It is not difficult to knit a turban for a woman. This headdress came to Europe from African and Asian countries. The turban, as the turban is also called, is worn by both men and women. This accessory is especially common among Muslims.
Size calculation
Any craftswoman can knit a turban for a woman. In order for the headdress, which at the end of the 20th century firmly entered into fashion all over the globe, to be convenient and comfortable, you need to take the measurements correctly.
Knitting any hat Experienced craftswomen begin by measuring the volume of the skull. To do this, take a tailor's "centimeter" and apply it to one and the other earlobe so that it passes through the top point of the skull. The resulting number is divided by 2. Usually, women's hat size is 56-58.
In order to understand how many stitches you need to cast on for your head circumference, we recommend:
- Cast on 18 stitches from yarn onto knitting needles (including edge stitches).
- Knit the entire row with a 4 x 4 elastic pattern.
- Steam the workpiece with an iron.
- Calculate the number of loops per 1 cm of fabric.
- Multiply the resulting number by ½ head measurements.
It is known that a fabric turban usually took from 6 to 8 meters of fabric. The turban could be of different shapes, weights and sizes, which depended on the nationality of its owner and his occupation.
For example, Indian Nihang warriors wore headdresses weighing 30 kg. For them, it was not only a headdress that protected from wind, sand and bad weather, but also a travel bag where they put weapons and necessary things.
In the modern sense, a knitted women's turban is a light headdress that serves for beauty and warmth. It is worn by both show business stars and ordinary citizens of other professions. A yarn turban makes the silhouette much higher, so it looks especially good on short women.
Classic turban
A turban for a woman can be knitted with knitting needles in the classic version. This is the most common model, which has not gone out of fashion for many years, and in the post-Soviet space it is better known as the "Shell".
It is known from history that only wealthy citizens of the city had the right to wear a turban. In addition, headwear was divided into home, street, everyday and festive.
Muslims have a particularly reverent attitude towards this headdress, as the Prophet Muhammad himself wore it. The color, size and shape of the turban told the initiates about the status and financial well-being of its owner.
Usually, when knitting a turban, only the "English rib" pattern is used. To create it, you need to be able to make front and back loops.
There are also symbols that allow long descriptions of a pattern to be replaced with concise recommendations.
| Name | Reduction | Symbol |
| Facial | lp | "X", "I" or "+" |
| Purl | ip | "-" or "Ո" |
In addition, each knitting pattern has edge loops located at the beginning and end of the row. They are abbreviated as "kr" or "krom".
To create a classic turban hat, you will need a skein of threads of your favorite yarn. It should be taken into account that warm hats are usually knitted from alpaca, wool or mohair. Also take knitting needles of the required diameter (usually indicated on the yarn label), threads in the same tone to sew the fabric, a needle and scissors.
To knit a classic turban you need:
- Cast on 22 stitches.
- Knit rows 1, 3, 5 and the remaining odd rows 2 knit, 2 purl, 2 knit, 2 purl, constantly repeating the pattern.
- The first edge stitch is always removed, and the last one is knitted purlwise.
- Knit rows 2, 4, 6 and the rest of the even ones according to the pattern.
When the fabric is the required length (100 cm), the loops are closed. After this, both ends of the resulting scarf are twisted in front and sewn along the free edges. In this case, the fabric is conditionally divided into 2 parts, folded in half, and secured so that the right half of one side is joined with the left of the second. The same is done with the other 2 parts.
After joining the two short parts, they begin fixing the long ones. The fabric is sewn together by joining the parts of one of the chosen sides so that a hat is formed. Experienced needlewomen recommend constantly measuring the product during the knitting process and making sure that it stretches well to the sides.
Turban headband
Knitting a turban-bandage is also not difficult. In this case, the process is facilitated by the fact that the product only needs to be sewn along 2 short sides, where it will twist.
To make a shell headband for a head size from 56 to 60 cm, you will need knitting needles of a diameter suitable for the yarn and 0.1 kg of thread.
To get a turban strip, you need:
- Cast on 22 stitches.
- Knit rows 1, 3, 5 and subsequent odd rows with a rib pattern consisting of 3 knit, 4 purl, 3 knit, 2 purl, 3 knit, 4 purl. The pattern is repeated throughout the entire length of the row.
- Create rows 2, 4, 6 and other even ones according to the pattern on the fabric that was formed during knitting.
