I am pleased to introduce my first pattern: the LuLu Kerchief!
My daughter *loves* wearing fabric kerchiefs. I’ve sewn a few for her. I decided to figure out how to knit one!
The challenge was to make a triangle that wouldn’t flop forward. The answer? A few short rows! They create a slight curve in the kerchief at the top of the head. Plus, a three-stitch applied i-cord adds a tad more weight — and provides the cutest contrasting trim!
This pattern uses tiny amounts of worsted weight yarns, making it a terrific scrappy project. You can knit it in the time it takes to watch one movie! Best of all, my daughter loves it.
I’m thrilled to share this pattern with you!
Materials: About 50 yards (probably even a little less) each of three colors of worsted weight yarns. For the kerchief in the photos above, I used scraps of Cascade 220 (pink), Knit Picks Wool of the Andes (white) and Spud & Chloe Sweater (navy). One elastic head-sized headband — the kind (like this) you can pick up in packages of 5 or 10 at a drugstore.
Gauge: 5 stitches per 1″.
Needles: Size 7 (I am a loose knitter so I used size 6 for the kerchief in the photos). For the applied i-cord, you will need a DPN or a circular needle in the same size.
Measurements: Bottom leg of triangle, where elastic is sewn in, measures 7.5″ across. From center of that bottom leg to tip of triangle measures 9″. Fits a child or small adult head.
Using pink yarn or color of your choice, cast on 37 stitches. Knit one row. Purl one row. Switch to white or contrasting color of your choice. Knit one row. Purl one row. Continue in stockinette stitch, switching colors every two rows, for 18 rows (9 color changes). When you switch colors, be sure to twist two yarns around each other to make a neat edge. End after purling a pink row.
Now would be a good spot to place a lifeline. Thread a piece of cotton yarn or, better yet, dental floss through the existing stitches. That will preserve your work so far even if you mess up on the upcoming short rows.
Continuing with the two-row stripe pattern, with white yarn, knit 35 stitches. Wrap and turn. (Bring the yarn to the front if knitting or to the back if purling, slip next stitch as if to purl to right-hand needle, return yarn to back if knitting or to front if purling, then pass slipped stitch back to left-hand needle and turn your work.)
Continue using the white yarn, purl 33 stitches. Wrap and turn using directions above.
Switch to pink yarn and knit 31 stitches. Wrap and turn.
Continue using the pink yarn, purl 29 stitches. Wrap and turn.
Switch to white yarn, knit to end of row, knitting wraps together with the accompanying stitch, making sure to hide the old color behind the new color. (This will make sense as you do it: pick up the wrap knitwise from underneath in the front and knit it together with the wrapped stitch.)
With white yarn, purl the entire row, purling wraps together with accompanying stitch. As these short rows end, you will have to “carry” yarns across a few stitches on the back side. That’s okay — it doesn’t show in the front.
You still have 37 stitches. If you’ve done the short rows correctly, this is a good spot to move your lifeline to — you’re about to start the decreases.
Continuing in the two-row stripes, using pink, knit 2, slip 1 stitch knitwise, knit 1, PSSO (pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knit, as in a bind off), knit to within four stitches at end of row, knit 2 together, knit 2. (I am calling this row A.)
Purl 35.
Repeat row A with new color.
Purl 33.
Repeat row A with new color.
Purl 31.
Repeat row A with new color.
Purl 29.
Repeat row A with new color.
Purl 27.
Repeat row A with new color.
Purl 25.
With next color, knit 1, slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, PSSO, knit 1, slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, PSSO, knit to within five stitches at end of row, knit 2 together, knit 2 together, knit 1. (I am calling this row B.)
Purl 21.
Repeat row B with new color.
Purl 17.
Repeat row B with new color.
Purl 13.
Repeat row B with new color.
Purl 9.
With next color, knit 1, slip 1 knitwise, knit 1, PSSO, knit to within three stitches at end of row, knit 2 together, knit 1. (I am calling this row C.)
Purl 7.
Repeat row C with new color.
Purl 5.
With pink, slip, slip, knit (slip next two stitches to right-hand needle one at a time as if to knit and then return them to the left-hand needle in their new orientation and knit them together through the back loops), knit 1, knit 2 together.
Purl 3.
Using the same color you just used (even though it’s the third row using that color), knit 3 together. Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Using trim color, with right side facing, pick up and knit 37 stitches from CO row. Purl back. Knit one row. Purl one row. Bind off loosely leaving a long tail. Use the tail to loosely tack down the trim color to the back side, enclosing the elastic hairband inside that tube as you stitch it down.
Finally, knit an applied i-cord along the two sides of the triangle as follows:
Using the trim color, cast on 3 stitches. Slide those stitches to the right to the other end of the needle. Bringing the yarn across the back from the left, knit those stitches. With the right side of the triangle facing, pick up with the left-hand needle one stitch from lower right corner. Knit that stitch with trim color and then pass the second-to-leftmost stitch over the stitch you just picked up and knit from the triangle. You have three stitches. Slide those three stitches to the right to the other end of the needle and continue knitting an i-cord and picking up one stitch from the side of the triangle, passing one i-cord stitch over the new, picked-up triangle stitch — all along both sides of the triangle. (If you’d like to see my video tutorial on applied i-cord, click here.)
Weave in ends. Block, if necessary.
If you decide to make a LuLu Kerchief, let me know. I’d *love* to see it.
**Important: this pattern is the property of Leslie Gordon. Please do not sell this pattern or sell any items you created using this pattern. Thank you for respecting this copyright.**
January 1, 2010 at 10:48 am
That is adorable! I am going to make one today :-}
January 1, 2010 at 10:57 am
I cannot wait to see it — thank you! 🙂
January 1, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Congratulations on your first! A great way to start the new year.
January 1, 2010 at 6:09 pm
Thanks, Michele. You have inspired me!! 🙂
Sent from a handheld device – please excuse brevity & typos.
January 3, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Well, you are certainly off to a better start to the new year than me! LOL (not too difficul to do!) Wish I’d had this pattern before Christmas, instead of all the hats I made for hubby’s great-nieces… So, guess I’m ready for NEXT Christmas pattern-wise. Thanks! 🙂
January 3, 2010 at 11:12 pm
Oh, I would LOVE to see your versions of the LuLu Kerchief — now or next December! 🙂 Thanks so much for the comment! 🙂
January 4, 2010 at 6:56 am
So cute! it looks great with the stripes – and she looks very happy with it too 🙂
January 4, 2010 at 7:50 am
Les that is awesome! I bet you are a great pattern writer because you understand the importance of detail and being super clear with the directions! I am excited to see what people make of this great project! Good job!
January 4, 2010 at 8:27 am
Thanks, Aim! You could make one!!! 🙂
July 11, 2010 at 1:03 pm
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