Ribbed Ear Warmer Headband Free Crochet Pattern

This is a flat, ribbed ear warmer you crochet in rows and seam into a loop. It uses only single crochet and chain stitches, so a confident beginner can finish it in roughly four hours. The ribbing stretches to fit, which means small size errors are forgiving.

Ribbed Winter Ear Warmer Headband

Free crochet pattern · US terms

Yarn: 4 – Medium (worsted) — suggested
Hook: 5.0 mm (H-8) — verify with a swatch
Gauge: 14 sts x 16 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in back loop only single crochet, unblocked, measured over the middle of the swatch (calculated, not measured)
Size: approx. Adult: about 20 in (51 cm) around, unstretched, and 4 in (10 cm) tall. Child: about 18 in (46 cm) around. Toddler: about 16 in (41 cm) around.
Level: Confident beginner
Time: about 4 h (estimate)

Written and count-checked on paper, not yet physically tested. Make the gauge swatch and the checkpoint below before you commit all your yarn.

Go to the pattern Pin it for later Print

The headband is a rectangle of single crochet worked in the back loop only, which creates vertical ridges and a stretchy fabric. You sew the two short ends together to close the band, then wear it with the seam at the back of your head.

It suits anyone who wants a warm ear covering that does not mess up hair, and it works in any worsted weight yarn. The same rectangle method scales to child and adult sizes by changing the starting chain and row count.

Before You Start

Time: about 4 hours for the adult size at a relaxed pace, plus 15 minutes to seam and weave in ends.

Skill: single crochet and back loop only single crochet are the only stitches. If you can make a scarf, you can make this.

Yarn: one 100 g skein of worsted weight is enough for one adult headband; the estimate is about 120 yd (110 m).

Swatch first: work a 4 in (10 cm) square in back loop only single crochet to confirm your gauge before starting.

Materials

Suggested materials. Any yarn of the same weight works if you match the gauge.

1 skein worsted weight acrylic or wool blend, about 100 g

A smooth plied yarn shows the ribbing clearly and holds stretch. A cotton blend also works but stretches less and feels firmer.

5.0 mm (H-8) crochet hook

This hook matches worsted weight for a fabric with some give. Go down to 4.5 mm if your stitches run loose.

Tapestry needle

A blunt needle with an eye wide enough for worsted yarn is needed to seam the ends and weave in tails.

Tape measure

You need it for the gauge swatch and for checking the band length against your head before seaming.

Stitch marker (optional)

One marker helps you count rows if you lose your place. A scrap of contrasting yarn works too.

Yarn needed (estimate): about 120 yd (110 m) for the adult size, roughly one 100 g skein

Gauge and Size

Gauge: 14 sts x 16 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in back loop only single crochet, unblocked, measured over the middle of the swatch. This gauge is calculated from the yarn and hook above, not measured on a finished sample. Make a 4 in (10 cm) swatch first; change the hook size, not your tension, until it matches.

Finished size (approximate): Adult: about 20 in (51 cm) around, unstretched, and 4 in (10 cm) tall. Child: about 18 in (46 cm) around. Toddler: about 16 in (41 cm) around.. Your size depends on your gauge.

Abbreviations (US terms)

Abbr.	Meaning
ch	chain
sc	single crochet
BLO	back loop only
st	stitch
sts	stitches
rep	repeat
FO	fasten off

Special Stitches

Back loop only single crochet (BLO sc)

Insert the hook under the back loop of the stitch only, the loop farthest from you, leaving the front loop unworked. Yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops. Working only the back loop pushes the front loop forward and makes the ridge.

How This Pattern Is Written

All instructions use US crochet terms.
The headband is worked flat in rows, then seamed into a loop. Work direction is back and forth; there are no joined rounds.
The turning chain at the start of each row does not count as a stitch. Work the first sc of each row into the first stitch of the previous row.
Right side: the side facing you on odd-numbered rows, the one with the raised ridges. Keep the right side out when you seam.
The band is designed with negative ease, so the finished loop should measure about 2 in (5 cm) smaller than the head it fits.
Stitch counts are given at the end of every row as (number sc).

