A crochet headband is a perfect project for any time of year! It keeps your ears warm on a cool day, holds your hair back on a warm one, and it’s a great way to practice new stitches. This pattern creates a beautiful, textured headband using a combination of Puff Stitches and Tunisian Simple Stitches, resulting in a unique and stylish accessory. It’s written for an average adult size, with notes on how to adjust for a custom fit.
Materials
- Worsted-weight yarn (Category 4): Approximately 50-75 yards. I recommend a soft acrylic or wool blend.
- Tunisian crochet hook: US size I/9 (5.5 mm) with a cable, or a standard hook with a long shaft. Use the size needed to obtain gauge.
- Crochet hook: US size I/9 (5.5 mm) for the finishing round.
- Tapestry needle: For weaving in ends.
- Stitch marker: Optional but helpful.
Gauge
Getting the right gauge is important to ensure your headband fits correctly.
- In Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS): 4 rows of 5 TSS should measure 1 inch by 1 inch.
Adjust your hook size if your gauge is off. If your swatch is too small, use a larger hook. If it’s too big, use a smaller hook.
Pattern Notes
- This headband is worked flat and then seamed together to create a continuous loop.
- The pattern is worked in two parts: the main body and a finishing round.
- Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS):
- Forward Pass: Insert hook under the vertical bar of the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop. Leave all loops on the hook. Repeat across the row.
- Return Pass: Yarn over, pull through one loop (this creates the first stitch). *Yarn over, pull through 2 loops.* Repeat from * to * until you have one loop left on your hook.
- Puff Stitch (PS): *Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch, pull up a loop.* Repeat from * to * 2 more times in the same stitch (7 loops on your hook). Yarn over, and pull through all 7 loops on your hook. Chain 1 to close the stitch.
Headband Construction
Part 1: The Main Body (Tunisian Stitch Section)
- Row 1: Chain 14.
- Forward Pass: Insert hook into the second chain from the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop. Leave all loops on the hook. Repeat across the row. (14 loops on your hook)
- Return Pass: Complete a standard Tunisian return pass.
- Row 2:
- Forward Pass: Work a Tunisian Simple Stitch (TSS) into each vertical bar across the row. (14 loops on your hook)
- Return Pass: Complete a standard Tunisian return pass.
- Rows 3-6: Repeat Row 2.
Continue working in Tunisian Simple Stitch until your work measures approximately 1.5 inches in height.
Part 2: The Textured Puff Stitch Section
- Row 7:
- Forward Pass: Work a TSS into the first 2 vertical bars. *Skip a vertical bar, work a Puff Stitch (PS) into the next vertical bar.* Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 2 stitches left. Work a TSS into the last 2 vertical bars. (14 loops on your hook)
- Return Pass: Complete a standard Tunisian return pass.
- Row 8:
- Forward Pass: Work a TSS into each stitch across the row, including the top of the puff stitches. (14 loops on your hook)
- Return Pass: Complete a standard Tunisian return pass.
- Row 9:
- Forward Pass: Work a TSS into the first 2 vertical bars. *Work a Puff Stitch (PS) into the space between the puff stitches of the previous row, skip the next stitch.* Repeat from * to * across the row until you have 2 stitches left. Work a TSS into the last 2 vertical bars. (14 loops on your hook)
- Return Pass: Complete a standard Tunisian return pass.
- Row 10:
- Forward Pass: Work a TSS into each stitch across the row, including the top of the puff stitches. (14 loops on your hook)
- Return Pass: Complete a standard Tunisian return pass.
Repeat Rows 7-10 until your headband is long enough to fit snugly around your head, with a slight stretch. For an average adult, this is approximately 19-21 inches in length. End on a TSS row (either Row 8 or Row 10) for a clean edge.
Part 3: Finishing and Seaming
- Binding Off: To bind off, work a slip stitch into each vertical bar across the final row. This will create a clean, non-stretching edge.
- Seaming: Fold the headband in half, bringing the short ends together. Use a tapestry needle and the tail of your yarn to whip stitch or mattress stitch the two ends together. Weave in your ends securely.
- Final Edge: Now, with your standard crochet hook, join your yarn at one side of the headband seam. Work a round of single crochet (SC) around the entire top edge of the headband to give it a neat, finished look. Join with a slip stitch to the first SC. Repeat for the bottom edge of the headband.
Enjoy your new, beautiful, and handmade headband!
