Knit This Head Kerchief Inspired by a Triangular Shawl
Hair coverings like this Eyelet Head Kerchief (or Headkerchief, if you prefer) are a great way to protect your hair from the sun on a day at the beach or in the garden. And using a linen blend yarn like this (I worked mine up in Berroco NaturLin) means you won't feel hot even though your head is covered.
This head kerchief is inspired by the really basic triangular shawl pattern (illustrated in my yarn over shawl) and the concept here is the same, too: just knit as long as you like and bind off when you're ready.
Gauge is not critical, but I got 23 stitches and 26 rows per 4 inches (5.75 inches and 6.5 rows per inch) in Stockinette Stitch.
My finished piece is about 12 inches long and 16 inches across at widest point. To fit an adult woman.
Now that the base of the kerchief has been knit, it's time to make it wearable with a quick bit of crochet.
You can finish yours any way you like, of course. If you don't like or don't know how to crochet, simply make an I-cord as long as the widest part of your head kerchief, plus 24 inches. Sew the cord centered onto the kerchief, with 12 inches on each side for ties.
I made a crochet chain that was 12 inches long, then attached that to the edge of the kerchief and worked a single crochet into each stitch across the top of the kerchief.
I then worked an additional 12 inches of chain on the other side for the second tie.
Having done all that, I decided the edges were curlier than I liked, so I added a round of double crochet worked into the edge of the knitting on the sides of the kerchief and into the row of single crochet across the top. That's completely optional but it does give a little more weight to the edges of the project.
Add this project to your Ravelry queue.
This head kerchief is inspired by the really basic triangular shawl pattern (illustrated in my yarn over shawl) and the concept here is the same, too: just knit as long as you like and bind off when you're ready.
Materials:
- one hank Berroco NaturLin, or about 83 yards of light weight linen or linen blend yarn of your choice
- one pair size 6 US (4.25 mm) knitting needles
- size E-4 (3.5 mm) crochet hook
- scissors and yarn needle
Gauge:
Gauge is not critical, but I got 23 stitches and 26 rows per 4 inches (5.75 inches and 6.5 rows per inch) in Stockinette Stitch.
Size:
My finished piece is about 12 inches long and 16 inches across at widest point. To fit an adult woman.
Knitting the Head Kerchief:
- Cast on 3 stitches.
- Knit 1, yarn over, knit 1, yarn over. 5 stitches.
- Knit a row.
- Knit 2, yo, knit 1, yo, knit 2. 7 stitches.
- Knit a row.
- Continue in this manner, increasing by yarn over on either side of the center stitch on right side rows, until piece measures about 12 inches long. Alternatively, "try it on" (this is easier with a circular needle) and stop knitting when the piece covers you basically from behind one ear, around the top of the head to the back of the other ear.
- Bind off on a wrong side row in purl.
Now that the base of the kerchief has been knit, it's time to make it wearable with a quick bit of crochet.
You can finish yours any way you like, of course. If you don't like or don't know how to crochet, simply make an I-cord as long as the widest part of your head kerchief, plus 24 inches. Sew the cord centered onto the kerchief, with 12 inches on each side for ties.
I made a crochet chain that was 12 inches long, then attached that to the edge of the kerchief and worked a single crochet into each stitch across the top of the kerchief.
I then worked an additional 12 inches of chain on the other side for the second tie.
Having done all that, I decided the edges were curlier than I liked, so I added a round of double crochet worked into the edge of the knitting on the sides of the kerchief and into the row of single crochet across the top. That's completely optional but it does give a little more weight to the edges of the project.
Add this project to your Ravelry queue.