Bandkerchief Crochet Kerchief Headband
What goes on easy like a headband but looks like a kerchief? A Bandkerchief of course! This crochet kerchief headband pattern is quick and easy. With 5 sizes from baby to adult, this lacy design makes a great summer accessory for the whole family!
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Redesigned for 2024!
This crochet kerchief headband pattern was completely redesigned in April 2024, now in 5 sizes! Originally it called for fingering weight yarn, starting from the band and working down to the point of the kerchief. This new version starts at the bottom point and works up to the band, in DK weight yarn.
Why the changes?
While it has been a popular pattern, most users adjusted it to work with sport or DK-weight yarns. At one point, I changed the yarn recommendation to sport weight, but users seemed to prefer DK. Later, I created a knit version of the Bandkerchief, using worsted-weight yarn.
In designing that one, I added multiple size options and worked from the point up to the band. This construction made it easy to adjust the size as needed at the end. Starting from just one stitch also made it an easier pattern overall. So I decided to change this pattern to better match the knit version.
If you want to work with a lighter weight yarn, you can easily adjust the sizing by adding more repeats in the kercheif section!
King Cole Cotton Top DK
King Cole sent me a sample of Cotton Top DK to try some time ago. It’s an acrylic/cotton blend, which is super soft and lightweight. I also love the specks of white mixed in with the pastel colors. For the sample, I used #4227 – Jasmin.
Materials
- Yarn: 65 [80, 100, 125, 155] yds King Cole Cotton Top DK (78% premium acrylic, 22% Cotton; 100g / 284 yds per skein) #4227 Jasmine
- Hooks:
- Size F (3.75 mm) hook or size needed to match gauge
- Size G (4 mm) hook or 1 size (.25 – .5 mm) larger than smaller hook.
- Notions: Yarn needle
Project Level
Easy: V stitches, front post and back post double crochet ribbing.
Sizes
Baby [toddler, child, teen/adult small, adult large]
13 [14.5, 16, 18, 20] inches band circumference
Stretches to fit 14-16 [16-18, 18-20, 20-22, 22-24] inch head circumference.
Gauge
In ribbing pattern with smaller hook: [fpdc, bpdc] 8 times = 4 inches; 16 rows = 4 inches
With larger hook, after Row 7 of Kerchief, work should measure 4 inches wide x 4 inches tall.
Abbreviations used
This pattern uses US terms.
- bpdc = back post double crochet
- ch = chain
- dc = double crochet
- fpdc = front post double crochet
- rnd = round
- RS = right side
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- sp = space
- st(s) = stitch(es)
- V = v-stitch (see Special Stitch)
- WS = wrong side
Special Stitch
V-Stitch (V): (Dc, ch 1, dc) in indicated st or sp. When working into a V-stitch, work into the ch-sp at the center.
Instructions
Kerchief
Row 1: With larger hook, ch 2, sc in 2nd ch from hook. (1 sc)
Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as dc and ch-1 throughout), turn, dc in same st. (2 dc, 1 ch-1 sp)
Row 3: Ch 4, turn, V in ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in last st (3rd ch of turning ch-4). (1 V, 2 dc, 2 ch-1 sps)
Row 4: Ch 4, turn, dc in first ch-1 sp, V in next V, dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in last st. (1 V, 4 dc, 2 ch-1 sps).
Row 5: Ch 4, turn, V in first ch-1 sp, V in each V across to last ch-1 sp, V in last ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in last st. (3 V, 2 dc, 2 ch-1 sps)
Row 6: Ch 4, turn, dc in first ch-1 sp, V in each V across to last ch-1 sp, dc in last ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in last st. (3 V, 4 dc, 2 ch-1 sps)
[Repeat Rows 5 & 6] 4 [5, 6, 7, 8] times. (11 [13, 15, 17, 19] Vs, 4 dc, 2 ch-1 sps)
Last Rnd: Ch 4, turn, V in first ch-1 sp, V in each V across to last ch-1 sp, V in last ch-1 sp, ch 1, dc in last st, ch 9 [9, 9, 11, 13] (back of Band), join with sl st in first st to begin working in rounds. (13 [15, 17, 19, 21] V, 2 dc, 2 ch-1 sps, 9 [9, 9, 9, 11, 13] chs)
Band
Band is worked in rnds all on the RS, using smaller hook. Do not turn unless indicated.
