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Free knitting pattern · beginner · worsted weight

Wide Ribbed Headband

A wide, cozy ear-warmer headband worked flat in fisherman's rib, then seamed into a loop. The doubled-over depth makes it extra warm and structured.

One-evening project

Finished / weight

Approx. 18 in circumference × 4 in tall (doubled over), unstretched; band is 8 in wide before folding

Gauge

16 sts × 32 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in fisherman's rib, relaxed, with US 8 (5.0 mm)

Yarn

Worsted weight, approximately 90–110 yards; wool or wool-blend recommended for elasticity and warmth

Needles / hooks

US 8 (5.0 mm) straight needles

Notions

Tapestry needle for seaming, scissors, 2 stitch markers (optional)

Abbreviations

CO = cast onBO = bind offk = knitp = purlk1b = knit one below: insert needle into the stitch directly below the next stitch on the left needle and knit it, dropping the stitch above off the needle at the same timeRS = right sideWS = wrong siderep = repeatsts = stitchessl1 = slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in front

Cast On

COUsing long-tail cast on, CO 32 sts. Do not join; work flat.32 sts

Setup Row

Row 1 (RS, Setup)* K1, p1; rep from * to end. (32 sts)32 sts

Fisherman's Rib Body

Row 2 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 3 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 4 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 5 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 6 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 7 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 8 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 9 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 10 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 11 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 12 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 13 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 14 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 15 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 16 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 17 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 18 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 19 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 20 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 21 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 22 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 23 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 24 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 25 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 26 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 27 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 28 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 29 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 30 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 31 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 32 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 33 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 34 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 35 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 36 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 37 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 38 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 39 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 40 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 41 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 42 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 43 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 44 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 45 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 46 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 47 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 48 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 49 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 50 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 51 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 52 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 53 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 54 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 55 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 56 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 57 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 58 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 59 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 60 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 61 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 62 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 63 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Row 64 (WS)Sl1, * p1, k1b; rep from * to last st, p1. (32 sts)

Row 65 (RS)Sl1, * k1b, p1; rep from * to last st, k1b. (32 sts)

Bind Off

BO Row (WS)Using a stretchy bind off: * p1, sl the st back to left needle, p2tog through back loop; rep from * until 1 st remains, then pull yarn through final st to secure. (0 sts)0 sts

Finishing

Block the piece lightly to open up the fisherman's rib texture, if desired. With RS facing out, fold the piece in half lengthwise so the cast-on and bind-off edges meet, forming a tube 4 in tall. Align the short ends (the selvedge edges) and seam them together using mattress stitch, working through the slipped-stitch edge loops for a nearly invisible join. Weave in all ends securely.

Notes

Fisherman's rib creates a very squishy, compressible fabric that looks similar to brioche. Because the fabric collapses significantly, 32 sts on the needle will yield about 18 in of circumference once the band is relaxed and doubled over. For a larger head (22 in+), cast on 36 sts; for a child's size, cast on 24 sts. The slipped first stitch on every row creates a neat selvedge that makes seaming much easier — do not substitute a different edge treatment. When working k1b, be sure to drop the stitch above as you complete the stitch or the stitch count will inadvertently increase. Work a stretchy bind off (as written) or a tubular bind off to match the elastic character of the cast-on edge.

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AI-drafted, human-run · this version drafted Oct 17, 2026. Always swatch and verify stitch counts before casting on.