My #1 Tip for Using Elastic on a Headband/Ear Warmer

Cold weather is fast approaching here in my neck of the woods and while the days are still hitting the 70's and 80's, the nights are dipping down into the 50's.

Break out the sweatshirts and ear warmers. Grab a scarf and some gloves for the football game and don't forget the thermos of hot chocolate and that cozy crochet afghan!

Autumn is almost here.

I made a few of these headband/ear warmers last year and I've already had orders for more this season. This is one I made to try out a covering for the elastic hairband used in the back.

I like using the elastic hairbands in this sort of project because it allows the finished piece to be worn by more people. Sometimes it can be hard to fit the head of a person you've never met and this little addition allows for greater flexibility with the finished piece.

Finished headband/ear warmer with a blue
sewn-on flower and coordinating blue trim.

Finished piece without trim or embellishment.
An ear warmer in this style might appeal more to men than women.

I've made several headbands for my youngest daughter (who LOVES them) using the elastic and it eventually begins to catch her hair, you know those small "baby" hairs at the nape of your neck? Ouchie!

I've tried just crocheting across the entire elastic using Single Crochet and sometimes it gets bunched up. So I was playing around the other day and came up with this:

Reminds me of TMNT. How about you?

THIS is how I'm doing them from now on!

So my #1 tip for you is to COVER THE ELASTIC!

And here's a picture tutorial for how to do it on your own projects! Enjoy!

How to Cover the Elastic for a Headband

Materials:

• Finished headband/ear warmer that uses elastic
• same size crochet hook you used in the project
• yarn of the same color or a coordinating color
• yarn needle 
• scissors

In the images below I used Vanna's Choice in Grey Marble and a size I/9-5.50MM crochet hook.
(The headband that's grey and blue is Caron Simply Soft in Grey Heather and Blueberry and a size G/6-4.25MM crochet hook.)

After you've completed the headband, attach your yarn close to the elastic
with a slip stitch and sc along the side until you come to the elastic on the other side.

Do 4 sc stitches on one side of the elastic.
(For the grey/blue headband I did 5 sc stitches)

Now do 4 sc stitches across both sides of the elastic band.
(Again, I did 5 sc stitches on the grey/blue headband)

Do 4 more sc stitches across one part of the elastic.
This gives you a total of 12 sc stitches across the elastic band.
[4 sc on one side, 4 sc along both sides, 4 sc on one side]
(Using the G hook on the grey/blue headband it is a total of 15 sc stitches)

Continue on and join to the first sc stitch made. Tie off and weave in the ends.

For the other side of the headband, attach the yarn and work
your sc stitches just as you did for the first side.

When you get to where you need to work across both sides of the elastic,
drop to the first of the 4 sc stitches on the opposite side and work your
current stitch into the existing sc stitches.

Do this for 4 sc stitches. This gives you a match to the first side you
crocheted giving the stitches on both sides a uniform look.

Continue along with your sc stitches just like you did on the first side.
Join to the first sc with a slip stitch. Tie off and weave in the ends.

Now both sides of the elastic have a matching appearance.

Remember that these little jewels make great gifts for the coming holiday season!

There are only 118 DAYS until Christmas is upon us!

Peace and blessings,

~~Karen~~

The headband pattern I used

is a combination of 2 patterns

available for free from

BobWilson123 and Naztazia.

I thank both of you ladies from the

bottom of my heart for your hard work

and dedication to the craft of crochet!

Happy hooking!