Free knitting pattern featuring Reflective Yarn

Stay warm and safe with reflective knitwear

If you knit or crochet hats, scarves, dog sweaters and other outdoor wear, you're going to want some of this: Kreinik Reflective Yarn. This fiber looks like a simple gray when it’s knit or crocheted into a project, but shines brightly when light hits it, adding a little level of safety when it’s worked into outerwear for you or your pet. If headlights from a car or cyclist aim in your direction, the reflective yarn helps tell the driver that someone is there. 

This particular reflective fiber comes on spools for small projects (like stripes or highlighted areas) or cones for larger projects. Super fine or lace weight, you add it to any yarn you already have, making it versatile for all projects. It's a fun material to experiment with as the weather keeps us indoors this time of year. Start now and you'll have all of your gifts made by the time Christmas 2018 comes around.

To get you started, here is a fast, free knit ear warmer/headband pattern from designer/teacher Mary Beth Temple of Hooked For Life Publishing. Ribbed top and bottom for a good fit, the simple diamond pattern in the center is achieved by working a diamond shape in stocking/stockinette stitch and its reverse. The reflective thread is only worked into the reverse stocking/stockinette stitched diamonds, so it lights up in a fun pattern when the light hits it. 

Reflective Diamonds Ear Warmer

Finished Size: Approx 3.5″/9 cm tall x 21″/53cm in circumference, unstretched. Will stretch to fit larger heads

Materials:

Approx 45 yds/41m worsted weight yarn. Model shown in Diamond Yarns Tradition (51% acrylic/42%wool/7% nylon; 100g, 219 yds/200m)
1 spool Kreinik Reflective Thread (buy here)
Circular needles size 7/4.5mm or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch marker

Gauge: 16 sts x 20 rows = 4″/10cm in st st

Notes:

A denotes wool yarn only.

B denotes wool yarn and reflective thread carried together.

Carry the reflective yarn on the wrong side of the work, twisting yarns to keep from tangling if float is more than 4 sts.

Ear warmer:

With A, cast on 82 sts. Set up for working in the round, being careful not to twist Stitches, and place marker for beginning of rnd.

Work 5 rows k1/p1 ribbing, decreasing 1 st anywhere on the 5th rnd for a new total of 81 sts.

Diamond Pattern:

Rnd 1: With A, k4, with B, p1, (with A, k8, with B, p1) 8 times, with A, k4.

Rnd 2: With A, k3, with B, p3, (with A, k6, with B, p3) 8 times, with A, k3.

Rnd 3: With A, k2, with B, p5, (with A, k4, with B, p5) 8 times, with A, k2.

Rnd 4: With A, k1, with B, p7, (with A, k2, with B, p7) 8 times, with A, k1.

Rnd 5: With B, p.

Rnd 6: Rep Rnd 4.

Rnd 7: Rep Rnd 3.

Rnd 8: Rep Rnd 2.

Rnd 9: Rep Rnd 1. End off reflective thread.

Work 5 rows k1/p1 ribbing, increasing 1 st anywhere on the first Rnd for a new total of 82 sts.

Bind off/cast off in ribbing.

Weave in all ends.

originally from http://hookedforlifepublishing.com/2017/11/reflective-diamonds-ear-warmer-free-knit-pattern/ used by Kreinik with permission from Mary Beth Temple