One Skein Balaclava: Free Crochet Pattern

Do you know someone that could use a Balaclava? Crocheted balaclavas are super warm and the perfect item for the person that likes the outdoors, even in the coldest weather. Make one today using this free crochet balaclava pattern!

One Skein Balaclava Pattern

Great for those that spend a lot of time outside in cold weather, balaclavas offer warmth around the face and neck at once, instead of needing a beanie and a scarf or a cowl.

This is the FOURTH installment of the 2023 One Skein series. All of the patterns in this series use one skein of yarn or less. This is such a fun series that is aimed at using up what we already have instead of buying new. Something we can all get behind, I’m sure!

I love this balaclava design because of the way it is all worked in one piece. Out on an early morning walk and the wind is bitter on your chin? Wear the balaclava!

I go on walks in the mornings to clear my head, get motivated, and to make plans for the day. Instead of wearing a beanie and a scarf, this balaclava pattern is the perfect solution. This is sure to keep my chin and neck warm while on my walks in the winter time.

Virtually any worsted weight yarn will work nicely for this balaclava crochet pattern. Natural fibers work great for balaclavas because of how warm they are, but animal fibers such as wool can also be scratchy so we may not want that next to the face.

That being said, this pattern is designed to use about 300 yards of any acrylic worsted weight yarn. In these photos I am wearing Big Twist Value yarn in the Titanium Grey colorway.

How much yarn do I need to crochet a balaclava?

Because this balaclava pattern uses about 300 yards of worsted weight yarn, and many brand of worsted weight acrylic come in skeins around 300 – 350 yards, one skein is likely enough! Awesome!

Yardage per skein of commonly used worsted weight yarn yardage are as follows:

Red Heart Super Saver – 364 yards
Bernat Value – 440 yards
I Love This Yarn – 355 yards
Big Twist Value – 380 yards

We are using the Mini Bean stitch to crochet this balaclava. If you need help with this stitch be sure to check out this full written and video Mini Bean tutorial.

Materials:

Worsted Weight yarn (see suggestions above)
-approx. 300 yards

Crochet hook in size J/6 mm

Stitch Marker

Gauge: 7 Mbs x 10 rows = 4″ square

Pattern Notes:

Pattern written using US terms.

We are starting at the center back of the head and work our way out vertically, building onto both sides as we go. Soon it will look like a hood, to which we will then attach a covering for the chin, the bottom edging, and the face edging.

Fsc = Foundation single crochet (tutorial here)

Mark the center-most stitch with a stitch marker to make sure you’re increasing in the correct spot.

Mb = Mini Bean (tutorial here)

Grab the ad-free, printable PDF of this pattern on Ravelry, Etsy, or in the Heart Hook Home blog shop. Thank you!

Balaclava Crochet Pattern:

Foundation row: Fsc-32 (Alternately you could ch-33, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each to end.) (32)

Round 1: Ch-1, turn, sk-first st, Mb in next. * sk-next st, Mb in next * repeat between * * 13 more times. Sk-next st, Mb in last. Rotate and Mb in side of final st. Rotate and Mb in opposite side of final st. Repeat between * * 15 more times. (33 Mbs)

Round 2: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of next 16 Mbs. 3Mb in center most st. Mb in side of next 16 Mbs. (35 Mbs)

Round 3: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of next 17 Mbs. 3Mb in center most st. Mb in side of next 17 Mbs (37 Mbs)

Round 4: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of each Mb around. (37 Mbs)

Round 5: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of next 18 Mbs. 3Mb in center most st. Mb in side of next 18 Mbs (39 Mbs)

Round 6: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of each Mb around. (39 Mbs)

Round 7: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of next 19 Mbs. 3Mb in center most st. Mb in side of next 19 Mbs (41 Mbs)

Round 8: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of each Mb around. (41 Mbs)

Round 9: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of next 20 Mbs. 3Mb in center most st. Mb in side of next 20 Mbs (43)

Round 10: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of each Mb around. (43)

Round 11: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of next 21 Mbs. 3Mb in center most st. Mb in side of next 21 Mbs (45)

Rounds 12 – 24: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of each Mb around. (45)

Rows 25 – 46: Ch-1, turn, Mb in side of 8 Mbs only. (8)

Do not fasten off.

Bottom Edging:

Where still attached, sl st to other side of bottom.

Row 1: Ch-1, hdc evenly across bottom, Join to first st. (69)

Row 2: Ch-1, do not turn, * Fpdc around next, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st. Join to first st. (69)

Row 3: Ch-1, turn, * Bpdc around next, Fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st. Join to first st. (69)

Row 4: Ch-1, turn, * Fpdc around next, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st. Join to first st. (69)

Rows 5 & 6: repeat rows 3 & 4 (69)

Fasten off using Invisible Join and weave in all ends.

Face Edging:

Leaving a long enough tail for seaming, attach yarn at face opening.

Row 1: Ch-1, hdc evenly around face opening. Join to top of first st. (77)

Row 2: Ch-1, do not turn, * Fpdc around next, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st. Join to first st. (77)

Row 3: Ch-1, turn, * Bpdc around next, Fpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Bpdc around last st. Join to first st. (77)

Row 4: Ch-1, turn, * Fpdc around next, Bpdc around next * repeat between * * around. Fpdc around last st. Join to first st. (77)

Fasten off using Invisible Join. Using the yarn tail, seam the width of those 8 stitches across the chin. Weave in all ends.

I hope you love your new balaclava and that you’ll use it often, or if it is for someone else that they think of you when they are toasty warm!