Accessories
Crochet Heart Bandana Pattern
By Looplader · Tested row by row · Updated
- Skill
- Easy
- Hook
- 4.0 mm (G/6)
- Yarn
- DK-weight cotton (CYC 3)
- Time
- One relaxed day or two short evenings
This crochet heart bandana is a solid cotton triangle with five separate heart appliqués sewn on after the fit is chosen. The smooth body keeps the hearts readable, while the separate motifs let you adjust their color, spacing, or number without changing the scarf construction.
The triangle grows from a compact point with two edge increases on every row. Once it fits, add the top ties, pin the hearts into a balanced layout, and finish the two sloping sides with a fine contrasting edge.
Why you’ll love this pattern
- The bandana body is simple, so the heart motifs are the only decorative step to focus on.
- Five separate hearts can be pinned and moved before any sewing is permanent.
- The growing triangle can stop at any row for a smaller scarf or continue for extra coverage.
- Returned single-crochet ties knot more comfortably than bare chains.
Instructions
- 1
Make a washed gauge swatch in cream before starting. Work 17 hdc and 13 rows, wet it, press it in a towel, and dry it flat. Aim for 17 hdc and 13 rows = 4 in / 10 cm after drying. Cotton relaxes, so a dry blocked swatch gives a more useful size than a fresh hook-tight sample.
- 2
Foundation: with cream, ch 3. Row 1: work 2 hdc in the 3rd ch from hook. The skipped 2 ch count as the first hdc, so Row 1 has 3 hdc. Ch 2, turn. This is the centered point of the finished bandana.
- 3
Row 2: 2 hdc in the first st, hdc in the next st, then 3 hdc in the top of the turning ch-2. (7 hdc) Ch 2, turn. Row 3: 2 hdc in the first st, hdc in each st across to the final turning ch-2, then 3 hdc in the top of that ch-2. (11 hdc) Ch 2, turn. Mark the two outside corners if the turning chain is hard to spot.
- 4
Body increase row: work 2 hdc in the first st, hdc in every stitch across, then 3 hdc in the top of the turning ch-2. Ch 2, turn. Every completed body row adds 2 hdc. Missing either edge increase makes one side longer, so count the row before turning.
- 5
Rows 4-12: repeat the body increase row. The counts are 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 29 hdc. Lay the fabric flat after Row 12: the point should sit directly under the middle of the top edge and both slopes should look equal.
- 6
Rows 13-24: repeat the body increase row. The counts are 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49, 51, and 53 hdc. Hold the top edge across the back of your head at this checkpoint. This is when to decide whether you want a close hair scarf or a deeper bandana.
- 7
Rows 25-37: repeat the body increase row. The counts are 55, 57, 59, 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 77, and 79 hdc. At the stated gauge, Row 37 is about 18½ in / 47 cm across the top and 11 in / 28 cm deep after blocking. Stop after any row for less coverage or continue the same row for more. Do not ch 2 after the final body row.
- 8
Make five hearts in blush. Into an MR, work: ch 2, 2 dc, 3 tr, 3 dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, 3 dc, 3 tr, 2 dc, ch 2, and sl st into the ring. Pull the ring closed firmly. The ch-1/dc/ch-1 section makes the lower point; the two 3-tr groups make the rounded lobes. Fasten off with a 10 in / 25 cm tail for sewing.
- 9
Pin the hearts before sewing. With the triangle flat and point down, center one heart about 2 in / 5 cm above the point. Place two hearts on each slope above it, keeping each heart about 1½ in / 4 cm from its neighbor. Use the same measurement from the center line on both sides; pinning first prevents the common mistake of a heavy-looking layout that drifts to one side.
- 10
Sew each heart down with its blush tail. Take tiny whip stitches through only the outer loops along the heart edge and the top loops of the bandana; leave the center of each heart free so it keeps a little dimension. Secure the tail through several cream hdc bars on the WS. Check the bandana after every heart instead of sewing all five in one direction.
- 11
Stabilize the top edge: with the RS facing and cream, work 1 sc in every hdc across the straight top edge. Keep the same count, 79 sc for the stated size. First tie: at the left top corner, ch 82, then sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in every remaining chain back to the corner. Do not fasten off.
- 12
Blush edge and second tie: switch to blush and work 1 sc in every side row-end down the first slope, 3 sc in the point, and 1 sc in every side row-end up the second slope. Switch back to cream at the right top corner, ch 82, and sc back along the chain. Fasten off. The simple blush line frames the hearts without competing with them.
- 13
Wet-block the finished bandana lightly. Press out water in a towel, pin the top corners and point into a symmetrical triangle, and smooth the hearts with your fingers without stretching them. Let the cotton dry completely before removing pins. Blocking sets the body flat while keeping the appliqués softly raised.
Tips for success
- Make all five hearts before pinning any of them; matching motifs are easier to place as a group than one at a time.
- If a heart cup curls, loosen the ring slightly and press it flat before sewing. A tightly pulled center makes the lobes fold inward.
- Use a smooth contrast yarn for the hearts. Texture is charming, but fuzzy yarn can hide the heart point and lobes.
- If the top edge slides while worn, work the stabilization row with a hook 0.5 mm smaller, then return to the stated hook for the ties.
Pattern at a glance
- Time to make
- One relaxed day or two short evenings
- Skill level
- Easy
- Hook
- 4.0 mm (G/6)
- Yarn weight
- DK-weight cotton (CYC 3)CYC standard
- Yardage
- ~150 yd / 137 m cream and ~55 yd / 50 m blush
- Gauge
- 17 hdc x 13 rows = 4 in / 10 cm after wet blocking
- Finished size
- About 18½ in / 47 cm across the top edge and 11 in / 28 cm deep after blocking, excluding ties
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I make the heart bandana bigger?
Repeat the body increase row beyond Row 37 until the top width and depth suit you, then add the hearts after the final fit check. The five-heart layout can expand with the triangle: keep the center heart above the point and mirror the two side pairs.
Can I use more or fewer hearts?
Yes. Three hearts make a clean centered column, while seven hearts fill a deeper bandana. Pin every heart first and look at the triangle from a short distance; the hearts need equal spacing rather than a fixed stitch count.
Why are my heart appliqués curling?
The magic ring is usually pulled too tightly or the treble stitches are worked with too much tension. Ease the ring open slightly, steam or wet the heart flat, and sew only around its edge so the center remains relaxed.
Can I use a different yarn for the hearts?
Use a yarn close to the bandana yarn's weight. A much thicker heart will buckle the solid cotton triangle, and a much thinner heart can disappear into it. Make one test heart first and compare it on the body before making the rest.
