Quick and Easy Joy Headband: Free Crochet Headband Pattern

Welcome to my latest crochet pattern release on the blog: the Joy Headband! If you’re looking for a stylish and practical accessory that’s perfect for summer, you’ve come to the right place. This crochet headband pattern is designed with simplicity and elegance in mind, using basic stitches like single crochets and chains. Whether you’re a seasoned crocheter or just starting out, this pattern is easy to follow and quick to make.

The Joy Headband is not only a fashionable addition to your summer wardrobe, but it’s also incredibly versatile. The one-size-fits-most design ensures a comfortable fit for most adults, and it’s super easy to adjust to any size you need. Lightweight and breathable, this headband is ideal for keeping your hair in place during warm days while adding a touch of handmade charm to any outfit.

Please note, this post may contain affiliate links – should you purchase anything using my affiliate link I may get a small commission at no extra cost to yourself!

Inspiration behind the design

The Joy Headband was inspired by my friend Joanna from High Desert Yarn. Joanna loves the outdoors and spends her time hiking, walking, running, and gardening. When she asked me to be a guest designer in 2023, I wanted to create something she could wear and use during her activities. That’s how the Joy Headband came to be – a practical and stylish accessory for her outdoor adventures.

Using the same stitch combination as my Joy Wrap, which mainly features single crochets and chains, this crochet headband pattern is simple and easy to make. These basic stitches create a light and airy texture, perfect for summer. I designed this headband with Joanna in mind, hoping it would keep her hair in place while she enjoys her favorite outdoor activities.

You can read more about me and this pattern, along with the yarn Joanna used, on the High Desert Yarn blog post here. Joanna even died some yarn especially to work up her version which you can purchase in her etsy shop here!

Construction of the design

The construction of the Joy Headband is simpler than it may seem. You begin by crocheting the main section, which forms the base of the headband. Once the main section is complete, you add a border to give it a neat finish. After that, the sides and the ribbed section are added, bringing the entire piece together.

The ribbed section is particularly useful as it adds significant stretch to the headband, allowing it to fit most adult head sizes comfortably. If you need to adjust the size for smaller children, simply reduce the length of the ribbed section until the headband reaches the desired length. This feature makes the Joy Headband versatile and easy to customise for different wearers.

It is personal preference whether you would like to block your headband before sewing the ends of the sc blo section together. I did not with my version, but Joanna did with her cream version.

The Yarn

The Joy Headband is versatile when it comes to yarn choices, allowing you to use any yarn you have on hand. My blue version, modelled by my daughter, is made with 3 weight (DK) 100% acrylic yarn. You will need approximately 100 yards.

Acrylic is a great option because it’s widely available, budget-friendly, and easy to care for. However, if you want to add extra durability and minimise stretching around the ribbed band, a nice cotton yarn would be an excellent choice.

When selecting yarn for your headband, consider choosing a material that can be easily washed and complements your wardrobe. The Joy Headband is designed to be a practical and stylish accessory, so you’ll want to pick a yarn that ensures it can be worn frequently and stays looking great.

Whether you choose acrylic, cotton, or another fiber, this headband will become a staple in your accessory collection, ready to be worn time and time again.

Get the PDF pattern!

You can find the ad-free PDF Pattern for this one in all of my shops:

Tester Appreciation:

As well as Joanna, I had a couple of other testers try out this for me too. You can see their projects below:

The pattern specifics:

Materials:

#3 weight yarn of your choosing – you will need approx. 100 yards 4mm hook Stitch markers (optional) Scissors Tapestry needle

Gauge:

Sizing:

My headband is approx. 19” in circumference by 2.75” wide when completed. This pattern is written to fit an average adult head, but is really easy to adjust – see pattern notes.

Abbreviations used:

• Ch(s)–chain(s)
• St(s)–stitch(es)
• rep–repeat
• sk—skip
• FSC – foundation single crochet
• HDC – half double crochet
• SC – single crochet
• Dc – double crochet
• Blo – back loop only
• Sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
• YO—yarn over
• FO—fasten off

Other notes:

Written in US terms. Ch1 stitches at the beginning do not count as a st unless otherwise stated. To amend the length of the main body of the headband adjust row 1 by multiples of 6. To adjust the circumference of the headband it may be easier to adjust the sc blo section at the end of the pattern simply by making it longer or shorter to suit your requirements.

Special stitches used in this crochet headband pattern:

Foundation Single Crochet (fsc)

You can find my tutorial on the foundation stitches (you will find the sc at about 23 mins into the videos) :

I find this has a more aesthetically pleasing finish than the chain starts to projects and it gives the project more movement.

