Gardener Headband/Sweatband
For Him & Her - Free Knitting Patterns

What do you do when you love gardening in a hot sun but hate wearing a hat?  You put on a headband/sweatband!  It took me awhile before I could convince my hubby to at least give my sweatband a try (He has his own hanky for gardening). 

Spring and Summer are just around the corner and I know some anxious gardeners out there can't wait to get their hands dirty.  These headbands are just perfect projects for knitters and great gifts for gardeners.  Why don't give it a try!

So, I made him a cotton band with leafs on it, but the yarn color is too pink for him. So, I adjusted the length and gave it to my daughter.  She told me she would like to have a headband when she helps her daddy with the gardening.  So, I made the second sweatband with green cotton in a brioche rib which I thought would suite the hubby well.   Later, I was told the sweatband works really well.  It absorbs sweat really good and “very comfortable”.  No more dripping and wiping. Happy ending, yeah!

Here are the two sweatband patterns I’d love share with you.  

Pattern #1 Lovely Leaf Gardener headband/Sweatband Pattern For Her

Description: A cute headband with leaf pattern knitted on straight needles.  I used 100% cotton for maximum moisture absorption.

Measurement: Approximately 3 inches wide X 20 inches long (at rest without stretching)

Gauge: 4.5-5 sts per inch depending on your tension.  

Materials

1. 1 ball of worsted weigh cotton yarn

2. A pair of knitting needle #8 (5mm) 

3. Tapestry needle

4. A row counter

Above Photo: Pink gardener headband/sweatband In leaf pattern laying over my about to bloom azalea bush.

Direction

Note: Slip all stitches purlwise and with yarn in front of work.

Cast on 15 sts. Knit one row. Then follow the leaf pattern below;

Row 1 (RS): Sl 1, k4, k2tog, (k1,p1,k1)in the next st, ssk, k5.

Row 2 (WS): Sl 1, k4, p5, k5.

Row 3: Sl 1, k3, k2tog, (k1, yo) twice, k1, ssk, k4.

Row 4: Sl 1, k3, p7, k4.

Row 5: Sl 1, k2, k2tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2, ssk, k3.

Row 6: Sl 1, k2, p9, k3.

Row 7: Sl 1, k1, k2tog, k3, yo, k1, yo, k3, ssk, k2.

Row 8: Sl 1, k1, p11, k2.

Row 9: Sl 1, k1, ssk, k2, yo, k3, yo, k2, k2tog, k2.

Row 10: Sl 1, k1, p11, k2.

Row 11: Sl 1, k1, yo, ssk, k2, yo, sl 1, k2tog, psso, yo, k2, k2tog, yo, k2.

Row 12: Sl 1, k2, p9, k3.

Row 13: Sl 1, k2, yo, ssk, k5, k2tog, yo, k3.

Row 14: Sl 1, k3, p7, k4.

Row 15: Sl 1, k3, yo, ssk, k3, k2tog, yo, k4.

Row 16: Sl 1, k4, p5, k5.

Row 17: Sl 1, k4, yo, ssk, k1, k2tog, yo, k5.

Row 18: Sl 1, k5, p3, k6.

Row 19: Sl 1, k5, yo, dbl dec, yo, k6. 

Row 20: Sl1, k14.

Repeat row 1-20 four more times (total of 5 leaves).  Knit 2 more rows (don't forget to slip the 1st st of every row) then bind off all sts.  Cut yarn leaving a foot tail for seaming ends.  Join both ends together using tapestry needle or your own preferred method. 

Note: Knit a few more row if your want a bigger headband. 

Knitting Abbreviations

k       = knit

p       = purl

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

yo      = yarn over

ssk    = slip, slip, knit (slip the next 2 sts knit wise, then knit them together though back of loops.

sl       = slip

st(s)  = stitch(es)

pddo = pass over

dbl dec = Slip the next 2 sts knitwise, k1, passover the 2 sl sts) 

Pattern # 2 - Sweatband For Him In Brioche Rib Stitch

Above Pic: Green gardener headband/sweatband in brioche rib next to my blooming pink Rhododendron

Description: A sweatband/headband knitted in brioche rib using straight needle. The band is knitted until desired length then joined together at the ends to form a band.

Measurement: 20 inches by 2.5 inches at rest

Gauge:  4.5 - 5 sts per inches on US #8 (5mm) needle.  

Materials

1. 1 ball of worsted weight cotton yarn

2. Knitting needle #US 8 (5mm)

3. Tapestry needle

Direction

Cast on 15 sts. Knit 1 row.  Then follow  brioche rib pattern below;

Row 1: Slip 1 wyif, *K1, K1B; repeat from * to the last st, k1.

Repeat row 1 until you reach the length you need.  Then bind off all sts.  Cut yarn leaving about 12 inches -tail for joining.  Seams both ends together using a tapestry needle.

Knitting Abbreviations

Slip 1 wyif = With yarn in the front of work, slip one st off left needle as to purl.

K1B           = Knit 1 Below (knit into a stitch directly below the st on the needle.)

If you need help with K1B (Knit 1 Below), you can watch this video below;