- Knit the desired length of the scarf in this way.
- Close the working loops in any convenient way.
To turn a scarf into a headdress resembling a turban, you need to twist the product along the free edges, as shown in the classic version, and sew it. The finished accessory needs to be tried on and washed.
Closed model
You can knit a turban with knitting needles for a woman and a closed model, which will become a warm hat for the winter. To do this, you need to calculate the volume of the head to understand the required number of loops. Also for a shell hat you will need 0.1 kg of yarn, knitting needles of a suitable diameter and a needle.
To knit the product, you need:
- Cast on the required number of stitches on the knitting needles.
- Knit 1,3,5 and the remaining odd rows with the elastic pattern you like.
- Form 2,4,6 and the remaining even rows according to the pattern on the fabric.
- Knit the required length of the scarf.
- Close the loops at the end of the work.
Next, they begin assembling the product.
To do this:
- Fold the fabric in half and mark the middle.
- Cross the loose ends to create an overlap and leave some length to pull back.
- Sew 2 free crossed ends to the place where the middle of the scarf is fixed.
- Sew the long pieces together along one side where they meet.
- Secure the remaining seams with thread.
- Use thread to secure the overlapping area of the scarf so that it does not shift when worn.
The finished product can be tried on. If the hat fits well on the head, it is washed and left to dry. After this, the closed-type turban can be safely worn. In addition, a closed turban can be knitted in a single piece. This way, it will be warmer and more suitable for winter.
For work you will need threads from a mixture of wool and acrylic, knitting needles. Knitting will be done in 2 threads.
To create a warm shell hat you need:
- Cast on 19 stitches.
- Knit 4 cm of fabric with any elastic band.
- Add 5 loops in each odd row of the outer track, that is, on the sides before the front loop, to avoid holes appearing in the fabric.
- Knit all added stitches as purl stitches.
- Increase stitches until the number of purl stitches along the edges reaches 6. On the remaining tracks, their number should be equal to 11.
- Knit 6 cm according to the pattern without increasing the number of loops.
- Start decreasing stitches only in odd rows, joining 2 stitches purlwise 5 times.
- Reduce the number of loops until all tracks except the central one have 1 left.
- Divide the remaining stitches into 2 so that both halves contain 10 stitches.
- Knit 29 cm of fabric according to the pattern.
- Cross the strips over each other.
- Add "tails" to the edges.
- Sew the ends.
The finished headdress can be tried on and washed.
With a knot
You can decorate a knitted oriental headdress with a knot in the front. To knit such a shell, you will need 0.1 kg of yarn, knitting needles of a suitable diameter and a needle for sewing the product.
To make a fashionable turban with a knot you will need:
- Cast on 31 stitches (including edge stitches) on knitting needles.
- Knit rows 1, 3, 5 and the remaining odd rows with a pattern consisting of 3 knits, 1 purl, 3 knits and 1 purl. Repeat the pattern along the entire length of the row.
- Form 2, 4, 6 and the remaining even rows with loops according to the pattern.
- Knit a piece of fabric 102 cm long.
- Close the working loops.
Before trying on the hat, sew it together. To do this, fold the resulting scarf in half and fix its center. Then overlap the loose ends and tie a knot, and pull the loose ends to the back of the head. Sew the ends of the scarf to the center. The product is also sewn along the remaining 6 sides. The knot can also be fixed with threads so that it does not move when worn.
The resulting fashion accessory is measured, washed, dried and prepared for wearing. You can choose any outfit you like to go with the turban hat with a knot.
English elastic
You can knit a turban for a woman with knitting needles using the “English elastic” pattern, which novice needlewomen often confuse with the usual one.
The difference of the first pattern is that it:
- perfect for knitting hats and other voluminous items;
- formed using yarn overs;
- it has a loop offset.
But, despite all the factors listed above, it also uses the principle of using front and back stitches, as in a regular elastic band.
To learn how to knit English rib and understand how to create it, you need to practice by knitting a small sample.
To do this:
- Cast on 17 stitches (including edge stitches).
- Knit row 1, alternating 1 purl and 1 knit. Always slip the first edge stitch at the beginning of each row and knit the last stitch.
- Form row 2, alternating 1 knit, yarn over, 1 purl stitch slipped unknitted. Repeat the pattern to the end of the row.
