Most Comfortable Crochet Headband Ever

MATERIALS:

• RED HEART® Boutique Midnight®: 1 ball 1944 Harvest Moon
• Susan Bates® Crochet Hook: 6 mm [J-10 US].
• Yarn needle,
• stitch marker,
• two 11/8” (28.5 mm) wooden buttons,
• sewing needle and matching thread (optional for buttons)

GAUGE: 16 sts = 4” (10 cm); 15 rows = 4” (10 cm) in single crochet. CHECK YOUR GAUGE. Use any size hook to obtain the gauge.

SIZE: Headband measures 3” x 22” (7.5 x 56 cm), unbuttoned

Special Stitches
sc2tog = [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop] twice, yarn over and draw through all 3 loops on hook.
sc3tog = [Insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop in next st] 3 times, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops on hook.

Notes
1. Headband is worked in joined rounds with right side facing at all times.
2. Cinching band is worked in rows, wrapped around headband at midsection, and tacked in place.
3. Buttonholes cross at back of headband and loop over buttons. Buttons are worn at nape of neck.

HEADBAND
First Side
Ch 24; taking care not to twist ch, join with slip st in first sc in first ch to form ring.
Round 1: Ch 1, working in back bars, sc in each ch around; join with slip st in first sc—24 sc. Place marker for beginning of round and move marker up as each round is completed.
Round 2–22: Ch 1, sc in in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.
Round 23: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc2tog twice, sc to last 5 sc, sc2tog twice, sc in last sc; join with slip st in first sc—20 sc.
Round 24: Ch 1, sc in in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.
Rounds 25–30: Repeat last 2 rounds 3 times—8 sc.
Round 31: Ch 1, sc in first sc, sc2tog, sc in next 2 sc, sc2tog, sc in last sc; join with slip st in first sc—6 sc.
Round 32: Ch 1, sc in in each sc around; join with slip st in first sc.
Round 33: Sc2tog 3 times; join with slip st in first sc—3 sc.
Row 34: Sc3tog—1 sc. Do not fasten off.
Buttonhole Loop Row: Ch 12, working in back bars, slip st in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch. Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.

Second Side
With right side facing, join yarn with slip st to first ch of foundation ch.
Round 1: Working across opposite side of foundation ch, ch 1, sc in each ch around; join with slip st in first sc—24 sc.
Rounds 2–34 and Buttonhole Loop Row: Repeat Rounds 2–34 Buttonhole Loop Row of first side.
 

FINISHING HEADBAND
To form buttonhole loop, sew end of buttonhole loop row to Row 34 of first side. Repeat for second side.

CINCHING BAND
Ch 3.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd and last ch from hook, turn—2 sc.
Rows 2–5: Ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc, turn—4 sc.
Row 7: Ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
Row 8: Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn—6 sc.
Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
Row 10: Ch 1, 2 sc in first sc, sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in last sc, turn—8 sc.
Rows 11 and 12: Ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
Row 13: Ch 1, skip first sc, sc to last 2 sc, sc2tog, turn—6 sc.
Row 14: Ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
Rows 15 and 16: Repeat last 2 rows—4 sc.
Row 17: Ch 1, skip first sc, sc in next sc, sc2tog, turn—2 sc.
Row 18: Ch 1, sc in each sc, turn.
Round 19: Ch 1, sc evenly spaced around; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off.
 

FINISHING
With yarn needle, gather midsection of headband by weaving length of yarn in and out, pulling tightly, and securing. Wrap the cinching band around the gathered section and sew ends together; tack band in place to underside of headband. Center each button on top side 6” (15 cm) (or at desired distance) from end of each buttonhole loop and sew in place with strand of yarn or matching thread.
Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
ch = chain; sc = single crochet; sp(s) = space(s); st(s) = stitch(es); [ ] = work directions in brackets the number of times specified; * = repeat whatever follows the * as indicated.