This is a free pattern for now! It’s a basic hair tie in knit fabric, but I hope you enjoy this little project and the photos and techniques on offer in the .PDF.

(If you really enjoy it a lot, check out my other designs!)

The first hair tie is in Malabrigo Yarn Sock; it’s a pretty decent way to use a sub-100yd skein remnant you want to keep in your life. I did use thick elastic for the first two (this one and the silver merino/tencel), and I wouldn’t recommend this if you’ve got anything better options available—the thick elastic distorts the fabric and I’m not sure if it would be all that gentle on long hair.

The alpaca-silk is very light yarn knit very loosely, which I am self-conscious about because my tension is wild in places on that one. I also had a tiny bit of Habu Textiles stainless steel wire/silk that I had strung tiny pearls on, so I added that in too.

Materials:

• Elastic hair tie, or about 6” length of narrow elastic sewn into a loop, one per hair tie
• Sewing needle and thread if using straight elastic
• 20-25g/89-110 yards of fingering-weight yarn; the main sample is knit in Malabrigo Yarn Sock in colorway Indiecita. The others are in Valley Yarns Colrain Lace in Silver and Valley Yarns Alpaca Silk in Gray.
• 1 16”+ circular needle in US3-5/3.25-3.75mm, or size needed for gauge
• Spare 16” circular needle 1-2 sizes down from size needed for gauge
• tapestry needle for weaving in ends
• crochet hook, 2.25mm or size suited to yarn, for provisional cast-on
• scrap sock yarn for provisional cast-on

Abbreviations:
CO—cast on
k—knit
WS/RS—wrong side/right side

Gauge:
Gauge is 22 sts and 36 rows over 4”/10cm of pattern as written. Please be sure to check your gauge—this is a project where the results will be bad if your gauge is denser, but you’ll be okay if it’s a little bit looser, as long as you still get a fabric you like.

Measurements:
These weird little things are about 6”/cm in diameter! The different cast-on sizes primarily add fullness to the floof, and are up to your discretion.