Free Crochet Pattern: Ear Warmers with optional bow

I designed this pattern about 18 months ago but for some reason am only just publishing the pattern now!

The ear warmers were designed using Jenny Watson pure merino DK wool. This wool felt lovely and soft, perfect for being next to the skin! The pattern is worked up using front post and back post trebles; easy enough for a beginner to do.

The large bow is an optional extra and there are clear instructions for making the ear warmers larger and smaller.

I would like to thank my pattern testers from the Instagram community; Karen (@jumpingthroughloops) and Claire (@flowerhead2). Neither of my testers encountered any problems so I am happy to go ahead and publish. 

The pattern is available below or if you would like a pdf copy head over to my Ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&craft=crochet&query=mrsdaftspaniel. Please do not copy this pattern in any form. Also please do not sell items made following this pattern, it is for personal use only. 

Stretchy ear warmers created using the cable rib technique. A larger or smaller headband could easily be created by adding multiples of 4 chains or decreasing by multiples of 4 chains. The ear warmers could also be made without the large bow.

Materials

2 x 50g balls of Jenny Watson pure merino DK (approx 124m per 50g ball), I used “heather”

4.5 mm crochet hook

stitch marker / contrasting piece of yarn

tapestry needle for sewing in ends

Tension

16 stitches and 14 rows per 10cm²

Abbreviations (UK terms)

ch chain

ss slip stitch

tr treble

fptr front post treble (see advice)

bptr back post treble (see advice)

yrh yarn round hook

beg beginning

prev previous

Advice

The ribbed pattern is created by crocheting into the front and back posts of treble stitches instead of into the top of the stitch. Detailed descriptions of these 2 stitches are given below.

fptr yrh, insert hook from front to back of work around back of indicated stitch and back through to the front, yrh, draw round back of post indicated, (yrh draw through 2 loops) twice

bptr yrh, insert hook from back to front of work around front of indicated stitch and back through to the back, yrh, draw round front of post indicated, (yrh draw through 2 loops) twice

It may help to have a stitch marker or contrasting length of wool to mark the beginning of each round.

Pattern

Main band

Ch 76, ss into first ch to form large ring (making sure it isn’t twisted)

Round 1  ch3 (counts as 1tr), tr into each ch, ss into 3rd ch at beg. of round 1 (76 stitches)

Round 2  ch2 (counts as 1bptr), *fptr into next tr (3 times), bptr into next tr* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 2nd ch at beg. of round 1 (76 stitches)

Rounds 3 - 10  ch2 (counts as 1bptr), *fptr into next fptr (3 times), bptr into next bptr* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 2nd ch at beg. of prev. round (76 stitches).

Finish off, sewing in ends on reverse.

Bow

Ch 44, ss into first ch to form ring (making sure it isn’t twisted)

Round 1  ch3 (counts as 1tr), *tr into each ch* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 3rd ch at beg. of round 1 (44 stitches)

Round 2  ch2 (counts as 1bptr), *fptr into next tr (3 times), bptr into next tr* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 2nd ch at beg. of round 2(44 stitches)

Rounds 3 - 10  ch2 (counts as 1bptr), *fptr into next fptr (3 times), bptr into next bptr* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 2nd ch at beg. of prev. round (44 stitches).

Finish off, leaving 20 cm to secure to main band.

Knot

Ch 22, place chain through main band, ss into first ch to form large ring circling main band (making sure it isn’t twisted)

Round 1  ch3 (counts as 1tr), tr into each ch, ss into 3rd ch at beg. of round 1 (22 stitches)

Round 2  ch2 (counts as 1fptr), *fptr into next tr* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 2nd ch at beg. of round 1  (22 stitches)

Rounds 3 - 10  ch2 (counts as 1fptr), *fptr into next fptr* repeat to end of round, ending with ss into 2nd ch at beg. of prev. round (22 stitches).

Finish off, leaving 20 cm to secure to main band and bow.

