Pull ten inches from your ball and make a loop in the yarn. Bring the long end through the loop and then pick up the yarn that is lying across the inside of the loop. Pull the loop while holding both ends of the rest of the thread. Slip a needle through the loop and tighten so that it is snug on the needle. Holding the needle with your right hand, drape the side of the yarn still attached to your yarn ball behind your left hand and around your palm. Bring the needle under the yarn across your palm and pull out your hand, leaving a loop formed around your knitting needle. Pull the loop tight and you have completed your first cast on stitch. Continue with the next stitch by wrapping the yarn behind your hand and around your palm once more until you have the desired number of stitches.
To complete the garter stitch, hold your needle with the cast on stitch in your left hand and your other needle in your right hand. Insert the right needle into the first loop between the topmost stitches on the left needle so that the right needle crosses beneath the left needle. The yarn should lie to the back of your needles. Wrap the end yarn around the tip of the needle counterclockwise and hold it with your right index finger. Gently pull the tip of the right needle back through the first loop, keeping the yarn you looped around on the needle. Slowly pull the right needle all the way through and bring it up so that it is close and on top of the left needle. Be careful not to pull too hard so you don’t pull it out. Move the right needle upwards so that only the first loop on the left needle slides off over the top. Continue the rest of the stitches by inserting the right needle into the next loop on the left needle. Once all the loops are on the right needle you have finished your row. Switch the needles into the opposite hands and repeat for the next row.
When you get to the last row, knit the first two stitches onto your right needle. Push the left needle into the first stitch that you made on the right needle (the bottom stitch). Lift the first stitch over the second stitch (by moving it upwards) so that it is no longer attached to either needle. Knit another stitch from the left needle to the right needle and complete the same process (insert the left needle in between the stitches and then lift the bottom stitch over the top stitch). Continue until there are no stitches on the left needle and just one stitch on the right stitch. Remove your needle, cut the yarn ball away and pull the loose end through the loop and tighten to tie off.
You will need this gauge swatch to determine the number of stitches for your final headband to be the width you would like.
You can make a headband that is a bit wider or skinnier if you choose. Good beginner cast on methods include the long tail cast on and backwards loop cast on.
For added flair, twist the headband once before sewing the edges together. The twist will make the headband more comfortable at the back of your head, so your hair can fall normally.
You will need to know how to perform the knit stitch, the purl stitch and the slip stitch to be able to complete this headband. You will also need to know how to cast on and cast off your stitches.
If you do not wish to make a swatch then you can simply knit the first couple of rows and see if it looks long enough.
Good beginner cast on methods include the long tail cast on and backwards loop cast on.
In row one knit thirteen stitches. In row two knit two stitches, purl nine stitches and then knit two stitches. In row three knit two stitches, slip stitch the next three stitches to the cable needle and hold in front, knit three stitches, knit three stitches from the cable needle and then knit five stitches. In row four knit two stitches, purl nine stitches and knit two stitches. In row five knit thirteen stitches. In row six knit two stitches, purl nine stitches and knit two stitches. In row seven knit five stitches, slip stitch the next three stitches to the cable needle and hold it in back, knit three stitches, knit three stitches from the cable needle and knit two stitches. In row eight knit two stitches, purl nine stitches and then knit two stitches.
