© Photography by Kindred Photo & Design

Thank you to Lion Brand for providing the yarn for this pattern sample.

Today’s pattern is so super easy and fast, and since winter around here seems to have no intentions of going away any time soon, it’s the perfect cold weather accessory when you don’t quite want to commit to a hat. The cinch makes it so versatile – you can wear the cinched part on top of your head or off to the side, or even underneath your ponytail. Give this cinched ear warmer / headband crochet pattern a try!

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CINCHED EAR WARMER

Level: Easy

Size:
One Size Fist Most (Preteen – Adult Woman).
Earwarmer measures 18” around, and is 3” wide.

Materials:

• H hook (5.00mm)
• About 45 yards of Lion Brand Heartland* (Samples are shown in Katmai and Mammoth Cave)
  *About Heartland:
    Weight: #4 worsted
                Fiber: 100% Acrylic
  Yardage: 5oz/142g (251yd/230m)
  Gauge: 12 sc + 15 rows = 4 inches on size J-10 [6 mm] hook
• Yarn needle

Gauge:
With H hook, 7 HDC = 2″

Stitches Used:
CH (chain)
SL ST (slip stitch)
FDC (foundation half double crochet – click here for a tutorial)
HDC (half double crochet)
DC (double crochet)

Notes:
(1) This pattern is written in American Standard terms.
(2) Starting chains do not count as stitches.
(3) This pattern is easily adjusted to any head size. 62 STS was perfect for me, but you might want to wrap the first round around your head as you go to get the perfect fit for you.

THE PATTERN

With H hook,

Round 1: FDC* 62. Join to first FDC, being careful not to twist the row.
(*FDC stands for Chainless Foundation Double Crochet, and you can find the tutorial here. Or, just Ch 63, DC in second Ch from hook and DC across. But seriously, go learn Chainless Foundation stitch. It’s way cooler.)

Round 2: Ch 1; HDC in each St around. Join. (62 HDC)

Round 3: Ch 2; DC in each St around. Join. (62 DC)

Rounds 4-7: Repeat rounds 2-3 two more times.

Cut your yarn, leaving about a 12″ tail, and finish off but don’t weave in the tail. Use your yarn needle to sew up the first round of FDCs, then weave in that tail and cut.

To Cinch:

1. Thread the long tail through your yarn needle. Gather the seamed section of the headband, and fold in half so that the fold is facing you.

2. Bring either side up to the top of the fold and hold secure with your fingers.

3. Run your yarn needle through all three sections of gathered material. The closer you get to the surface, the better your cinch will look; so I run mine right under the top loops of the outer sections, and under just a few strands of the center fold.

4. Wrap the yarn around the underside of the cinch, then through the sections again. Do this a few times to secure the cinch, then tie off underneath and weave in the tail.