Single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)

Insert hook into first indicated stitch, YO and pull through, insert hook into next stitch, YO and pull through, YO and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

The Free Crochet Headband Pattern:

** This is a free pattern on the SunflowerCottageCrochet.com blog. If you are reading this anywhere else it is stolen content. Please do not copy and paste any part of it or print this pattern out. Please bookmark this page and use the website to work up your pattern. This helps my small business greatly as it provides a little bit of ad revenue which will in turn will allow me to continue to create free content for you!**

Crochet the Main Body

Row 1 – FSC 79 OR CH 80, SC in second CH from hook and each CH across. Note: Row 1 should be 15” long.

Row 2 – Ch1, sc in the first st, *ch5, sk the next 5 sts, sc in the next st* Repeat from * to * across. Turn.

Row 3 – Ch1, sc in the first st *ch7, sk the ch5 sp, sc in the next sc from the previous row* Repeat from * to * across. Turn.

Row 4 – Ch1, sc in the first st, *ch7, sk the ch7 sp, sc in the next sc from the previous row* Repeat from * to * across. Turn.

Row 5 – Ch5 (counts as a dc, ch2), *sc over the ch7 spaces over the last two rows, ch5* Repeat from * to * across until you work the sc over the last set of ch7 sps, ch2, dc in the last st. Turn. Note: you will insert your hook under the ch7 sp from row 3 and work the sc so it nips together the two ch7 spaces from rows 3 and 4.

Row 6 – Ch1, sc in the first st, ch2, sk the ch2 sp from row 5, sc in the next st, *ch5, sk the ch5 sp, sc in the next st* Repeat from * to * until you reach the final ch2sp. Sk the final ch2 sp in row 5, ch2, sc in the third ch of the ch5 at the beginning of row 5. Turn.

Row 7 – Ch6 (counts as a dc, ch3),sk the ch2sp, sc in the next st*ch7,sk the ch5 sp,sc in the next st* Repeat from * to * until you have worked a sc into the last st before the ch2 sp from row 6, ch3, dc in the last st. Turn.

Row 8 – Ch1, sc in the first st, ch3, sk the ch3 sp from row 7, sc in the next st, *ch7, sk the ch7 sp from row 7, sc in the next st*. Repeat from * to * until you reach the last ch3 sp from row 7. Ch3, sc in the third ch of the turning chain from row 7. Turn.

Row 9 – Ch1, sc in the first st, sk the ch3 sp, *ch5, sc over the ch7 sp’s from rows 7 and 8* Repeat from * to *, sc in the last st. Turn. Note: you will work the sc over rows 7 and 8 as you did at row 5!

Row 10 – Ch1, sc in the first st, *5 sc in the ch5 sp, sc in next st* Rep from * to * across. Turn. Do not FO.

Edging the Main Body of Your Headband

Round 1 – Ch1, sc in each st across until you have 1 st remaining. Work 3sc in last stitch. Use a stitch marker to mark the second of these 3sc stitches.

Turn your work 90 degrees so you are working down the side of your headband. Sc evenly down the side (I worked 1 sc in each row but 2sc in the row that started with a ch3 or ended with a dc) until you have 1 st remaining. Work 3sc in last stitch. Use a stitch marker to mark the second of these 3sc stitches.

Turn your work 90 degrees so you are along the bottom of your headband. Work 1 sc in each st along until you have 1 st remaining on that side. Work 3sc in last stitch. Use a stitch marker to mark the second of these 3sc stitches.

Turn your work 90 degrees so you are working up the final side of your headband. Sc evenly up the side (I worked 1 sc in each row but 2sc in the row that started with a ch3 or ended with a dc) until you reach the stitch that you first worked into on this round. Work another 2sc in this st. Slip stitch to join.

Round 2 – Ch1, work 1 hdc in the first and each st until you reach the stitch marker. Work 3hdc in this st. *Turn your work 90 degrees. work 1 hdc in the first and each st until you reach the stitch marker. Work 3hdc in this st. * Rep from * to * 2 more times. Slip stitch to join, do not FO.

Now we will start to narrow each end of your headband ready for the ribbed fastening.

Row 1 – Turn, sc2tog over the first 2 sts, sc in each st across until you have 2 sts remaining, sc2tog across the last 2 sts.

Rows 2-5: Rep row 1 until you have 5 (or 6) sts in the row. FO and weave in ends. Note: this section will add approx. 1” to the width of your headband at each end, so it will measure approx. 17.25” wide in total.

Join yarn to the corner of the opposite side and repeat rows 1-5 above. Do not FO.

Row 6 – Turn, ch1, sc blo in each st across (5 or 6 sts)

Row 7 – Rep row 6 until your ribbed section is 2.25” long (or as long as desired). Do not FO.

As mentioned above, it is personal preference whether you would like to block your headband before sewing the ends of the sc blo section together. I did not block my version, but Joanna did with her cream version.

Sew or slip stitch the end of your ribbed section to the 5 or 6 sts at the opposite end, making sure not to twist your project when doing so. FO and weave in ends.

I hope you enjoy making this crochet headband pattern as much as we do! Please share your projects with me or tag my Facebook and Instagram accounts.