You combine Tunisian crochet and traditional crochet to create this adorable baby headband. The crochet work is simple and straightforward, but the end result is super cute.
If you haven’t already tried the Tunisian crochet mesh stitch, this pattern is one of the easiest introductions to the stitch. Lately, this stitch has replaced single crochet as my favorite crochet stitch — because I love the way it looks, and it is SO FAST to work. It is a variation of afghan stitch that works up quickly and is really gorgeous, too.
Two-Color Tunisian Crochet Mesh Baby Headband — Project Photo
Related Resources: Tunisian Crochet | Headband Patterns | Baby Patterns
Skill Level: Easy
Materials:
Yarn: Cascade 220 worsted weight wool yarn in 2 different contrasting colors. I used burnt orange (#7824) and black (#8555), which are Halloween-friendly colors. Feel free to use whichever 2 colors would best meet your needs for this project – perhaps 2 colors that match baby’s fall jacket or a particular layette item.
Crochet Hooks: You’ll need at least 2 different crochet hooks for this project:
- A Tunisian crochet hook in size J or the size needed to obtain the correct gauge
- An I / 9 / 5.5 mm traditional crochet hook for completing the edges and finishing the headband.
Other:
- Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- Pins for blocking and finishing the headband
Gauge and Finished Size:
Before adding the edging, the headband measures 1 ½ inches wide. Use this as your stitch gauge measurement. After you’ve crocheted about 6 inches, measure the width of your work. If you’re in the ballpark, keep crocheting.
If your work is significantly wider than 1 1/2 inches, the headband will turn out wider than my project sample – which could be OK if you want to make a wider ear-warmer style headband. Be aware that making a wider headband will use more yarn. You can decide if you want to start over with a smaller crochet hook.
If your work is significantly narrower than 1 ½ inches, start over with a larger crochet hook.
The finished headband is about 2 ¼ inches wide including the edging.
The length of the headband will be wrapped around the wearer’s head, and the top and bottom of the headband will be closed to form this ring. This means the headband has a variable circumference; you can make it the right size for babies of any age. You could also make it for older kids.
Crochet Abbreviations List
- ch = chain
- ea = each
- rep = repeat
- sc = single crochet
- sl st = slip stitch
- st = stitch
- YO = yarn over: In this pattern, to work a YO, you’ll want to wrap the yarn around your crochet hook from back to front and then back under your crochet hook, returning the working yarn to back of the work. In this pattern, you count each YO like a stitch.
Project Instructions:
Ch 7 using the yarn you want to be the main color of the headband.
Click here if you need a step-by-step photo tutorial for Tunisian crochet mesh stitch. Work in Tunisian crochet mesh stitch as follows:
Row 1 forward pass: Pull up a loop in ea. st. across your starting ch.
Row 1 return pass: Ch 1 and complete this return pass as you usually would in afghan stitch.
Row 2 forward pass: Your active loop counts as the first afghan st. Work 1 more afghan st; then (YO, skip next st, work 1 afghan st in next st) twice. Then work 1 afghan st in ea of the last 2 sts to complete the forward pass.
Row 2 return pass: Ch 1 and complete the standard Tunisian crochet return pass.
Rep row 2 forward and return passes until the headband is the right size for whichever kiddo will be wearing it.
Keep in mind that this stitch and yarn combination are stretchy. Because of the stretch, you will want what’s known as “negative ease” when you decide how long you want to make the headband. What this means: You’ll want to make the headband a couple of inches shorter than the intended wearer’s head circumference to allow the headband to stretch and fit snugly around the child’s head.
Last Row:When the pieces measures the length you want the headband circumference to be, taking negative ease into account, switch to your traditional crochet hook, and work work your last row as follows: Work 1 sl st in each st, all the way across the row. When working a sl st above an afghan st, you will do this by inserting your hook under the vertical bar in the row beneath. When working a sl st into a YO, it can be a little more challenging to find the spot to work into, but it is there — usually it’s slanted at kind of an angle. In the following photo, you can see my crochet hook pointing at the place you’ll want to insert your hook:
After you’ve worked a sl st into every st, end off. Leave at least 6 inches of yarn to use for seaming the headband and weaving in your end.
Block the Headband
This crochet stitch looks prettiest when it has been stretched and blocked. Gently stretch the headband to a measurement of 1 ½ inches wide; in the lengthwise direction, measure and block to 1 inch less than the measurement of the intended wearer’s head circumference. You can either wet block or steam block this piece successfully. To wet block, mist the entire headband with water using a squirt bottle. To steam block, either use a steamer or a steam iron held close to, but never touching, the headband. Then allow the piece to dry thoroughly before proceeding to the next step.
Finish the Headband
Align the top and bottom edges of the headband for joining. You can use pins to do this if you like, or you can simply hold the ends together.
Thread your tapestry needle with your yarn end and use the threaded yarn to whip stitch the top of the headband to the bottom. To minimize bulk on the seam, I’m stitching through the front loop on the edge closest to me and the back loop on the edge farthest from me.
End off and weave in your end.
Headband Edging Instructions:
Make a slip knot on your crochet hook using the yarn you want to be the accent color on the headband.
Continue working single crochet stitch all the way around the edge of your headband.
When you reach the end of the round, work a sl st to join the work to the first st in the round.
End off. Then weave in your loose end.
Flip the headband over and repeat these instructions on the other side to complete the headband.
The headband is now ready to give to the little one you made it for.
More Crochet Patterns for Halloween
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- Beastly Crochet features fantastic patterns for Halloween and all year around.
- Check our our main directory of Halloween patterns.
More Crochet Headbands
- Sunny Bow Baby Headband in Tunisian Crochet
- Crochet Headband in Tunisian Knit Stitch
- More Crochet Headband Patterns
This page was last updated on 10/16/2018.