Rnd 1: With smaller hook, ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in first ch-1 sp, 3 dc in each V across to last ch-1 sp, dc in last ch-1 sp, dc in last st, dc in each ch around, join with sl st in first st. (52 [58, 64, 72, 80] sts)
This is a good time to check for fit. Band should fit snuggly but not uncomfortably tight. If you need to adjust, you can either add/remove rows in the kerchief section (for larger adjustments), or add/remove chains at the end of the Last Rnd (for smaller adjustments). Be sure to add/remove rows and/or chs in groups of 2.
For larger adjustments: Undo Rnd 1 of band and last rnd of Kerchief. Then, add/remove repeats of Rows 5 & 6 as desired.
For smaller adjustments: Undo Rnd 1 of band and joining sl st at end of last rnd of Kercheif. Then, add/remove chains in groups of 2 at the end of Last Rnd of Kerchief.
Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as bpdc throughout), fpdc around next st, [bpdc around next st, fpdc around next st] around, join with sl st in first st.
[Repeat Rnd 2] 2 [2, 3, 4, 5] more times.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Edging (optional)
This is a plain, sc edging worked along the edge of the Kerchief section only.
Using larger hook, with RS facing and positioned to work in ends of rows along Kerchief edge, join yarn with sl st in first of added chs at back of Band.
Edging Row: Working in ends of rows along Kerchief, 2 sc in each row to Row 1, (sc, ch 1, sc) in bottom of Row 1, 2 sc in each row across Kerchief, sl st in last of added chs at back of Band.
Fasten off. Weave in ends.
Bandkerchief Chart
Work only the sts in black or green – the greyed out sts show how the ends connect for rnds.
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I hope you enjoy this crochet kerchief headband pattern. Special thanks to Tricia Jones and Jean (agd509) for testing it!
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9 Comments
lona smith
ok so i worked this up as far as the end of the headband today. with the correct size hooks and yarn. my finished headband had 2 problems. 1–the base chain has no stretch to it. 2–the finished headband will barely fit a toddler. I have NO idea what I did wrong. So , I’ve frogged it out and I’m starting over.
Pia Thadani
oh no! ok, let’s look at some possibilities:
Did you do a gauge swatch and were you able to get the right gauge? You may just crochet tighter than I do, so you may want to go up a hook size.
Did you double check your stitch count before you frogged? I can’t tell you how many times I get stuck and it’s a simple matter of having miscounted.
What yarn are you using? Is it a fingering weight?
Also it sounds like your starting chain was too tight. To help keep your starting chain looser, you may want to work it with a much larger hook (like 2 sizes larger). The ribbing will stretch quite a bit, but it will be limited by the starting chain, so you want to be sure to chain loosely (in fact, I think I’ll add the word “loosely” to the pattern).
If you’re familiar with foundation double crochet, that’s much stretchier, so you could try using that for the first row instead of the chain – just work 80 fdc for row 1. There’s a great tutorial here: https://www.mooglyblog.com/foundation-double-crochet-fdc/ I didn’t write the pattern with that because it would have upped the difficulty and it can be a bit fiddly with thinner yarn if people aren’t used to it.
I hope this helps and you’re able to identify the problem!
ann
mine is also looking like it will fit a toddler, next one I will make with a bigger hook and different yarn, probably cotton, I love this though it’s a pretty awesome idea thank you for the pattern
Pia Thadani
You’re welcome 🙂 can I ask what yarn you used and if you were able to match the gauge?
Pia Thadani
Based on the comments and after reviewing the tester’s projects, I have added a note regarding the yarn weight. Please do go up in yarn size if you’re having trouble meeting gauge with a fingering weight yarn 🙂
Becky Thomas
I used fingering weight and an E hook. Came out just right.
Pia Thadani
Oh good, thank you for telling me! I was starting to think I was going crazy 🙂 I guess that little bit of difference between different crocheters tension really matters on this one.
Rena Rubin
Do you have something like this in a knitting pattern? Crocheting hurts my hands too much 🙁
Pia Thadani
sorry, I don’t, but I’ll put it on my to do list!