Checkpoint after Row 6: The piece should measure about 4 in (10 cm) wide and about 1.5 in (4 cm) tall, with 56 sts on the last row and clear vertical ridges running up the fabric.

The Pattern

Headband

Row 1: Ch 57. Sc in the second ch from the hook and in each ch across. Turn.(56 sc)
Row 2: Ch 1, turn. BLO sc in each st across. Turn.(56 sc)
Rows 3-20: Rep Row 2 eighteen more times. Each row keeps 56 sts. Turn at the end of each row.(56 sc)
Row 21: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across, working under both loops this time for a firm edge. FO leaving a tail about 20 in (51 cm) long for seaming.(56 sc)

Finishing and Assembly

1. Lay the band flat and check the length against your head. The loop should be about 2 in (5 cm) smaller than your head measurement.
2. Fold the band in half with the right side facing out and bring the two short ends together.
3. Thread the long tail on the tapestry needle and whip stitch or mattress stitch the ends together, matching stitch for stitch.
4. Weave in the remaining tail on the inside of the band and trim.
5. Put the band on with the seam at the back and adjust the fold so the ridges sit evenly.

Sizes and Variations

Child size

ch 49 and work 20 rows for a band about 18 in (46 cm) around.

Toddler size

ch 43 and work 18 rows for a band about 16 in (41 cm) around.

Wider band

add 4 rows for a band about 5 in (13 cm) tall.

Two color band

change color every 5 rows for stripes, carrying the unused yarn up the side edge.

Troubleshooting

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
The band is too loose and slides off.	The loop was made too long, or the gauge is looser than stated.	Unpick the seam and remove rows until the loop measures about 2 in (5 cm) smaller than your head, then seam again.
The band is tight and leaves a mark.	The loop is smaller than the negative ease allows, or the yarn has little stretch.	Unpick the seam and add rows in pairs until it sits comfortably, then reseam.
The ribbing looks flat with no ridges.	The hook went under both loops instead of the back loop only.	Check that each stitch is worked under the single loop farthest from you, and rip back to the last correct row.
The seam is bulky and visible.	The two ends were overlapped instead of joined edge to edge.	Unpick the seam and join the ends with a mattress stitch, working into the outer loops of each edge so the seam lies flat.
The edges curl inward.	The turning chain was worked too tightly, or the first stitch of the row was skipped.	Work the turning chain loosely and make sure the first sc goes into the first stitch of the previous row.

Care

Hand wash or machine wash on gentle in cool water, then reshape and lay flat to dry. Do not tumble dry, because heat can shrink acrylic and loosen the ribbing.

Questions Makers Ask

How do I know what size to make?

Measure around the head just above the ears, then subtract 2 in (5 cm). Choose the size whose finished measurement is closest to that number. The band stretches, so being slightly small is better than slightly large.

Can I make this with a different yarn weight?

Yes, but the stitch count and hook size must change. Use the gauge on the yarn label as a starting point, make a swatch, and adjust the starting chain until the band is the length you need.

Do I have to seam it, or can I work in the round?

You can work in the round, but the ribbing direction changes and the band becomes less stretchy. The flat rectangle with a seam is the version that stretches to fit.

How much yarn does one headband use?

The adult size uses roughly 120 yd (110 m), which is about one 100 g skein of worsted weight. Buy two skeins if you want matching stripes or a spare for mistakes.

Designer’s note: Keep your starting chain loose, because a tight chain makes the first row hard to work and pulls the band narrow at one edge. If your swatch comes out wider than 4 in (10 cm), drop to a 4.5 mm hook rather than adjusting the stitch count.

Next: Try a matching ribbed cowl worked in the same back loop only stitch, or move on to a simple beanie in the round to practice working with joined rounds.