- Make row 3, alternating 1 slipped stitch from the back of the work, knitted stitch and yarn over from the previous row, yarn over and 1 unknitted slipped stitch. Repeat the pattern to the end of the row.
- Knit row 4, alternating knitted front loop and yarn over from the previous row, yarn over, 1 slipped loop. Repeat alternating loops along the entire length of the strip.
- Alternate knitting rows 3 and 4.
- Before closing the loops, the last row is knitted as 3.
The resulting sample is a canvas made of English elastic. Now the skill can be transferred to knitting a headdress in the oriental style.
To knit a simple turban with English elastic, you need:
- Cast on 18 stitches.
- Knit row 1 and the following ones as described above.
- Create a canvas 94 cm long.
- Close the loops of the last row at the end of the work.
- Start assembling the turban.
You can sew a turban, forming the front overlap of the fabric, using any of the above patterns.
Tightened turban
Those who do not have extra time to create a fashionable headdress, but want to knit it, can resort to making the so-called "Pull Turban". In this case, the work will take a minimum of time, and the result will exceed expectations.
To create a headdress you will need threads, knitting needles of a suitable diameter and a needle for fastening the fabric.
To knit a turban, you need:
- Cast on the required number of stitches on the knitting needles.
- Knit 1, 3, 5 and the remaining odd rows with any type of elastic.
- Form 2, 4, 6 and other even rows according to the pattern formed on the fabric.
- Knit a scarf of the desired length.
- Close the loops in the last row.
- Sew the ends of the scarf on the short sides.
- Fold the fabric in half and pass the thread and needle through the front with large stitches.
- Pull the garment together at the front to create “waves”.
If desired, the turban can be left as a bandage. If you want to get a solid winter headdress, then the long ends of the fabric are sewn along one of the free edges.
How to decorate
For those who want to “revive” a knitted turban and add a twist to their look, you can decorate it.
For this purpose, the following are usually used:
- stones;
- beads;
- rhinestones;
- jewelry inserts;
- brooches;
- chains;
- knitted details.
Any turban will look great with decorations on its central part. In the forehead area, where the fabric overlaps, stones are placed, gluing or sewing them on by hand. An artificial gem can be chosen in a contrasting color or so that it harmonizes with outerwear, a scarf, or emphasizes the color of the eyes.
The turban is complemented in front with beads. In this case, classic white beads are selected, or jewelry is found to match the color of the knitted fabric. Usually, beads are sewn on in front by hand and formed into a strip, a flower, or attention is focused on 1 large one in the center.
To decorate the headdress, some needlewomen sew rhinestones on the edges that touch the face. In this case, the details are selected to match the color of the product, eyes or outerwear. Sometimes rhinestones can contrast with the turban.
Those who want to make their turban not only beautiful but also valuable can resort to decorating the headdress with real jewelry, for example, pendants made of real precious metals, stones or pearls. Such accessories are also sewn to the turban in front by hand.
Most often, women's oriental headdresses are decorated with brooches. They can be either plain, without shiny inserts, or with stones or beads. A large or small brooch is attached just above the forehead of the headdress or at the intersection of the fabric using a back pin. The convenience of such decoration is that it can always be removed and replaced with another.
Sometimes a wool product is decorated with chains of different colors, lengths and diameters. In this case, the decoration is also sewn manually onto the fabric in front, and some experienced needlewomen knit this accessory in the process of work.
Fans of knitted jewelry can complement the turban by making an accessory from yarn. Flowers, feathers, leaves or stars are appropriate here. Everything depends on the imagination of the craftswoman. After the decoration is ready, it is sewn manually into place.
In the 21st century, a knitted turban is a fashionable detail of a woman's wardrobe. Designers emphasize the versatility of this headdress and note that it can be combined with almost everything in the closet.
For the summer version of the shell, thin threads and light colors are suitable, and for the winter ones - thick warm yarn and dark colors. In addition, the turban can be made from contrasting threads, and it will stand out from the background.
Fashion experts note that the turban is ideal for those with a round face, as it visually reduces its volume and elongates the silhouette. In addition, the headdress holds its shape well, sits comfortably and tightly on the head and covers the neck and ears from strong winds.
Even a beginner needlewoman can knit a turban for a woman. To make the headdress work, experts recommend following the patterns and advice of professionals.
Video about knitting a turban
Master class on knitting a turban with knitting needles: