How to Crochet a Headband

By
Amy Solovay
Amy Solovay
Amy Solovay is a needlecraft expert and professional textile designer who designs knitted, printed, and woven fabric for mass production. She shares her lifelong love of needlecrafts by writing tutorials and patterns. Amy has over 20 years of professional textile design and writing experience.
Learn more about The Spruce Crafts' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/02/20
Knit Headband
Paul Hauf / EyeEm, Getty Images
Project Overview
  • Skill Level: Beginner

Learn how to crochet a headband with this free beginner's crochet pattern. It is a quick, low-commitment project in terms of both the amount of yarn used and the amount of time required to complete. The pattern offers newbies a fantastic opportunity to practice crocheting chains and double crochet stitches. It is also good for helping beginner crocheters to get comfortable working with turning chains. Of course, just because it's good for beginners doesn't mean that only people new to the craft will enjoy working it. It's a great pattern for using up scrap yarn or make for a last-minute accessory to personalize your wardrobe. Make it with the recommended worsted weight yarn, or try another weight for a narrower or wider band.

Sizing / Finished Measurements

Measure around the head of the intended wearer in the position where the headband will be worn. The band is designed to stretch to fit and therefore has negative ease, meaning that it is slightly smaller (20 inches) than the head of the average head size intended wearer (22 inches).

Width: 1-1/4 inches

Circumference: 20 inches

If you want a tighter fit, crochet fewer rows to make a shorter piece; for a looser fit, crochet more rows to make a longer piece. Adjust accordingly if the head size you're fitting is significantly different from the average adult head size of 21 to 23 inches.

Gauge

16 sts = 4 inches in double crochet

To check your gauge, crochet the first few rows of the pattern with a J hook and then measure the width. If the headband is too wide, consider starting over with a smaller hook; if it's too narrow, try a larger hook. If the headband looks like it'll be wearable in the width you have made it, there's no need to start over. The most important dimension is the length, and you will determine that by how many rows you crochet. This is a very flexible design for learning how to crochet a headband.

Abbreviations

  • ch = chain
  • ch 1 = chain 1 stitch
  • dc = double crochet
  • rep = repeat
  • RS = right side; the public side of the work
  • sc = single crochet
  • sk = skip
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • st(s) = stitch(es)
  • WS = wrong side; the inside of the work

Notes

The headband is worked back and forth in narrow rows to the desired length.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

  • US J/10 (6.0 mm) crochet hook
  • Safety pins for checking band fit
  • Yarn or tapestry needle
  • Scissors

Materials

  • 20 to 40 yard worsted weight yarn

Instructions

  1. Make Chain Stitches

    Make slip knot and place on hook; ch 7 sts.

  2. Working Into the Chain

    Next row: dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 1, sk next ch, work 1 dc in each of the last 2 chs, turn.

  3. Foundation Row

    Next row: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch, work 1 dc in the next dc, work 1 dc in the next ch stitch, turn—5 sts.

  4. Begin Band Pattern

    Remember that the turning chain counts as a double crochet stitch. The last dc of a row is worked into the top of the turning chain in the row before it.

    All rows: ch 3 (counts as first dc), dc in next dc, ch 1, sk next ch, work 2 dc in the next 2 sts, turn—5 sts.

    Repeat the last row until the headband measures approximately 20 inches or desired length.

    Tips

    If you would like to do a quick fit check before you seam the sides of the headband, put a safety pin in your active loop and use a few more to pin the sides of the headband closed. Try it on the intended wearer. If it is too big, unravel a bit; if it is too small, crochet another row or few rows until it is the correct size.

  5. Finishing

    Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 inch tail of yarn. Thread the tail through your yarn needle.

    With RS together, use the yarn or tapesty needle to stitch the ends of the headband together. Weave in your ends. Turn the headband RS out. The headband is now ready to wear and enjoy or to give as a gift. Now you know how to crochet a handband, you can make all the cute headbands!