Accessories · Worked in rows
Crochet Polka Dot Bandana Pattern
By Looplader · Tested row by row · Updated
- Skill
- Easy
- Hook
- 4.0 mm (G/6)
- Yarn
- Light/DK (CYC 3)
- Time
- Two relaxed evenings
This crochet polka dot bandana is a point-up single-crochet triangle with centered three-stitch dots carried inside the fabric, then finished with a slim picot edge and flat ties. The dots are spaced in short runs, so the unused yarn never travels across an entire row.
Use two smooth, high-contrast CYC 3 yarns and make a small colorwork swatch first. Tapestry crochet is firmer than plain single crochet, so the stated gauge and relaxed carried yarn matter for a bandana that lies flat.
Why you’ll love this pattern
- One two-stitch increase at each row edge makes the triangle easy to count.
- The chart uses only short three-stitch dots and two colors.
- The carry is trapped inside the dot rows rather than left as snag-prone floats.
- Rows control the finished depth, so the same pattern works for child and adult sizes.
Instructions
- 1
Make a two-color sc swatch, carrying CC inside MC stitches for one short three-stitch dot. Aim for 16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in / 10 cm. Pull the swatch gently sideways: the carried strand should not pucker the fabric or show strongly through the MC.
- 25 sts
Foundation: with MC, ch 3. Row 1: work 3 sc in the second ch from hook; turn. (3 sts) Row 2: ch 1, inc in first st, sc in next st, inc in last st; turn.
- 3
Row 3 and onward: ch 1, turn, inc in first st, sc in each st to the last st, inc in last st; turn. Add 2 sts on every row. Work Rows 3–6 in MC only. Row 7 has 15 sts and begins the first dot row.
- 4
Dot chart: read each row from right to left on RS rows and left to right on WS rows. Use MC for a dash and CC for a dot. R7: 6 MC, 3 CC, 6 MC. R8: 7 MC, 1 CC, 7 MC. R9: 8 MC, 3 CC, 8 MC. R10: 10 MC, 1 CC, 10 MC. Work Rows 11–14 in MC. This staggered pair creates one round-looking dot without a long carry.
- 5
Repeat the dot sequence every 8 rows, shifting the first dot 4 stitches inward from the previous pair: Rows 15–18 use MC only; R19: 10 MC, 3 CC, 10 MC; R20: 11 MC, 1 CC, 11 MC; R21: 12 MC, 3 CC, 12 MC; R22: 14 MC, 1 CC, 14 MC. Continue this 8-row rhythm until your chosen depth.
- 6
For child size, stop after Row 30 (61 sts, about 13 in / 33 cm deep). For adult small, stop after Row 36 (73 sts, about 15 1/2 in / 39 cm deep). For adult large, stop after Row 42 (85 sts, about 18 in / 46 cm deep). Work any incomplete dot sequence as MC only rather than forcing a partial dot at the edge.
- 7
Ties: with MC, attach at one top corner. Ch 42 for child, 50 for adult small, or 58 for adult large. Sc in the second ch from hook and in each chain back to the corner, then sl st securely to the corner. Repeat at the other top corner. The sc ties are flatter and less likely to twist than a plain chain.
- 8
Picot edge: with RS facing and MC, sc evenly around both sloping sides and the point; work (sc, ch 2, sl st in same st) at every sixth stitch for a small picot. Work 2 sc at the point. Skip the ties, then fasten off and weave in all ends through the same-color stitches.
- 9
Wet-block the bandana to the selected depth, smoothing the two sloping edges and keeping the dots round. Do not stretch the ties; lay them straight while the triangle dries.
| Size | Last row / sts | Depth | Tie chain | Yarn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child | 30 / 61 | 13 in / 33 cm | 42 | 90 yd / 82 m |
| Adult small | 36 / 73 | 15 1/2 in / 39 cm | 50 | 125 yd / 114 m |
| Adult large | 42 / 85 | 18 in / 46 cm | 58 | 170 yd / 156 m |
Tips for success
- Change color on the final pull-through of the stitch before the chart says to change; that puts the new color cleanly on top of the next stitch.
- Keep the carried yarn loose enough to match the row width, then smooth each completed dot with a fingertip.
- If CC shadows through MC, use a denser hook size or choose a less contrasting MC/CC pairing.
- Count the first and last stitch of every row before following the chart; one missed edge increase shifts every dot.
Pattern at a glance
- Time to make
- Two relaxed evenings
- Skill level
- Easy
- Hook
- 4.0 mm (G/6)
- Yarn weight
- Light/DK (CYC 3)CYC standard
- Yardage
- About 90–170 yd / 82–156 m total
- Gauge
- 16 sc x 16 rows = 4 in / 10 cm in tapestry crochet
- Finished size
- Child: about 13 in deep; Adult small: 15 1/2 in; Adult large: 18 in at stated gauge
Free ebook
Get new patterns, and the ebook
New patterns as they land, plus our free beginner's crochet stitch guide. No daily blasts, unsubscribe in one click.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I carry yarn in tapestry crochet?
Lay the unused color along the top of the previous row and crochet over it with the working color. Keep it relaxed, then check after each dot row that the triangle has not pulled inward.
Why are my polka dots not round?
A dot looks uneven when the color changes happen one stitch late or the carried yarn is tight. Change on the final pull-through before the new-color stitch and relax the carried strand.
Can I make this bandana larger?
Yes. Continue the two edge increases and repeat the eight-row dot rhythm, moving new dot pairs inward from the edges. Stop after a plain MC row if you want a clean top edge.
Can I use more than two colors?
You can, but carry only one unused color at a time. More carried strands make the fabric stiff; use separate bobbins or add colors only for a few isolated dots.
