Materials & tools you'll need

5mm crochet hook · Yarn needle · Scissors · Measuring tape · Approximately 40 yards of yarn — Briggs & Little Heritage in Fern Green was used here, but any similar weight yarn works

Before you begin

The braided middle section of this headband is worked over many repeated rows, and the exact stitch-by-stitch placement of the front-loop and back-loop stitches is easiest to follow by watching the video alongside these steps, especially the first time through. The instructions below cover the overall structure and technique; keep an eye on the video for the precise stitch count in your own row if it starts to drift.

Step 1 — Work the foundation row

Chain 18, then single crochet into the second chain from the hook and single crochet across the remainder of the chain. This gives you your first row of single crochet stitches, which sets the width of the headband. Leave a long tail at the start, since it will be woven through later rows as you work rather than cut off right away.

Step 2 — Begin the front-loop / back-loop pattern

Chain 1 and turn. Single crochet in the first stitch, then work the textured section of the headband by alternating between back loop only single crochet (blsc) and front loop only single crochet (flsc) across the row — blsc, flsc, repeated across the stitches. This alternating front-loop/back-loop technique is what gives the headband its ridged, textured surface.

Step 3 — Add the chain-5 loop for the braid

Partway across the row, at the same point each time you repeat this row, chain 5 and skip a stitch before continuing the blsc/flsc pattern to the end of the row. This chain-5 loop is what will later be pulled through to form the woven braid running down the center of the headband, so keep its position consistent from row to row.

Step 4 — Repeat the pattern to length

Continue alternating the blsc/flsc pattern with a chain-5 loop at the same point in each row for a total of 46 rows. Try the band on as you go — it should be long enough to comfortably wrap around your head and cover your ears, or approximately 18 inches.

Step 5 — Weave the chain loops into a braid

Find the middle stitch of the first row and insert your hook into it. Reach through and grab the chain-5 loop from that row, then pull it through the middle stitch. Repeat this all the way down the headband, pulling each row's chain-5 loop through the middle stitch of the row before it, until you reach row 46. This chain of pulled-through loops is what forms the woven braid effect running down the center of the headband.

Step 6 — Secure the braid and widen the ends

On row 46, pull up a loop and hold it. Single crochet across the row, and when you reach the middle stitch, treat the held loop as a stitch and single crochet into it to lock the braid in place, then continue single crocheting across to the end. For the following few rows, single crochet two together (sc2tog) in the first stitch, single crochet across, then sc2tog in the last stitch. Repeat this widening pattern for several rows until the headband measures approximately 5 to 6 inches across — this flares out the ends so the headband sits comfortably around the head.

Step 7 — Weave in ends and block

Weave in all remaining ends with your yarn needle. Steam block the headband using an iron on a wool setting with steam to help the stitches relax and lie flat. Once it's cooled and dry, your headband is ready to wear.

Frequently asked questions

What skill level is required to crochet this headband?
This headband is a beginner-friendly project. It uses US crochet terms with measurements given in both metric and imperial units.

What size is the finished crochet headband?
The finished headband has a circumference of approximately 18 inches and a width of approximately 5 to 6 inches once the widening rows are complete.

Can I use a different yarn for this headband?
Yes. The pattern uses about 40 yards of a worsted-weight-comparable yarn such as Briggs & Little Heritage, but any yarn of a similar weight will work with a 5mm hook.

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