This simple pattern uses single crochet, shell stitch, and chains to make a beautiful hair bandana!

Yarn used: Yarn Bee, Soft & Sleek in Blushy

Recommended yarn weight: Medium/worsted weight or sport weight; # of chains/shells and hook size may need adjustment depending on yarn weight.

Size options: Child to adult; adjusted for personal preference. For an adult, I did anywhere from 9-12 shells on the bottom row along with enough of a chain on either side to be able to tie it into a bow at the back of the head. Instructions for a child ages 7-12 will be in parentheses within the pattern.

Yarn hook used: G-4.00mm

Yarn hook recommended: G for worsted weight/medium weight yarn; smaller hook for a thinner yarn.

Tension: Loose

Abbreviations in pattern:
St - stitch
Ch - chain
Sc - single crochet
Dc - double crochet
Sh - full shell stitch (instructions given below)
Ss - slip stitch

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Pattern

Chain (72) 90 st (or roughly the circumference of your head + about 6 inches/15 cm of chain); if significantly more/fewer stitches are needed to allow for this, make sure to count regardless of number needed. Be sure to have a number divisible by 6.

To customize:

Chain and count until the chain is long enough to wrap around recipient’s head + ~6 inches/15 cm. For example, for an adult, more than 90 st may be needed. The next accurate number would be 96 st, then 102, then 108, etc. Every time the ch is increased by 12 after 102 (for example, if the ch is 114 st), a shell stitch will be added to the first full row of the pattern.

Row 1: Sl st (12) 15 st from end of chain. Sc 1 st. Sh into 3rd st from sc. Repeat (x8) x10 from * to ; Sc, turn w/o ch.

To make a shell: Skip 2 st from last sc. Dc into the 3rd st; repeat 4 times for a total of 5 dc in the 3rd st.

Make sure to sc in between each shell!

Row 2: Sl st into just finished sc and first two dc of last shell; Sc into 3rd dc. Ch 5, Sc into top of shell. Repeat (x7) x9, sc in top (3rd st) of last shell. Turn w/o ch.

Row 3: Sh into 3rd ch from sc, Sc into sc from previous row, repeat 9 times. Sc into last sc of row, turn w/o ch.

Row 4: Repeat row 2, but only repeat (x6) x8 instead of 9.

Row 5: Repeat row 3, but only repeat (x6) x8 instead of 9.

Row 6: Repeat row 2, but only repeat (x5) x7.

Row 7: Repeat row 3, but only repeat (x5) x7.

Row 8: Repeat row 2, but only repeat (x4) x6.

Row 9: Repeat row 3, but only repeat (x4) x6.

Row 10: Repeat row 2, but only repeat (x3) x5.

Row 11: Repeat row 3, but only repeat (x3) x5.

Row 12: Repeat row 2, but only repeat (x2) x4.

Row 13: Repeat row 3, but only repeat (x2) x4.

Row 14: Repeat row 2, but only repeat (x1) x3.

Row 15: Repeat row 3, but only repeat (x1) x3. (For a child’s bandana, move onto the “finishing” section.)

Row 16: Repeat row 2, but only repeat x2.

Row 17: Repeat row 3, but only repeat x2.

Row 18: Repeat row 2, but only complete once.

Row 19: Repeat row 3, but only complete one full shell.

Finishing: There are two ways to finish this bandana: either (a) weave in the ends and use more yarn to finish the original chain so that both sides are even, or (b) start at the beginning of the original chain and create a border. It is up to personal preference; I chose to weave in the ends and use a little more yarn to finish the original chain.

To finish off original chain without a border:

Pull yarn through ch st. closest to the “triangle” shape; sl st into each ch st until the end. (more length can be added this way if needed as well)

To finish off original chain without a border:

Pull yarn through ch st. farthest from the “triangle” shape; sl st into the (12) 15 ch st and continue to sl st all the way up and down the triangle until you reach the other corner. Don’t sl st across the last bit of chain as this will make it uneven.

And you’re done! This pattern can be modified relatively easily; however, if you’re a beginner in crochet, I recommend completing the pattern as stated above (with a longer chain if needed) for practice before changing too much else to get the hang of the pattern.