panta revisited

remember the panta? It was a little big. Big around, big across, big at the front and big at the back. Seems to be a theme with me of late.

well, from the moment i read the panta pattern, i wanted to do it in the round. So, this weekend, in the downtime between cutting wood and sanding for darkroom cabinet drawers, i drew it up, made a rough draft, ripped it out and made it again.

I liked the cross-rib action of the original panta, but just didn't want a seam. So this is worked in the round, using short rows to create the wide front. I did the short row sections to appear as purl bumps, as you can see here:

short rows with style

The pattern is quite easy, and formula-esque, ala schmee.

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Make a swatch using the yarn you wish to use.
a = stitches per inch (or whatever unit of measurement you wish to use)

Measure your head
b = head measurement

This panta is stretchy, i found i preferred 25% negative ease
c = ease factor (20% neg. ease = a factor of .8, 25% neg. ease = a factor of .75, etc)

Calculate the cast-on stitches (d), adjust up or down to be an even number
d = a*b*c

Calculate 'llama' in stitches(from org. pattern, essentially, how much space between increases in band width)
e = d/10

In my case i had 3.75 st / in and head measurement of 20", so..
a = 3.75
b = 20
c = .75
d = 3.75 * 20 * .75 = 56.25 = 56 stitches
e = 5.6, rounded up to 6 stitches

1. cast on d/2 stitches, PM, cast on d/2 more stitches
2. join into round, being careful not to twist. Place a unique marker at start of round
3. knit one round
4. purl one round
5. knit one round

6. knit to e stitches past center marker slip next stitch to right needle, bring yarn forward, slip stitch back to left needle and turn, forming a wrap
7. knit to e stitches past center marker bring yarn forward, slip next stitch to right needle, bring yarn back, slip stitch to left needle *NOTE that the second wrapped stitch is done differently than the first*
8. purl to e stitches past center marker, knit the wrapped stitch with its wrap and continue to knit the round.
9. knit one full round, working the wrapped stitch with its wrap when you come to it.

10. knit to e*2 stitches past center marker slip next stitch to right needle, bring yarn forward, slip stitch back to left needle and turn, forming a wrap
11. knit to e*2 stitches past center marker bring yarn forward, slip next stitch to right needle, bring yarn back, slip stitch to left needle *NOTE that the second wrapped stitch is done differently than the first*
12. purl to e*2 stitches past center marker, knit the wrapped stitch with its wrap and continue to knit the round.
13. knit one full round, working the wrapped stitch with its wrap when you come to it.

14. knit to e*3 stitches past center marker slip next stitch to right needle, bring yarn forward, slip stitch back to left needle and turn, forming a wrap
15. knit to e*3 stitches past center marker bring yarn forward, slip next stitch to right needle, bring yarn back, slip stitch to left needle *NOTE that the second wrapped stitch is done differently than the first*
16. purl to e*3 stitches past center marker, knit the wrapped stitch with its wrap and continue to knit the round.
17. Knit one full round, working the wrapped stitch with its wrap when you come to it.

18. Repeat steps 10 - 13
19. Repeat steps 6 - 9
20. Purl one row
21. Knit one row
22. Cast off loosely.

Note that you could make the whole headband wider by adding more short row sections, e.g. add an e*4 section. You could also make the front (center) of the headband wider by working more short rows, e.g. work steps 14-17 twice rather than just once.

Comments or suggestions for improvement welcome.

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