consuming, and this small project makes the most of those precious yards of yarn. This dressy little headband reminds me of something that The Great Gatsby's Daisy Buchanan might have worn for a jazzy party at dusk. The beads are small and subtle, but they catch the fading light like so many tiny stars. Needles: Size 2 (2.75 mm); Size 1: Set of 2 (2.25 mm) double-pointed for i-cord. Notions: About 7 grams size 11/0 Japanese seed beads, round silver-lined clear glass; tapestry needle; dental floss threader or Big 'Eye" beading needle. I spun a 3-ply fingering weight yarn from ramie top, with beads on all three singles, and knitted a simple headband with the Cat's Paw lace insert. To improve the fit of the headband (I find knitted handbands often stretch), I fastened it at the nape of the neck with a laced i-cord. I think it would be even prettier with a silk ribbon. Then, it's simple to adjust the lacing when the headband needs to be tightened up. Gauge: Approx. 23 sts = 4 inches in St st. Not critical for this project, but your final measurements and yardage may vary. Directions: Using size 2 (2.75 mm) needles and the knitted CO method, CO 7 sts. Work rows 1-12 of chart once—19 sts. Repeat rows 13-18 until piece measures about 15 inches from beginning of chart pattern (about 23 repeats). Work rows 19-30 of chart once. Piece should measure about 16 inches. BO remaining 7 sts k-wise. Weave in ends. Soak headband in warm water for 20 minutes and gently roll in towel to remove excess water. Block on a flat surface to open up lace pattern (do not iron beaded yarn!). Lace i-cord or ribbon sneakerstyle through eyelets and between stitches at both ends of headband to create an adjustable closure.

Copyright 2008 by Lee Juvan. All rights reserved. For personal use only. You may not sell or distribute copies of this pattern in any form, on paper or electronic. You may not sell any items created with this pattern.