Are you getting excited for Halloween yet? These Pumpkin Ear Warmers work up quite quickly and might be just what you need to get Halloween on your mind! I made one of these in just over an hour, so you can whip up a few of these in no time, plus they are super cute when they are finished.
If you’ve tried tapestry crochet projects before, you’ll know how fun it is seeing the design come together with each row of single crochet. If you haven’t tried it before, this is a great pattern to start with since it is a pretty simple design that only involves a few colors.
This pattern includes instructions to make a child sized ear warmer/headband (19-20” head circumference).
Remember to like Loops and Love Crochet on Facebook and join the Loops and Love Crochet Group! I’d also LOVE it if you followed @loopsandlovecrochet on Instagram!
If you like crochet video tutorials, check out (and subscribe to) my Loops and Love Crochet YouTube Channel!
This pattern is available for FREE on this website. If you’d like an ad-free, printable PDF version, you may purchase it for a small fee from my Etsy or Ravelry shops. Thank you so much for supporting Loops & Love Crochet!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. This is done at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Loops & Love Crochet!
Materials:
- Worsted-weight yarn – You can use any worsted-weight yarn for this project. I used Caron Simply Soft yarn in Black (or Grape for the purple one), Mango, and Limelight.
- Crochet Hook – I used a 5.5 mm hook. (I crochet a little on the tighter side. If you crochet loosely, it might be a good idea to go down to a 5.0mm hook so the ear warmer isn’t too big). Check the gauge of the pattern below.
- Yarn needle – for weaving in ends.
Stitches Used:
- FSC – Foundation Single Crochet
- Ch – chain
- Sl St – slip stitch
- SC – single crochet
Gauge
- 8 rows of 8 SC stitches = 2 inches square
Important Notes:
- Foundation Single Crochet – This pattern starts with crocheting a single crochet foundation. This is an alternative to crocheting a starting chain and then working a row of SC in each chain stitch (you can do it this way too). The benefits of starting with a foundation include a nicer finished edge and being able to work the chain and the SC stitches for the first row together in one row. If you’d like to learn how to make foundation single crochet stitches (FSC), check out the video on my YouTube Channel here.
- Joined Rounds–At the end of each round, you will be joining the last stitch of the round to the first one with a slip stitch. Then you will chain 1 and start the next round in the same stitch. This will create a more hidden seam. Chain 1 stitches do not count towards stitch count.
- Color Changes – you will be chaining colors often in this pattern and carrying the color you are not using along with you under your stitches. To change colors, complete the last single crochet stitch in the first color up until the last yarn over. Yarn over with the new color and pull through last step of the SC stitch. Therefore, your SC stitch will go like this: Insert hook into last stitch of the first color, pull up a loop, yarn over with new color, pull through both loops on hook. Now you will be working in the new color until you change colors again. Check out the video on this page or on my YouTube Channel to see the color changes in action.
- Ear Warmer/Headband Size – This pattern includes instructions for making a child sized headband, designed to fit head circumferences of 19” to 20.” Remember to check the gauge of the pattern to be sure that your headband comes out the correct size. If you crochet loosely, you can go down a hook size as needed. If you want to make a larger ear warmer, you can add a few stitches at the end of each round in black (or main headband color). Just be sure to keep the color changes in the correct places to make the pumpkin shapes work out (you’d need to add stitches to each end of the graph to make sure the pumpkins work our properly). Changing hook sizes will also affect the size of the pattern.
- Tapestry Crochet Tips – You will be carrying the inactive yarn colors behind the active yarn you are using. Try to keep your yarn tail behind the stitches as you crochet to help hide the yarn you are carrying from showing between the stitches.
The Pattern
The photo below shows how the orange stitches line up to create the pumpkins.
To make the black ear warmer as in the photo at the top of this post, with orange and green pumpkins: A = BLACK, B= ORANGE, and C = GREEN. Each stitch is a single crochet stitch. Remember to join and chain 1 at the end of each round.
Row/Round 1: Color A (main headband color), FSC 72 (or chain 73 stitches, SC in 2nd chain from hook and in each stitch across). Join to top of first SC with a slip stitch, chain 1. Note: Be careful not to twist the chain before joining. Make sure you have the front/right side of the chain/foundation facing outwards and the backs of the stitches are on the inside. You can leave your starting yarn tail hanging here until you are finished the headband. Then use your yarn needle to sew the gap at the bottom closed. See this video to learn to make FSC stitches.
When finished, the starting foundation (or chain with SC stitches) should measure about 19 inches long (without stretching it).
Rounds 2-7: Work these rounds in the back loops only. SC in each stitch around. Join, Ch 1. (72)
Round 2: 10 A, *5 B, 7 A. Repeat from * around until there are 2 stitches left. 2 A.
Round 3: 9 A, *7 B, 5 A. Repeat from * around until there are 3 stitches left. 3 A.
Round 4: 9 A, *7 B, 5 A. Repeat from * around until there are 3 stitches left. 3 A.
Round 5: 9 A, *7 B, 5 A. Repeat from * around until there are 3 stitches left. 3 A.
Round 6: 10 A, *5 B, 7 A. Repeat from * around until there are 2 stitches left. 2 A.
Round 7: 12 A, *1 C, 11 A. Repeat from * around until you are at the end of the round.
Round 8: Continue in color A for this last round. Working in the back loops only, SC in each stitch around. Join, fasten off. Weave in any ends. Use your yarn needle to sew the gap at the bottom of the headband closed (this is where you joined your starting chain or foundation to form the band).
You’re all done your Pumpkin Ear Warmer! I hope you loved making this pattern! I’d love to see your finished ear warmer!
If you’re looking for some other fun Halloween crochet patterns, check out my Hazel the Happy Witch Amigurumi and my Jack O Lantern Trick or Treat Bags.
**Want to be kept in the loop? Be sure to like Loops and Love Crochet on Facebook and join the Loops and Love Crochet Group! Don’t forget to follow @loopsandlovecrochet on Instagram! Remember to tag Loops and Love Crochet when you post your fnished projects on social media! I’d love to see them! **
*You may make and sell any items made from my patterns, but please link back to my blog or Loops & Love Crochet as the designer. Please do not copy this pattern or photos and share as your own, in part or in whole. Instead, link back to the Loops and Love Crochet blog (especially when selling items you make from my patterns). Thank you!