Free Braided Crochet Ear Warmer Pattern (+ Video)

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Do you love keeping your ears warm in the winter and are looking for a unique crochet ear warmer pattern? I’ve created this crochet ear warmer pattern with a braided technique that will make a super cute headband. Grab your favorite worsted weight yarn and hook ant let’s get started. 

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A Braided Crochet Ear Warmer Pattern

Crochet ear warmers are amazing head accessories that are easy and quick to make. Not to mention, they make great gifts as well, for most occasions.

This braided looking ear warmer was designed with a unique technique. Although it creates a texture that resembles a braid and may look complicated at first, it’s easier than you think.

It’s a stylish crochet headband for those who love one-of-a-kind handmade accessories. Whether you’re making it for yourself or for gifts, I hope you enjoy this pattern.

The supplies you will need

• Worsted weight (#4) yarn 
• 4.5 mm (US 7) Crochet Hook or size needed to meet gauge – I used a Tulip hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

• 1 hair elastic band 1.8” (4.8 cm) in diameter  

Best yarn for a crochet ear warmer pattern

I recommend yarns with some stretch for ear warmers. I used I Love This Yarn by Hobby Lobby in colorway #12 (Spa). This is a great quality 100% acrylic yarn.

Comparable to beanies, ear warmers and headbands need to be made with a negative ease to fit right. And that’s why yarns with some stretch work better.

Amount of yarn needed

If you use the yarn recommended in this pattern, you will need these amounts.

• Size Toddler: 0.87 oz (25 g), or 44 yards (40 m). 
• Size Child: 1.14 oz (32 g), or 58 yards (53 m). 
• Size Teen / Adult: 2.06 oz (58 g), or 105 yards (96 m). 

Get the an ad free PDF download on my Etsy or Ravelry Shops here:

What size should a crochet ear warmer be?

Ear warmers need to be smaller than your head, what we call negative ease. For an adult with a 23” (58 cm) head, for example, it needs to be approximately 20” (51 cm) to 21” (54 cm).

However, it all depends on some factors. Such as type of yarn, your tension, the stitch used. Some stitches have more stretch than others. By the way, the 2×2 ribbing used in this pattern is very stretchy.

I am including instructions in this crochet ear warmer pattern for three sizes. One for Teen/Adult, another for Toddler and the third one for Child. Here are the approximate sizes for reference (circumference):

Size	Headband Size	Fits Head Size
Toddler	16” (41 cm)	17”-18” (43-46 cm)
Child	18” (46 cm)	19”-20” (48-51 cm)
Teen / Adult	20” (51 cm)	22”-23” (56-58 cm)

Please make sure you check the gauge section and crochet a swatch to test your tension and hook size. Meeting gauge will be important to make your crochet ear warmer pattern fit right.

The 2×2 ribbing technique

We are using a stitch that resembles ribbing in knitting. I have a detailed tutorial here on the blog with photos and it’s easier than it looks. Head over to this blog post to learn how to crochet the 2×2 rib stitch.

This crochet ear warmer pattern will be slightly different because we are adding holes in the center of the rectangles.

Pattern notes and instructions

• This crochet ear warmer pattern was written using standard US terminology.
• Pattern level of difficulty: Advanced Beginner.
• Turning chain 1 does not count as a stitch.
• Turning chain 2 does not count as a stitch.
• For reference, the circumference of the pictured foam mannequin head is 20” (51 cm).
• The photo tutorial in this pattern is for size Teen / Adult. We are using the same stitch/technique for the other two sizes (Toddler and Child), but with less rows.
• The instructions will be placed separately. If you are making the Toddler or Child sizes, refer to the section “Assembling” on the Adult instructions section, as the process is the same.

Skills you will need

If you know how to chain, single crochet and half double crochet, this crochet ear warmer pattern will be easy to finish. However, I recommend that you please don’t start it before testing your stitch tension (see gauge notes).

Here are the instructions for the basic stitches used in the pattern:

• Chain – the abbreviation is “ch”: Start by creating a slip knot, next insert your hook in the slip knot loop, yo and pull up a loop. 
• Half double crochet – the abbreviation is “hdc”: yo, insert the hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yo again, pull through all three loops.
• Single crochet – the abbreviation is “sc”: insert the hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Yo again, pull though two loops.

The Design and Construction

This crochet ear warmer pattern consists of two identical rectangles that you assemble to form a braided looking headband.

• First, you crochet the two 9 rows rectangles separately.
• Secondly, you will assemble the rectangles, using the holes to create the braided look.
• Next, you will attach the hair elastic band to one of the sides, hand sewing both ends on that side.
• Lastly, you will attach the other end of the ear warmer to the hair elastic band, repeating the same sewing process.

A note on gauge

Meeting gauge is important for the success of your crochet ear warmer pattern. Make sure you crochet a swatch before you go on to crochet the whole pattern.

