Knitting a modern bandana - free instructions

A BIT CHILLY IN COPENHAGEN is very easy to knit, just garter stitch with a narrow lace band down the center front to keep you from falling asleep from boredom. I chose Pure Silk yarn from Knitting for Olive because it has a lovely dry yet silky feel – but of course, you can knit the shawl with any other beautiful yarn you like. The finished size may vary slightly. Fine, thinner yarns with a long yardage will create a beautiful drape.

Enjoy your knitting time - your new little bandana will be finished in no time!

You can find the printable PDF version here:
→ Download PDF

MATERIAL	PURE SILK from Knitting for Olive (100% bourette silk, 250m / 50g), 1 ball in color Lamb's Ears
KNITTING NEEDLES / ACCESSORIES	a 3 mm circular knitting needle, 4 stitch markers, a yarn needle
gauge	28 stitches result in a width of 10 cm, knitted in garter stitch with 3 mm needles.
SIZE	one size - Wingspan 110 cm, front length 29 cm
BASIC PATTERN	garter stitch - knit all stitches in both forward and return rows.
SAMPLE RIBBON	knit according to the knitting chart
EDGE STITCHES	Knit all stitches (from the 1st to the last stitch) Work After the first stitch of each row, make a yarn over. This gives the side edges enough width. In the following row, drop the yarn over. This makes the edges nice and smooth, and nothing gets stretched or curled up.

ABBREVIATIONS

1ZNL (M1L)	1 Increase from the transverse thread, slanted to the left
1ZNR (M1R)	1 Increase from the transverse thread, slanted to the right
2 re abh, 1re, 2 üz	Slip 2 stitches knitwise, knit 1 stitch, pass the 2 slipped stitches over the knitted stitch
depend	lift up
HR	Front row
ND	needle
li	left
R	Row
li vs	left-crossed
re	right
M	Stitch (n)
MA	lift marker
MK	Marker
MS	Setting markers
re vs	right-handed
str	knitting
vs	intertwined
U	envelope

You can read about the techniques used here at your leisure:
→ To the tutorials

Knitting pattern SAMPLE RIBBON

DIRECTIONS

Cast on 3 stitches using a 3 mm needle and work 6 rows in the basic pattern, garter stitch (knit all stitches on the right and wrong sides).
After the 6th row, turn your work 90 degrees clockwise and pick up 3 stitches from the side edge.
Then turn the work 90 degrees clockwise again and pick up another 3M from the stop edge.
You now have 9 stitches on the needle.

R 1 (RR): K3, MS, K3, MS, K3 - 9 sts.

R 2 (HR): K 3, MA, 1 ZR, K to MK, 1 ZL, MA, K 3 - 11 sts.

R 3 (RR): K 3, MA, 1 ZR, K to MK, 1 ZL, MA, K 3 - 13 sts.

Beginning of the SAMPLE VOLUME:

R 4 (HR): K 3, MA, 1 ZR, 1 K, MS, 5 sts pattern band (see knitting chart), MS, 1 K, 1 ZL, MA, K 3 - 15 sts.

R 5 (RR): 3 k, MA, 1 ZR, k to MK, MA, 5 st pattern band (see knitting chart), MA, k to MK, 1 ZL, MA, 3 k - 17 sts total.

R 6 (RR): K 3, MA, 1 ZR, K to MK, MA, 5 sts pattern band (see knitting chart), MA, K to MK, 1 ZL, MA, K 3 - 19 sts.

R 7 (HR): K 3, MA, 1ZR, K to MK, MA, 5 sts pattern band (see knitting chart), MA, K to MK, 1 ZL, MA, K 3 - 21 sts.

From here, repeat rows 4-7 continuously. The system is very simple - in each row, 1 stitch is increased on both sides, while the width of the pattern band in the middle remains the same and the pattern repeats itself upwards in its 4-row pattern.

Knit 126 more rows – you now have 265 stitches on the needle. The total number of rows or stitches may vary slightly depending on your knitting tension and whether you are using the original yarn or a different one. Make sure you have enough yarn left for the cast-off row.
Then loosely unchain the last row.

Elaboration

Secure the beginning and end threads with a darning needle and let the shawl soak in lukewarm water for at least 15 minutes. This allows the fibers to relax and evens out any irregularities in the knitting pattern.

Then gently squeeze the excess water out of the cloth (do not wring!), wrap it in a towel, and draw the excess moisture into the towel. Next, lay the cloth flat on a surface (foam puzzle mats work well) and gently pull it into shape.

It can be perfectly shaped using tension wires, which you pull through the edges and then attach to the mat with tension combs or pins.
Leave to dry lying down.

And now off to Copenhagen! You've already got the bandana… ;)

You can find the printable PDF version here:
→ Download PDF

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