Blossom

I love jotting down simple patterns, the kind that knit up in just an hour or two, can be knit, worry free while drinking tea, or catching up on a great movie.  I plan to post a few easy freebies in the months to come.

The first is a simple headband cover that I call Blossom.  =)

Materials:
40 yards of DK weight yarn for headband cover
2-3 yards each of fingering weight yarn for embroidery in various colors
Darning needle for weaving in ends
Standard sized headband that measures 2 inches wide at the top
US size 5 knitting needles

Gauge: 6 stitches and 8 rows over Stockinette Stitch

Abbreviations:
K knit
P purl
W/s wrong side
R/s right side
KFB knit into the front and back of same stitch
Skpsso slip one stitch, knit the next stitch, pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch.
K2tog knit the next 2 stitches together
B/o bind off



The Pattern:
Cast on 13 stitches

Step 1 (this will cover the left side of your headband): Begin on a w/s row, work 7 rows in Stockinette Stitch, (purl one row, knit one row) ending on a w/s row.
Step 2: Next row-increase: Kfb of first stitch, knit to last stitch, kfb of last stitch.
Repeat last 2 steps 4 times. (23 stitches)
Step 3(Top): Beginning on a w/s row, work 35 rows in Stockinette Stitch ending on a w/s row.
Step 4 (right side) decrease row: Skpsso, knit to last 2 stitches, k2tog.
Step 5: Begin on w/s row, work 7 rows in Stockinette stitch (purl one row, knit one row) ending on a w/s row.
Repeat steps 4-5, 4 times more. (13 stitches)
Beginning on a w/s row, work 7 rows in Stockinette Stitch (purl one row, knit one row) ending on a w/s row.
B/O.

Embroidering:
You now have the cover that will be seamed up around your headband. You can try it on the headband and should find that the Stockinette stitch should form a natural curl at the edges that will wrap around the headband.
I have not included a drawn pattern for the twig branch since the photo is probably more explanatory!
I will say that I used a simple backstitch for the twig as well as for the little flower buds. For the tiny berries, I simply brought the embroidery yarn up through the fabric, tied a tiny knot and pulled the yarn back down into the fabric.
Be creative here! You now have a “blank canvas” to work with!! Let your imagination run!

Begin embroidery remembering to start your embroidery stitch pattern with about 4 stitches on either side (these will wrap around to the underside of the headband and be seamed up).
As you embroider, I would suggest checking every now and then to be sure your design is centered.
Once you are finished with your design and have secured the embroidery thread ends, put the headband cover into place and using the seaming method of your choice, seam up the cover on the underside of the headband. I chose to use a mattress stitch for my seaming.
Weave in ends and wear!

Wrap fabric around the headband and seam up!