Ribbed Headband with Earflaps and I-Cord Ties

A stretchy k2, p2 ear warmer with shaped earflaps and i-cord ties to knot under the chin. Worked in worsted-weight yarn at a beginner-friendly gauge. The band is knit in the round; earflaps are picked up and worked flat.

Skill level: Beginner. You will knit, purl, work in the round, pick up stitches, decrease with ssk and k2tog, and work a 4-stitch i-cord.

Sizes

Child (Adult, Large)

To fit head circumference: 18–20 (21–23, 24–26) in / 45.5–51 (53.5–58.5, 61–66) cm

Choose the size closest to the wearer’s actual head circumference. Ribbing is very stretchy.

Finished measurements

• Circumference, slightly stretched: 16 (19¼, 22½) in / 40.5 (49, 57) cm
• Band height: 4 in / 10 cm
• Earflap length, excluding ties: about 3 (3½, 4) in / 7.5 (9, 10) cm
• I-cord tie length: 10 (12, 12) in / 25.5 (30.5, 30.5) cm each

Yarn

Worsted weight yarn (CYC 4), 90 (120, 150) yd / 82 (110, 137) m

A wool or wool-blend yarn will be warm and elastic; a soft acrylic is easy-care. One typical 200 yd / 183 m skein is enough for any size.

Needles

• US 8 / 5 mm, 16 in / 40 cm circular needle for the band
• US 8 / 5 mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) for earflaps and i-cord (or use magic loop throughout)

Change needle size if needed to obtain gauge.

Notions

• Stitch marker
• 4 locking stitch markers or safety pins (for placing earflaps)
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Gauge

20 stitches and 28 rounds = 4 in / 10 cm in k2, p2 ribbing, slightly stretched

Check gauge. A tighter fabric will make a smaller, less stretchy band; a looser fabric will make a larger one.

Abbreviations (US)

• BO — bind off
• BOR — beginning of round
• CO — cast on
• k — knit
• k2tog — knit 2 stitches together (1 stitch decreased)
• p — purl
• pm — place marker
• rep — repeat
• rnd(s) — round(s)
• RS — right side
• ssk — slip 1 knitwise, slip 1 knitwise, knit the 2 slipped stitches together through the back loop (1 stitch decreased)
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• WS — wrong side

Pattern notes

• Numbers are given as Child (Adult, Large). When only one number appears, it applies to all sizes.
• The band is a multiple of 4 stitches so k2, p2 ribbing repeats evenly: 80 (96, 112) sts (20 (24, 28) repeats of k2, p2 ✓).
• Join for working in the round without twisting the cast-on edge.
• Bind off loosely in pattern so the top edge stretches with the ribbing.
• Earflaps are placed with a narrow gap at center back and a wider gap at center front so they sit over the ears.
• On the earflaps, knit the knits and purl the purls as they present after decreases begin.

Headband

With circular needle, CO 80 (96, 112) sts. Pm for BOR and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist.

Rib rnd: *K2, p2; rep from * to end of rnd.

Rep Rib rnd until piece measures 4 in / 10 cm from the cast-on edge.

BO loosely in pattern (knit the knits and purl the purls). Cut yarn and fasten off. Weave in the bind-off tail, but leave the cast-on tail in place — it marks center back.

The cast-on edge is the lower edge (where the earflaps will be attached). The bind-off edge is the upper edge.

Mark earflap placement

Lay the band flat with the cast-on (lower) edge toward you and the BOR / cast-on tail at center back.

Place locking markers on the cast-on edge as follows, counting cast-on stitches along that edge:

1. Center back (already marked by the tail / BOR).
2. Count 6 (8, 10) sts to the left of center back — place marker A (start of first earflap).
3. Count 16 (20, 24) sts from marker A — place marker B (end of first earflap).
4. Count 36 (40, 44) sts from marker B — this is the front gap; place marker C (start of second earflap).
5. Count 16 (20, 24) sts from marker C — place marker D (end of second earflap).
6. The remaining 6 (8, 10) sts bring you back to center back.

Check: 6 + 16 + 36 + 16 + 6 = 80 ✓; 8 + 20 + 40 + 20 + 8 = 96 ✓; 10 + 24 + 44 + 24 + 10 = 112 ✓.

The smaller unmarked span is the back of the neck; the larger unmarked span is the forehead.

First earflap

With RS facing, US 8 / 5 mm DPNs (or the circular needle), and a new strand of yarn, pick up and knit 16 (20, 24) sts along the cast-on edge between marker A and marker B (1 st picked up for each cast-on st ✓).

Row 1 (WS): *K2, p2; rep from * to end.

Beginning with a WS row already worked, work 6 more rows even in established rib (knit the knits, purl the purls), ending with a WS row. (7 rows after pick-up, ending WS ✓)

Shape earflap

Dec row (RS): Ssk, work in established rib to last 2 sts, k2tog. (2 sts decreased)

Next row (WS): Work in established rib (knit the knits, purl the purls).

Rep the last 2 rows 5 (7, 9) more times — 6 (8, 10) decrease rows total.

Stitches remaining: 16 − (2 × 6) = 4 ✓; 20 − (2 × 8) = 4 ✓; 24 − (2 × 10) = 4 ✓.

4 sts remain. Do not bind off.

I-cord tie (first)

Move the 4 sts onto one DPN.

Work a 4-stitch i-cord as follows:

*Knit 4, do not turn. Slide the 4 sts to the other end of the needle. Bring the yarn around the back, ready to knit again. Rep from * until the i-cord measures 10 (12, 12) in / 25.5 (30.5, 30.5) cm.

BO the 4 sts. Cut yarn, leaving a 6 in / 15 cm tail. Draw the tail through the last st and pull snug. Thread the tail down through the center of the i-cord for 1 in / 2.5 cm and trim. (Optional: tie a small overhand knot at the end of the cord.)

Second earflap and tie

With RS facing, pick up and knit 16 (20, 24) sts along the cast-on edge between marker C and marker D.

Work the second earflap exactly as the first, then work the second i-cord tie to the same length.

Finishing

Weave in all remaining ends on the WS.

Remove placement markers.

Block lightly if desired: mist with water, pat into shape, and dry flat. Do not stretch the ribbing flat — it should stay springy.

To wear, place the wide gap at the forehead and the narrow gap at the nape. Tie the i-cords under the chin (or loosely at the crown).

Customization

• Height: Work the band to 3 in / 7.5 cm for a slimmer wrap, or 5 in / 12.5 cm for more coverage, before binding off.
• Tie length: Add or subtract i-cord length so the ties knot comfortably under the chin.
• Needles / yarn: If you change gauge, cast on a multiple of 4 that measures about 2 in / 5 cm less than head circumference when the ribbing is slightly stretched.