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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Pussyhat-inspired Headband
by Sage's Handmade
Need a quick hot-weather alternative to a #pussyhat? Here's a kitty-eared headband that's 100% customizable – just add more rounds for bigger ears, omit rounds for smaller ones.

Please read through the whole pattern before you begin.


MATERIALS
  • 2 colors of yarn (the second color is to make a contrasting border)
  • a plastic or solid-core headband you can wear comfortably for several hours
  • a crochet hook (see section on Gauge below)
  • stitch marker
  • yarn needle
  • optional florist's wire
  • optional sewing needle and thread

ABBREVIATIONS USED (all terms US)
mr = magic ring
sc = single crochet
inc = single crochet increase


YARN OPTIONS
This pattern is written for worsted-weight yarn, but ANY yarn will work – just add or omit rounds as needed. The yarns used here are Red Heart Soft Metallic in "Fuchsia" & Red Heart Super Saver in "Black".


GAUGE
Using a D (3.25mm) hook: 5 sts x 5 rounds = 1 inch.

For ears that stand on their own without internal support, tight gauge and acrylic yarn are best. (Small hook + tight gauge = nice, stiff ears.) If you crochet with a looser gauge or use a natural fiber yarn, you'll want to create an internal wire frame to hold your ears up.


USING WIRE (optional)
Create the frame by bending a long vee of florist's wire into the inside of each ear & wrapping the ends securely around the headband. This will keep the ears permanently upright, no matter how loose your stitches.


CUSTOMIZATION
If you have fine, straight hair, you may find that these ears look huge on you. If so, just take out the last couple of rounds before the border. If you have super-thick, curly hair, you may find these ears seem a skoosh too small. If so, add a round or two, keeping in mind that the border will add some height.


EAR (make 2)
1. sc 4 in mr = 4
2. *inc, sc* x 2 = 6
3. *inc, sc 2* x 2 = 8
4. *inc, sc 3* x 2 = 10
5. *inc, sc 4* x 2 = 12
6. *inc, sc 5* x 2 = 14
7. work even = 14
8. *inc, sc 6* x 2 = 16
9. *inc, sc 7* x 2 = 18
10. *inc, sc 8* x 2 = 20
11. *inc, sc 9* x 2 = 22
12. *inc, sc 10* x 2 = 24
13. *inc, sc 11* x 2 = 26
14. *inc, sc 12* x 2 = 28
15. *inc, sc 13* x 2 = 30

Don't finish off. If you're going to make a wire frame, do that now. If your headband has teeth, be sure to try on the headband to finalize the ear placement before completing R16 below.


Attaching the ears to a THIN headband:
16. ch 2, sc 13 through both layers of the ear, and finish off. If you're worried the ears may slip off, use a needle and thread to sew the ears to the headband.

Border:
17. attach a new yarn in a contrasting color to a bottom corner of the ear and sc along the top edges of the ear: sc 14, sc 3 into the point, sc 14 = 31
18. Optional: ch1 and turn, sc 31 = 31
Finish off, weaving in the ends.

Don't worry about the triangular base of the ear not matching the curve of the headband. Once the headband is on your head, the ear will conform to the curve.


Attaching ears to a WIDE headband:
  • In lieu of R16: ch 1 and turn, sc 15 through both layers, thus crocheting the bottom of the ear closed.
  • Add the border in R17.
  • Cut the yarn, leaving a very long tail, and use a yarn needle to stitch from the front of the ear, around the bottom of the headband, into the back of the ear, back around the bottom of the headband to the front of the ear, and so on, until you've sewn the ear to the headband.



COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

This pattern is copyright Sage's Handmade 2017. The pattern is free and shareable; do not sell the pattern or claim it as your own. If you sell items made from it, please credit Sage's Handmade as the designer and link back to me at Ravelry, Instagram, Tumblr, or Blogspot. Contact me at sageshandmade@gmail.com.


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