Finishing off

Line up the beginning rounds of both main band and bow. Sew bow securely onto main band in the centre, making sure the stitches will be concealed by the knot later. Cover all ends and joins with the knot. Sew securely to the bow and the main band with 6 strong stitches on reverse only. Sew in ends on reverse.

If you do make the ear warmers, please share a photo with me, I would love to see them!

Happy hooking!

Marta xx

Finishing Projects

I have written on here before about my tendency to have many different creative projects on the go. I have since found that it's common for crafters to do this, moving from project to project as their mood takes them. However, things have reached the point where I want to finish as many of my ongoing projects as I can before launching into the many fresh ideas I have!

Detail of completed blanket

The large granny square blanket I started in October was completed at the start of this week. The weather is still cold enough to snuggle under it in the evenings so I am happy to have finished it. I have very nearly crocheted a pixie hood, following an aran crochet pattern from Mollie Makes magazine. Also, I have almost completed a crochet pattern for a headband using Jenny Watson merino; there are a few changes required, but the design is almost there.

Another ongoing project is another large blanket I am making for my youngest sister and her husband. I am using up ends of wool to make granny square motifs so I can only work on it from time to time as I gather enough odds and ends together. My deadline is Christmas 2014 and I am confident it will be finished by then. On top of all these I am knitting my first pair of socks! Knitting doesn't come as naturally to me as crochet, so work on these is going to be slow. As long as they are finished by the autumn I will be happy, and so will my dad because I am making them for him!.

Work in progress, the blanket for my sister

I have good news on the Lemonadeyarns pattern competition I entered; I was chosen as one of the two winners! My wave pattern beanie hat crocheted using Erika Knight maxi wool was my winning entry. You can read all about it on the Lemonadeyarns blog ( http://www.lemonadeyarns.co.uk/blog/ ). This is an exciting opportunity for me because my pattern will be listed in the Free Patterns section of Lemonadeyarns' shop ( http://www.lemonadeyarns.co.uk/ ). I would like to thank everyone who has tested patterns for me, I really appreciate it!

Design, design, design

It's been all about designing this last week or so! Now that I have learnt how to write up my patterns in the traditional format I'm able to work faster from idea through to finished pattern. It seems that no sooner have I sent a pattern off to be tested that I start on the next one. I'm sure the sunny weather and the pretty spring flowers which are beginning to open up all around are helping with my creativity too.

Yesterday I emailed 3 lovely testers with my latest pattern. It was an amigurumi design which I had made a few times 4 or 5 years ago but I didn't know how to write it up at the time. I looked at how my original amigurumi was put together, counted the rounds and thought about the colours.

 My new amigurumi in the centre with the original designs either side

I decided to use my current favourite yarn; MilliaMia ( http://www.millamia.com/home.php there are a few free patterns on the website, worth a look!). I buy most of my yarn from UK based Lemonade Yarns ( http://www.yarnandcraftshop.co.uk/  free patterns on this website too!). There is a pattern competition running at the moment which might have something to do with my increase in designing too! The details are on the Lemonade Yarns facebook page if you are interested in finding out more  https://www.facebook.com/lemonadeyarns?fref=ts

Cover photo for my new design

This morning I received a free sample of wool from Emma at Lemonade Yarns. It was a ball of Jenny Watson, pure merino DK, a new line of yarn for her shop and I was keen to try it and see what it was like. The wool felt lovely and soft and not at all scratchy so I thought it would be perfect for a cosy headband. I began working on a cable sample straight away and I'm happy with it, ready to move things on to a bigger scale. 

Work in progress

I am extremely grateful for all the work my pattern testers do. There is always something obvious missing from one of my patterns and I appreciate these little mistakes being pointed out, making the final pattern just right for someone to pick up. For every pattern tested the tester's name will be added to a prize draw to receive a surprise parcel of homemade goodies from me. I will do this every six months. If you are interested in pattern testing for me please get in touch, I'd love to hear from you!