More Colours Your Way …

The Strata Band ear-warmer is the follow-up to the warm and squishy Strata Beanie and will be your go-to autumn (fall) accessory. And NO, it is not as simple as simply stopping the beanie after 9 bands. There was a mind bending amount of reworking and calculations to get the numbers right for the edging. I did this so you don’t have to ;)

Inspired by a folded layer technique but without the hard work of picking up teeny stitches for every fold. You are sure to get many compliments each time you wear it. Just watch out for those who try to ‘borrow’ it ;)

Written in full with handy progress check boxes, so you can keep a visual track of where you are. You might feel like you’re playing bingo.

The best part is deciding what colours to use. You will enjoy watching this grow.

I have formatted this pattern in such a way that you should only need to print page 2 & 3 (double sided).

Saving the planet one unprinted page at a time.

Materials Needed

Yarn

Approximately 80 g of DK weight yarn.

Yes, this is a lot of yarn for an earwarmer but you are getting one which is triple layered by the nature of the slipped stitch lining and the pleated layers.

You can either use 9 individual minis/leftovers as below (this is based on my knitting tension as stated in the gauge section – don’t play yarn chicken, have a little extra if you can).

• Brim Bands 3 x 8g
• Body Bands 5 x 10g
• I-Cord Band 1 x 4g

Or you could use one of the below options for your bands :

Alternating bands from two balls of contrasting colours (no weaving of ends as you can just carry the dormant colour up - I wouldn’t recommend carrying yarn over more than one band). No colour change – yep, looks just as great with one colourway throughout.

I would not suggest using a fully acrylic yarn as you will struggle to have success when blocking due to the nature of acrylic yarns.

Needles and Notions

• 3.5mm (US 4) 16 inch (40 cm) circulars
• 4mm (US 6) 16 inch (40 cm) circulars
• BOR marker.
• Tapestry needle (for i-Cord bind off and for sewing those dreaded ends in).

Skills used …

• Long tail cast on (video link provided).
• Knit and purl stitches.
• Slip stitches.
• Decreasing (knit two together).
• Increase stitches (basic instructions given).
• I-Cord in the round (basic instructions given).
• I-Cord bind off (video link provided).

Errata : Notes box CIR should be BIR. It is correct in both the pattern instructions and in the abbreviations list. I simply had a menopause moment in the notes box.

One more thing …

If you like the look of this pattern it would be a huge help to me if you would give it a like. Your support of my little dream is so appreciated. Every ‘like’ helps and it’s a known fact I do a tiny happy dance each time I get a notification. I am a terrible dancer!