The Sinking Creek headband actually came to me as I was rummaging around through one of my many pattern books.  For some time now, I’d been wondering why most headband patterns didn’t take full advantage of the fact that ribbing stretches so well.

One of the most interesting parts of knitwear design is the elasticity, or stretch-ability of each stitch pattern.  Some stitch patterns are tight and stiff and strong (think Aran sweaters), some are loose, open and drapey (lace work), some are super stretchy and pliable (most ribbings).

When I came across the shell ribbing, I knew I had to do something with it.  But it’s too beautiful to relegate to the bottom of a sweater, or be overwhelmed by the design of a hat.  I fell in love with its stretchy nature on my first little swatch.  The purls stretch wide to accommodate whatever the circumference is, but the little shells remain intact and oh-so-cute!

They reminded me of the little tiny rocks and shells along the river banks here in Northeast Tennessee.  In amongst the sand particles are little rocks, tiny pieces of the well-worn Appalachian mountains, that have washed down over the years.  There’s something so grounding, so steady, but still so wild and free about those itty-bitty mountain chips.

So, I set about making a headband.  Mostly because I can never find a headband that feels comfortable and also stays put on my head.  If they’re loose enough to not torture my brain by the end of the day, they’re likely to slide off, and I end up with a headband hanging off my ponytail!

My first variation was a fingering one.  I used a piece of leftovers from a sock I had made.  But the ribbing was way stretchier than I first thought, and this version could’ve almost wrapped around my waist!  Back to the drawing board, I took a good gauge swatch from this giant headband, and was able to calculate the number of stitches to cast on from there.

(As you get to know me, you’ll understand this about my personality:  I’m very impulsive, but I understand the value of getting a really good gauge measurement.  So, I (almost!) always gauge swatch)

My next version was perfect!  It was just a little, narrow band, with just the right amount of stretch.  This little band could withstand the pressures of being stretched all day, but it wasn’t so tight as to give me a headache.  And the stitch was stable enough, at that width, to maintain the sweet little shell formations in the ribbing.

Now, on to a worsted weight.  I had some leftover Kraemer Perfection Worsted sitting around.  I almost always have a little bit of Kraemer here & there.  I love working with it when knitting for my little boys.  It’s machine washable, and super durable, but it also has a good percentage of wool, and a good hand to it.  I chose the chirp color way, because it was December, and the winter blues had begun to take hold. The lovely folks at Kraemer have provided a discount code, just for you!

Discount code: MountainLegacy

• 20% off

• One use per customer

• Active from today until Feb 28, 2022

It took a couple tries to get the fabric just the way I wanted it.  Stretchy, but firm.  Now, for the true test.  I had to wear it to work.  All day.  Would I just come home with a headache, like I usually get with headbands?But it was a great day!  I didn’t pull or tug at my new headband, and it stayed in place.  And no headache at the end of the day.  It was finally time to write up the pattern so I could share with the world.

The steps to pattern writing go something like this: Inspiration-Design-Sample Knit-Tech Edit-Test Knit-Publish.  Any of these steps can be quick or take years!  When I first thought about publishing a headband, I thought how quick & easy it would be to get it out to the world, since I could knit up a headband in a couple hours.  Wrong!  I had gotten caught up in the design-sample knit-re-design loop for several weeks and several iterations.  But it’s finally here.  The Sinking Creek Headband is finally out in the world.  I hope you love it as much as I do.  I hope you knit multiples for all your family and friends, and that no one has a headache by the end of their work day.

Thank you all so much for your support.  Special thank you’s to my test knitters, my tech editor, my photographer, and especially to my family for putting up with me throughout it all.