Free Crochet Head Scarf Pattern: 16 Easy Photo Steps
This free crochet head scarf pattern makes a granny triangle bandana in fine cream cotton, finished with a red border, two flower ties and a crochet rose. It grows from one small point to 26 rows, and every one of the 16 steps below has a photo of the hands doing it.
One warning before you buy cotton for any bandana: trust the ball band. A free bandana pattern quotes 143 yd per skein of Lily Sugar’n Cream, but the manufacturer lists The Original solids at 120 yd (109 m) per 71 g ball.
How is this free crochet head scarf pattern built?
This free crochet head scarf pattern is worked flat from the point outward. You start with a tiny cluster at the tip, then turn at the end of every row and add one more granny cluster, so the triangle widens evenly on both sides. The last row you work becomes the long straight edge that sits across your forehead.
Each row ends with a chain 1 and a treble crochet, and each new row begins with a chain 5. Those two moves build the two sloping sides of the triangle. A red border, worked in three passes, tidies both sides and firms up the front edge before the ties go on.
What do you need for the free crochet head scarf pattern?
You need fine 4-ply cotton in two colours, a 2.75 mm hook, one stitch marker and a yarn needle.
| Spec | This head scarf |
|---|---|
| Yarn | 4-ply cotton: cream for the body, red for the border, ties and rose |
| Hook | 2.75 mm (a 3 mm hook also works) |
| Start | Chain 6, stitch marker in the 5th chain |
| Rows | 26, worked flat from the point, turning every row |
| Last row | 26 clusters, 78 double crochet |
| Ties | 2, each a 5-petal flower on a chain of 55 |
| Notions | 1 stitch marker, yarn needle, optional crochet rose |
| Yardage and size | Not stated in the original tutorial; see the yarn section to predict yours |
| Skill | Beginner |
Which stitches does the head scarf use?
The free crochet head scarf pattern uses five basic stitches. There are two naming conventions for crochet stitches and we give both names, because the same word means a different stitch in each.
| Stitch in this pattern | Other convention | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| Chain (ch) | Chain (ch) | Start, turning chain 5, ties |
| Double crochet (dc) | Treble (tr) | 3 in every space of the body |
| Treble crochet (tr) | Double treble (dtr) | End of every row, into the marked chain |
| Single crochet (sc) | Double crochet (dc) | Second border pass |
| Slip stitch (sl st) | Slip stitch (ss) | Front edge, joining the ties |
There is no stitch multiple to worry about. The body is built from granny clusters of 3 double crochet, one cluster per space, and the count rises by exactly one cluster each row. Row 1 has 1 cluster, Row 2 has 2, and so on up to 26.
What does the free crochet head scarf pattern look like row by row?
The free crochet head scarf pattern repeats one simple row, so the whole chart fits in a small table.
| Row | Instructions | Clusters |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Ch 6, marker in the 5th chain | 0 |
| 1 | 3 dc in the first chain made, ch 1, tr in the same chain | 1 |
| 2 | Ch 5, marker in the 4th ch, turn; 3 dc in each space; ch 1, tr in the marked chain | 2 |
| 3 to 26 | Repeat Row 2 | Row number |
| Border | Red: 3 dc in every side space; sc all around; sl st along the front edge | – |
How do you crochet the head scarf? 16 photo steps
Follow the free crochet head scarf pattern step by step below. Count the spaces at the start of each row: the number should always match the row you are on.
Step 1: Gather the cotton and hook
Have both colours ready: cream for the body and red for everything that comes after Row 26. A 2.75 mm hook gives a soft but closed fabric in fine cotton.
Step 2: Make a slip knot and chain 6
Every free crochet head scarf pattern like this starts tiny. Make a slip knot and chain 6 in cream, keeping the chains even so the tip of the triangle lies flat.
Step 3: Mark the 5th chain
Clip a stitch marker into the 5th chain, as the tutorial does. It marks your place at the tip before Row 1 begins, so the first cluster lands in the right chain.
Step 4: Row 1, three double crochet
Work 3 double crochet into the first chain you made, the one nearest the slip knot. This first cluster is the point of the whole head scarf.
Step 5: Finish Row 1 with chain 1 and a treble
Chain 1, then work a treble crochet into that same first chain. You now have one cluster with a space on each side of it.
Step 6: Chain 5, mark the 4th chain, turn
Chain 5 and put the marker in the 4th of those chains, then turn the work. This turning chain opens the first space of the new row and holds the spot where the row will end.
Step 7: Row 2, three double crochet in each space
Row 2 has 2 spaces. Work 3 double crochet into each one, so the row holds 2 clusters.
Step 8: Close the row into the marked chain
Chain 1, then work a treble crochet into the marked chain and remove the marker. This corner move builds the sloping side and creates the extra space the next row needs.
Step 9: Row 3 and one more cluster every row
Repeat Steps 6 to 8 for every row. Row 3 has 3 spaces and 3 clusters, Row 4 has 4, and the count keeps climbing by one. If a row ever shows a different number of spaces from its row number, stop and check the last corner.
Step 10: Work to 26 rows
Keep going until the free crochet head scarf pattern reaches 26 rows. The final row holds 26 clusters, which is 78 double crochet across the front edge. Want it larger? Keep adding rows: the pattern does not change.
Step 11: Red border, 3 double crochet per side space
Join red at a corner and chain 2. Work 3 double crochet into every space along both short sides of the triangle, then chain 2 and slip stitch to close.
Step 12: Single crochet all around
Work 1 single crochet in each stitch along the long front edge, slip stitch into the first stitch and chain 1. Then carry on with 1 single crochet in every stitch along both short sides.
Step 13: Slip stitch the front edge
Work a slip stitch into each stitch of the front row only. This last pass firms the edge that sits on your forehead, so it does not ripple or stretch.
