Easy Crochet Ribbed Headband: One Row, Repeated

If you've just learned double crochet and want to make something you can wear, this headband is it. It's one row repeated: 9 double crochets in the back loop only. The back-loop stitches make a ribbing that stretches around your head and springs back. Sew the ends together and you're done.

Elise demonstrates it on her lilthings channel, with good habits for beginners: marking the first stitch of every row so it never gets lost.

Video tutorial by Elise on her YouTube channel, lilthings: watch "crochet easy headband for beginner | free pattern for crochet absolute beginner" on YouTube.

Written from the video tutorial.

Materials

• 5-ply yarn, or a soft variegated yarn for colour without colour changes
• 3.5 mm hook
• A locking stitch marker, scissors and a darning needle

Pattern

1. Foundation: chain 11 (9 for the width and 2 for turning).
2. Row 1: starting in the 3rd chain from the hook, work 9 dc. Put a marker in the first dc.
3. Row 2 and every row after: chain 2, turn, and work 9 dc in the back loop only. Move the marker to the first stitch of the new row.
4. Keep going until the strip, unstretched, wraps snugly round your head.

Every row, the last stitch goes into the stitch with the marker, so the band stays exactly 9 stitches wide.

Seaming

1. Pull up a long loop, cut the yarn and thread the tail onto a darning needle.
2. Line up the last row with the foundation chain.
3. Sew back and forth through matching loops, so the seam looks like part of the ribbing.
4. Knot the starting and finishing tails together on the inside, and weave them in.

Tips

• Measure unstretched. Ribbing stretches a lot. If it fits when stretched, it'll be loose when worn.
• Wider band? Chain more: 12 or 15 stitches make a broad ear-warmer style headband.
• Twist it. Before sewing, twist one end half a turn for a twist-front headband.

Frequently asked questions