Add a touch of whimsy to the Morning Walk Earwarmer with this cute and creative update. Featuring a glamorous beaded edging, the Evening Stroll Earwarmer uses varying heights of crochet stitches to create shaping that is narrower at the back of the neck to ensure a comfy, stay-put fit. Ribbing along the sides creates an elastic fabric that will fit a variety of head sizes. This is a great project for treating yourself to a luxury yarn. 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

Materials

Yarn: Anzula “It Could be Worsted” (50% Superwash Merino, 50% Tussah Silk; 190 yards [173 meters]/110 grams) Color: Petals

Sample used 52 grams

Hooks: US size I/9 (5.5mm), Steel hook size 6 (1 mm)

Notions: 68 – size 5 silver-lined clear glass Miyuki triangle seed beads (or Size 2 Glass E-beads), stitch markers, tapestry needle

Special Stitches

Beaded Chain stitch (Bdch)

Need beads pre-strung on yarn. Before making chain stitch, slide bead along working yarn next to hook, YO with working yarn above bead, pull thru loop on hook to make chain stitch.

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.

Hoist-On Beaded Chain (HObdch)

Remove hook from working loop, using a small steel hook pick up a bead and slide onto working loop, re-insert yarn hook and complete chain stitch.

Pattern Notes

This headband is started with stringing half the beads on the yarn, then work the stacked rows foundation with beaded chain stitches where idicated. 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. The final edging round is worked with beads being added to the indicated chain stitches.

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 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

String 34 beads on yarn before starting to crochet.

Foundation

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

Row 2: Ch 1, Bdch 1, turn, 2 sc in first st.

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

Rows 4-68: Rep Rows 2-3, ending with a Row 2.

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 1, 1 HObdch, 2 sc in side of sc just made, skip next st (sc in next st, ch 1, 1 HObdch, 2 sc in side of sc just made, skip next st) 33 times, join with sl st to first sc of Rnd. Fasten off. (102 sc, 34 ch-2s)

Finishing

Weave in ends. Block lightly, if desired.