Free Head Kerchief Crochet Pattern

Are you looking for a free head kerchief crochet pattern? Functional and stylish, too? Grab your hook and ONE SKEIN of cotton yarn and work one up in no time!

Free Head Kerchief Pattern

Head kercheifs are great to wear while out and about in the summertime. Not only are these quick to work up, they take just one skein of most brands of cotton, meaning that this is the perfect fifth installment to the 2023 One Skein Series.

This head kerchief uses the Moss Stitch because I love the fabric it creates. We want it not to be too stiff, and comfortable to wear, and above all – breathable!

Keep in mind that depending on what yarn you use, it may shrink a bit when laundered. We combat this by using a larger size hook than recommended.

Crochet Head Kerchiefs are similar to crochet bandanas, but with the built-in tie strings we can adjust this to fit exactly our head size. It would be super cute to make the ties even longer and add some beads to the ends. It would totally give it a boho vibe!

And, if you need your kerchief to be larger (or keep going for a triangle shawl, etc!) all you have to do is just continue adding rows. SWEET!

Grab the ad-free, printable version of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or right here in the Heart Hook Home blog shop!

For this free crochet head kerchief pattern we are using cotton yarn. We want it to be breathable and washable. I love the Dishie 100% cotton from WeCrochet and I use it for just about everything – including this kerchief. This is the “Butterscotch” colorway and I love how that “crusty mustard” color POPS!

The Moss Stitch uses only single crochet and chains. You may want to familiarize yourself with this stitch if you’ve never worked it before, but it is a fun, textured crochet stitch that makes a delicious fabric.

We use the Picot stitch around the edge to give it even more pizzazz. Of course you could omit this portion, but it is a fun, EASY stitch that has a video tutorial as well.

This head kerchief is adult size, but is easily customizable for a child. Just start the triangle pattern as below and grow to the required size (slightly smaller than their head measurement) and add the ties.

Now, let’s make one!

Materials:

Dishie cotton (100% cotton, worsted weight yarn)
-approx. 120 yards

Crochet hook in size K/6.5 mm

Stitch Marker

Gauge: unimportant

Pattern Notes:

Pattern written using US terms.

The ch-1 at the beginning of each row does NOT count as a stitch.

Magic circle alternative: Ch-4, sl st to first chain made.

Picot = sc in next st, ch-3, slip stitch in same sp as sc.

Head Kerchief Pattern:

Row 1: Magic Circle. [Ch-1, Sc] 4x in circle. (4 scs separated by ch-sps)
*Tip! Do not pull the Magic Circle too tightly at this point, having it looser helps with stitch placement in the following row.

*Mark the center-most ch-sp with marker this round and all following rounds

Row 2: Ch-1, turn, sc in first st. Ch-1, sc in first ch-sp. Ch-1, sk-next st, [sc, ch-1] 2x in marked sp. Sk-next st, sc in ch-sp, Ch-1, sc in last. (6 scs separated by ch-sps)

Row 3: Ch-1, turn, sc in first st, ch-1. * sc in ch-sp, ch-1, sk-next st * repeat between * * to marked st. (sc, ch-1, sc) in marked sp. [Ch-1, sk-next st, sc in ch-sp] 2x. Ch-1, Sc in final st. (8 scs separated by ch-sps)

Row 4: Ch-1, turn, sc in first st, ch-1, * sc in next ch-sp, ch-1, sk-next st * repeat between * * to marked st. (sc, ch-1, sc) in marked sp. Ch-1, sk-next st. Repeat between * * to final ch-sp. Sc in final ch-sp, ch-1, sc in final st. (10 scs separated by ch-sps)

Rows 5 – 28: repeat row 4 (growing by 2 scs each row)

Triangle should measure ~18” along the long edge and ~10” center to point.

Row 29: Ch-1, turn, * picot, sc in next 3 sts * repeat between * * 13 more times. Picot in next, sc in next, picot in next (center point), sc in next. Repeat between * * 14 more times. Picot in last st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

I do recommend blocking your piece before adding the ties. For best results block to 19” across the long edge and 11” from center to point.

Tie: Ch-50, sc evenly across long edge, ch-50.

Fasten off and weave in all ends. Voila! If you would like a sturdier tie you could add a row of single crochet, but I don’t think that’s necessary. If you choose to do so, simple sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch/st all the way across before fastening off.

As mentioned above, you could add longer ties (say, 100 chains on each side) and string some wooden beads on. How cute would that be?!

Please share a photo with me of your finished head kerchief by tagging @HeartHookHome across all social media, and in the Heart Hook Home Crochet Community on Facebook. 🧶