Step 14: Weave in the ends
Cut the red yarn and weave every tail of the free crochet head scarf pattern through the border with a yarn needle. Weave in both directions so the ends stay hidden in fine cotton.
Step 15: Make the flower for each tie
In red, make a magic ring and work 5 petals into it: chain 2, 2 double crochet, chain 2, slip stitch into the ring. Pull the ring closed and hide the tail.
Step 16: Chain 55 and attach the tie
From the flower, chain 55, or more or fewer for the tie length you want. Slip stitch into one corner of the long edge, chain 1 and fasten off. Repeat Steps 15 and 16 for the other corner.
Where does a crochet head scarf go wrong?
Most problems with a free crochet head scarf pattern like this show up as a lopsided triangle, and they come from three places.
- The wrong chain gets the treble. Mark the 4th chain of the chain 5, not the 5th. Put the treble in the wrong chain and one side of the triangle grows a bigger step than the other, so the sides slope unevenly.
- A missed corner. Skip the chain 1 and treble at the end of a row and the next row has one space too few. The fix is the space count: Row 10 must show 10 spaces.
- A tight border. Three passes of red on a 2.75 mm hook can pull the long edge in, so the front curls. Keep the single crochet loose, or go up to the 3 mm hook for the border only.
What hook size and yarn weight suit a crochet head scarf?
A 2.75 mm hook suits the fine 4-ply cotton used here, and it sits inside the Craft Yarn Council range of 2.25 to 3.5 mm for its thinnest category. Fine cotton gives a light scarf with a neat granny texture that holds its shape in the sun.
You can follow the free crochet head scarf pattern in a thicker cotton, but the size changes with the yarn. The Craft Yarn Council puts DK cotton at a 3.5 to 4.5 mm hook for category 2 and 4.5 to 5.5 mm for category 3. With thicker yarn every cluster is bigger, so you will need fewer than 26 rows. Try the scarf on your head as you go.
How much yarn does the free crochet head scarf pattern take?
The original tutorial does not give a yarn amount or a finished size, so we will not invent one. What we can give you is the stitch count: the body holds 351 granny clusters and 1,053 double crochet across 26 rows. That figure is calculated from the tutorial’s own rule of one extra cluster per row: 1 + 2 + … + 26 = 351 clusters, times 3 double crochet.
That count lets you predict your own cream yarn. After Row 10 you have made 55 of the 351 clusters. Weigh the work at that point and multiply by 6.4 to estimate the whole body. The red border and ties come on top, so keep a full second ball for them.
What other free crochet head scarf patterns are worth making?
These five are free on their designers’ own pages. We list only the figures each designer publishes, and none of the five states the total yardage the scarf used.
- Easy Crochet Granny Triangle Bandana by Blue Star Crochet: 36 cm (14.2 in) wide and 22 cm (9 in) deep, a 4.5 mm hook, one 50 g ball of 120 m (131 yd). Closest in look to the pattern above.
- Free Crochet Bandana Pattern by A Box of Twine: solid double crochet, 22 by 13 in, a 5 mm hook. That hook sits below the CYC range for worsted, but it matches the Sugar’n Cream label, which also asks for 5 mm.
- Summer Lace Crochet Bandana by Annie Design Crochet: filet mesh with a scalloped edge, 19.5 by 10 in after blocking, about 35 g of cotton, no gauge given.
- Bead and Lace Crochet Kerchief by CrochetnCrafts: bead stitch bands and eyelets, 19.5 by 9.5 in, a 4 mm hook.
- How to Crochet a Bandana by Treasurie: a granny triangle with long chain ties, about 70 yd, 14 by 7.5 in, no gauge given.
Their sizes run from 14 to 22 in across, so check the finished width against your own head before you choose. For more small makes, see our free crochet shoulder bag pattern.
Free crochet head scarf pattern FAQ
Is this crochet head scarf pattern really free?
Yes. The full free crochet head scarf pattern on this page, row table and photos included, costs nothing, and the five extra patterns are free on their designers’ pages.
Is a crochet head scarf good for beginners?
Yes. It uses only chains, double crochet, treble crochet, single crochet and slip stitches, and every row repeats the same three moves.
How many rows does the head scarf have?
The body has 26 rows. Row 26 holds 26 clusters, or 78 double crochet, before the red border.
How do I make the head scarf bigger?
Add rows. In this free crochet head scarf pattern each row adds one cluster to the long edge, so keep working Row 2 until the front edge reaches across your head, then add the border.
What yarn is best for a crochet bandana?
Cotton. It breathes in warm weather, shows the granny clusters clearly and holds its shape. This free crochet head scarf pattern uses fine 4-ply cotton on a 2.75 mm hook.
How long should the ties be?
This pattern uses a chain of 55 for each tie. Add chains for a bow at the nape, or work fewer for a short knot.
Where to go next after this free crochet head scarf pattern?
- Accessories: bags and wearables like the free crochet bag patterns roundup
- Free patterns: blankets and throws, all free
- Stitches and squares: granny squares like the pumpkin granny square use the same clusters
Sources
- Craft Yarn Council, Standard Yarn Weight System
- Yarnspirations, Lily Sugar’n Cream The Original label
- Blue Star Crochet, Easy Crochet Granny Triangle Bandana
- A Box of Twine, Free Crochet Bandana Pattern
- Annie Design Crochet, Summer Lace Crochet Bandana
- CrochetnCrafts, Bead and Lace Crochet Kerchief
- Treasurie, How to Crochet a Bandana
Video credit: The steps in this guide are retold in our own words from the video tutorial Gorgeous Crochet Headscarf! Easy Tutorial by Knit Bucket on YouTube, and the step photos are frames from that video. Watch it for the full demonstration and support the creator.
