As a crochet designer, I find inspiration in many places, some expected, some surprising. So check this out! In a recent Pinterest search, I stumbled upon a stitch I’d never heard of before —- the counterpane stitch. “The what??” I asked myself. Well a little research (thank you, Google fairy) told me that it is the translation of an Old French word meaning bedspread. Naturally, I was intrigued, began to play and ended up with headbands!
The counterpane crochet stitch (say that 3 times fast) produces a very stretchy, textured fabric. It’s a GREAT showcase for solid colors. This headband/ear warmer is easy and fun to make and is a customizers’ dream. You don’t need buttons. You don’t need ties. Why? The chain-less foundations row and the counterpane stitch automatically make this a stretchy headband. So you can get this great gift into someone’s hands that much quicker. It is easy to size too – just make the beginning chain as long as you want for the circumference of the head and make the band as wide as you like by repeating the Pattern Row until you achieve the desired width — that’s it!
Stay tuned for more posts with modification ideas for this simple and fun headband. I’d love to hear from you with your ideas!
Basic Headband
Materials:
This stitch has a lovely texture that shows best in smooth yarns, but you can use any weight or type of yarn you like, just make sure you have the right size hook for the yarn you choose. I used worsted weight yarn and a USH (5.00 mm) hook for most of my headbands. I also found it worked well to drop down a hook size for the Base Row and Final Row. In some cases I worked two strands (two colors) together to achieve a variegated result.
Abbreviations:
beg – beginning
ch – chain
FSC – foundations single crochet
RSC – reverse single crochet
sc – single crochet
sl st – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
How to make the counterpane stitch – Yarn over and insert hook in next stitch, yarn over and pull loop through stitch and first loop on hook, all in one movement, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops on hook. The counterpane stitch is also known as the herringbone half double crochet and you can find a tutorial here!
- Base Row: Work a FSC chain the desired length to go around the head less 1” to allow for stretch. If you find that your yarn/stitch combination is very stretchy, you could go down a total of 2” for a snugger fit. Join with sl st to beg sc.
- Pattern Row: ch1, work a row of counterpane st. Join with sl st to beg st.
- Repeat Pattern Row as many times as necessary to achieve the width you want. I used 8 rows for most of my headbands.
- Final Row: ch, sc in each st. Join with sl st to beg sc. Fasten off.
- Border: Join yarn, RSC(crab st) around. Fasten off leaving 5″ tail. Using tail, join to beg st being sure to continue the design created by the stitch. Repeat along second side.
Add the flower from my free Double Loop Flower pattern to finish it off .
~Maria~
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How much yarn do I need for an woman’s adult size winter wave ear warmer?
I don’t recall the exact amount I used as I’ve done it in different yarns, but it is definitely less than a skein of Red Heart Soft or Caron Simply Soft.
I started working on a pattern similar to this. It says Work Ws into stich next to the chain. Also, work Ws into the next stitch. What does Ws mean?
If you are referring to the stitch directions in whatever pattern you are using, I’m sorry I can’t answer that as it is not my pattern.
I found the sight with the pattern and have my answer. Thank you, anyway.
When you join with a slip stitch , do you turn . Or just keep going around ?
Thanks for the free pattern
Keep going around!
Looks easy
thank you for sharing the pattern for this pretty earwarmer. I love the colors that you chose. Are you able to share yarn details?
You are welcome. Most of these are done in Red Heart Soft yarn.
Thank you so much for this wonderful pattern. So easy and does exactly what I needed in the stretch.
Oh I’m so glad! I do love that stitch and the stretch on it is definitely a bonus.
I want to thank you for sharing your patterns!
Thank you!
Thank you for the pattern. It is very cute.
love all the Patterns you have love the Celtic pattern
Thank you!!!
How do I attach a picture. Made one tonight, love it, thanks for the great pattern.
Hi Heidi Ann,
Oh I’d love to see your finished project. Please share your pictures by posting on my Facebook page or you can email it to me and I’ll post. I’ve provided the links below or you can get there by hitting the buttons in the buttons in the upper right side of this page under “Socialize with Us”. Thanks again!
http://www.facebook.com/patternparadise
email: [email protected]
how do you print this pattern and the one for the flower?
Never mind … i found it!! It’s next to “share this ” Thanks so much for the wonderful patterns!!
I am a little confused on the Border Stitch after leaving the 5″ tail: (Using tail, join to beg st being sure to continue the design created by the stitch. Repeat along second side.) Am I doing a slip stitch to join the tail and then continue with the RSC? What you do you mean “Repeat along second side?” Are you talking about the inside of the headband? Sorry! I”m a newbie and also left handed so it took me some time to get the hang of it, but now I am on my 7th row!
Thank you!
I’m a beginner and would love to try this. I’m not sure how to do a RSC but will do some online searches! We don’t start with the counterpane stitch and then the base row right? Sorry, I’m a step by step learner.
Hi Sue and welcome to the crochet world! For this pattern, you start with the foundation row and then do the counterpane stitch, which is also known as the herringbone half double crochet. If you click on the “hot links” in the abbreviations section, it will take you to tutorials on how to do those stitches. I hope you find this helpful and enjoy the pattern. I’d love to see you post your finished project here or on my facebook page too! Good luck!
Fun new stitch! I’m making my ear warmer right now. Thanks!
Great! Would love to see it when you are done. Feel free to share on my FB page!
Reblogged this on ELK Studio – Handcrafted Crochet Designs and commented:
Here’s a great free pattern!!
Love it!!! Thanks so much for a great pattern!
Thanks!