A Vintage Knitted Turban Pattern (For When You’ve Knitted Every Hat)

Why a knitted turban? Well, there comes a time in every knitters life, where one has simply knitted every beanie.

Cables, colourwork, a decorative brim… check, check, check.

But when is a beanie not a beanie? When it’s a turban, of course.

This knitted turban pattern was originally published in the 1940s, and seriously, how good do these ladies look? It’s the perfect hat for digging in the victory garden on a cool spring morning.

I chose the moss stitch variation, and cast on in Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted, which I picked up from a yarn store in Lausanne (I work in Lausanne, so even though it’s ‘up the lake’ from where I live I’m there all the time!).

The knitted turban pattern was a little confusing at times (I notice the source has disappeared, and now it’s only available as a janky webarchive link), but the moss stitch was soothing and easy to work.

I took my time with this, because, as noted, I already have hats.

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First it was my train knitting, then I came down with the most awful flu (seriously, I was out for the count for a week!) and it was my couch-and-recovery knitting.

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Once I was back on my feet, I took my knitted turban out for a walk.

And gosh, it’s not so easy to put on. I was twist-turning it and tucking, and the dratted thing fell off my head. Finally, I got it settled enough to take photos.

I can’t say we took many good ones – I look so sick and puffy even in these pics, which are the best of the bunch!

That’s the Jet d’Eau behind me by the way. In the second pic, I’ve realised I’m still rather sick so I’m heading back to my couch and orange juice! You can see the band detail more clearly though.

As I’d hoped, the moss stitch of my knitted turban is lovely and warm. Plus, the folding and wrapping means there’s three layers over your ears. Much needed – there’s been such a cold snap that the plants around the lake have frozen into ‘lollipops’!

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