This earwarmer project uses varying heights of crochet stitches to create narrower shaping that can be worn in the front or the back of the head. Keep your ears warm on your brisk morning coffee run while still looking stylish. Quick to work up, you can make it and wear it the same day.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: approx. 5.25” / [13.65 cm] at widest point x 18.5” / [47 cm] around to fit head circumference between 20-23” around.

Gauge: 8 rows and 14 sts = 4” [10 cm] in X-st pattern

Material

Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm Moonshine (40% Alpaca, 40% Wool, 20% Silk; 197 yards [180 meters]/100 grams): #01 Grey (1 skein)

Hook: US size I/9 (5.5mm)

Notions: Stitch markers, tapestry needle

Special Stitches

Double crochet Cross Stitch (X-st)

Skip one st, dc in next st, working around previously made dc, dc in skipped st. Each X-st uses 2 sts and creates 2 sts.

Front Post half double crochet (FPhdc)

YO hook, insert around post of indicated st from front to back to front, YO, pull up a lp (3 lps on hook), YO, pull through all 3 lps.

Back Post half double crochet (BPhdc)

YO hook, insert around post of indicated st from back to front to back, YO, pull up a lp (3 lps on hook), YO, pull through all 3 lps.

Pattern Notes

This headband is worked off a stacked rows foundation. Once the rows for the foundation are completed and joined into a ring, the rounds for the main part of the earwarmer are worked off one side of those rows.

When working into sides of rows for Rnd 1 of the earwarmer, the rows are referred to as sts for clarity.

All rounds are worked in the same direction without turning.

The cross stitch (x-st) pattern is worked staggered. For example, the next round of cross stitches is worked with each X-st over the space between X-sts on the row below.

Even numbered rounds cross stitch section begins and ends with a solitary hdc.

The length of the foundation rows will be much longer than the finished length around of the project. The ribbing will shrink the length but allows for the band to stretch to fit the head.

Pattern

Foundation

Row 1: Ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook.

Row 2: Ch 2, turn, 2 sc in first st.

Row 3: Ch 1, turn, sc in first st.

Rows 4-67: Rep Rows 2-3.

Row 68: Ch 2, turn, 2 sc in first st.

Without twisting strip of rows join with sl st to bottom of Row 1, forming ring.

Earwarmer

Rnd 1: Turn to work along flat side of foundation rows, ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, hdc in next 14 sts, 16 X-sts over next 32 sts, hdc in next 14 sts, sc in next 4 sts, join with sl st to first sc of Rnd. (8 sc, 28 hdc, 16 X-sts)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, (FPhdc, BPhdc) 7 times, hdc in next st, 15 X-sts over next 30 sts, hdc in next st, (BPhdc, FPhdc) 7 times, sc in next 4 sts, join with sl st to first sc of Rnd. (8 sc, 2 hdc, 14 FPhdc, 14 BPhdc, 15 X-sts)

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in next 4 sts, (FPhdc, BPhdc) 7 times, 16 X-sts over next 32 sts, (BPhdc, FPhdc) 7 times, sc in next 4 sts, join with sl st to first sc of Rnd. (8 sc, 2 hdc, 14 FPhdc, 14 BPhdc, 16 X-sts)

Rnds 4-9: Rep Rnds 2-3.

Rnd 10 (Finishing Edge): Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 2, 2 sc in side of sc just made, skip next st (sc in next st, ch 2, 2 sc in side of sc just made, skip next st) 33 times, join with sl st to first sc of Rnd. (102 sc, 34 ch-2s)
Updated 9/24/2019

Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Block lightly, if desired.