Nerd With a Hook

I’m kind of on a roll right now. I’ve just started college, and for a somewhat antisocial person like me, there’s not really a whole lot to do around the campus, so I’ve been doing quite a bit of crocheting. The result of this is that you get more patterns!

So, as much as I love crocheting, there are a couple of things I really dislike about it, and the main one of those is weaving in ends. Don’t ask me why, but I hate it. I dread finishing a pattern because it means I’ll have to weave in the ends. Anyway, I decided I needed some new bows in my headband wardrobe, and through some experimentation, I discovered that it’s possible to make an entire bow headband in one piece (i.e. only two ends to weave in!), and I’d like to share my method with you. It’s pretty simple, if a little bit tricky when doing the “knot” portion of the bow.

So without further ado, the Cheater’s Continuous Strand Bow Headband!

Materials:

~Crochet Hook Size I/9 (5.50 MM)

~Worsted Weight Yarn

Stitches Used:

~Ch- Chain

~HDC- Half Double Crochet

~Sl st- slip stitch

Pattern:

Ch 50. Sl st into first ch to form loop. (Make sure it’s not twisted! Otherwise you’ll have a bit of a mess!)

Row 1: Ch 2 (counts as HDC here and throughout), HDC in each ch around, sl st into top of ch 2.

Rows 2-5: Ch 2, HDC in each HDC around, sl st into top of ch 2.

This makes up the “loops” of the bow. Lay your loop flat so that the working strand is coming from the top layer of the loop, from the bottom, in the middle of the section. I realize I explained that badly, but I can’t come up with a better way to put it. Basically, do this:

Now you’re ready to begin work on the “knot.” If it wasn’t already obvious, do NOT fasten off.

Ch 8. Wrap the chain around the “loops” section from front to back, being careful not to twist the chain, and sl st into first ch.

Rows 6-7: Ch 2, HDC in each st around, sl st to top of ch 2. (Be careful not to work in parts of the “loop,” only the “knot” stitches.)

Adjust “loops” from the back layer until “knot” is centered, like so:

At this point, if you would like a bow without a headband, fasten off and weave in ends. If you would like the headband as well, continue without fastening off.

Ch 50.

At this point, placement gets a little difficult. To make things simpler, I’m going to provide pictures for as much as I can, and I’ve also labelled the four places the headband will be attached to the bow in the order they’ll be used. Unfortunately for most of you, I am left-handed, so the diagrams will be backwards for any of you righties. Sorry about that! At this point you should have something like this:

Making sure not to twist the chain, sl st into point B. Ch 2, sl st into point C.

HDC in each ch around, sl st into point D.

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the continuous strand bow headband! At this point, you can fasten off, and weave in your two measly ends!

You may use this pattern to make items for yourself and as gifts. You may also sell items you make with this pattern, with the stipulation that you do not claim the pattern as your own.