The measurement you should get is 13 sts X 9 rows = 3” (7.6 cm). Head over to this blog post to get a printing version of the 2×2 rib stitch tutorial.

Pattern and stitch abbreviations

• blo: back loop only
• ch (s): chain (s)
• FO: Fasten Off or Finish Off
• hdc: half double crochet
• RS: Right Side
• WS: Wrong Side
• sc: single crochet
• sk: skip
• sp: space
• st (s): stitch (s)
• yo: yarn over

Get the an ad free PDF download on my Etsy or Ravelry Shops here:

How To Crochet an Ear Warmer Pattern

Ear warmers are quick and usually beginner friendly projects. Generally, they are crocheted in back-and-forth rows to form a rectangle. 

For this pattern you will crochet 2 rectangles that will be “weaved into each other” to create a beautiful, braided texture. Here is how you do it for the adult size:

Step 1: Crochet the foundation (RS)

Start with 80 chains. Then, half double crochet in back bump of 3rd chain from the hook and in back bump of every chain across, chain 1, turn [78].

Step 2: Crochet row 2 (WS)

• Single crochet, then *insert the hook in the same stitch as last stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert the hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Do not yarn over. 
• Pull that third loop on the hook through the first 2 loops.
• Repeat from the asterisk across. When you have 3 loops on the hook to finish the last stitch, yarn over and pull through all 3, chain 2, turn[78] 

Step 3: Crochet rows 3 and 4 

• Row 3: Half double crochet in back loop only across, chain 1, turn [78] 
• Row 4: Here, you will do exactly what you did in row 2.

Step 4: Crochet row 5

(Half double crochet 18 in back loop only, chain 5, skip 5 stitches) 3 times, half double in next 9 stitches, chain 1, turn.

Step 5: Crochet Rows 6-9 

Repeat rows 2 and 3. In row 6, you will do the stitches on top of each ch st like you normally do on top of the hdc sts, but using the top loop only [78]

Fasten Off. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail, approximately 15” (38 cm) for sewing. Make two identical rectangles, then proceed to assembling below.

Step 6: Assemble the crochet ear warmer pattern

1. Place both rectangles side by side so you can have an idea of placement. The holes created by the chain 5 space, with less stitches at the end, must be facing in opposite directions (see first photo).
2. Now, place bottom rectangle on top of the other (2nd photo below). Then, pull to align the ends.
3. Next, grab the end of the underneath rectangle. Fold its end and insert the first hole of the rectangle that’s on top (3rd photo below).
4. Grab the other end, the one on your left, of rectangle that’s on top. Now, fold it and insert in next hole of the rectangle that’s underneath (4th photo below).
5. Repeat the previous step until you don’t have any holes left. Make sure you adjust the braid to make the “knots” even and the ends aligned.
6. Next, attach the hair elastic. Place the elastic between both ends of the rectangle on one side. Then, thread a tapestry needle with the yarn leftover tail and sew both ends of the rectangles with a running stitch. At the end pull to cinch. 
7. Lastly, attach the other end of the headband to the elastic and repeat the name sewing process.
8. FO. Cut the yarn. Weave in the ends.

Crochet the Toddler / Child sizes ear warmer

In this section of this crochet ear warmer pattern, the instructions are in this format: Toddler (Child), such as Ch 60 (69). Whereas 60 is for size Toddler and 69 is for size Child.

1. Row 1 (RS): hdc in back bump of 3rd ch from the hook and in back bump of every ch across, ch 1, turn 58 [67] 
2. Row 2 (WS): sc, *insert the hook in the same st as last st, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), insert the hook in next st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Do not yo. Pull that third loop on the hook through the first 2 loops. Repeat from the asterisk across. When you have 3 loops on the hook to finish the last st, yo and pull through all 3, ch 2, turn 58 [67] 
3. Row 3: (hdc 10 in blo, ch 5, sk 5 sts) 4 times, hdc in next 7 sts, ch 1, turn.
4. Row 4: Repeat row 2, you will do the stitches on top of each ch st like you normally do on top of the hdc sts, but using the top loop only 58 [67] 
5. Row 5: hdc in blo across 58 [67] 

FO. Cut the yarn leaving a long tail, approximately 15” (38 cm) for sewing. Please refer to the adult pattern section for the assembling instructions.

Get the an ad free PDF download on my Etsy or Ravelry Shops here:

Your crochet ear warmer pattern is done. I hope you had fun with this pattern. I know I love how mine turned out.

Here is what you can do next

Drop a comment below if you have any questions or if you just would like to say “hi”. Another way to reach out to me is by joining my community group on Facebook. 

If you use any of my patterns or tutorials for a project, please tag me @zamiguz or use the hashtag #zamiguzmakers. I would love to see what you make.

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