Makin’ Waves Free Crochet Bandana Pattern (+ Video!)

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Get ready for summer with this free Makin’ Waves Crochet Bandana pattern!

It’s the perfect warm weather crochet accessory and you can make it in whatever colors you like.

I went with three shades of blue to play off of the wave theme, but I also made an orange and pink version that turned out super cute!

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You can get the printable version of this pattern in my shop, which includes photo tutorials to explain certain parts of the pattern, and a diagram for the border and straps!

Materials

• Comfy Worsted, 75% Pima Cotton / 25% Acrylic, 109yds/50g
  • Color A – Seafoam (1 skein)
  • Color B – Marlin (1 skein)
  • Color C – Planetarium (1 skein)
• Size 5.50mm I/9 hook


• Yarn Needle
• Scissors

Finished Size

• 16” across from left to right corner
• 8.75” from top point to front edge
• Straps are approx. 13.5” long

Pattern is written with US Terms

Skill Level

• Intermediate

Abbreviations

• St(s) – stitch(es)
• Sk – skip
• Ch – chain
• Sc – single crochet
• Hdc – half double crochet
• Dc – double crochet
• Tr – Treble crochet
• Sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
• Sc3tog – single crochet 3 together
• Hdc2tog – half double crochet 2 together
• Dc2tog – double crochet 2 together
• Tr2tog – treble crochet 2 together
• Dhdc2tog – double and half double crochet 2 together (see special stitches)
• Trdc2tog – treble and double crochet 2 together (see special stitches)

Special Stitches

• Dhdc2tog – Yo, insert hook into first st, yo, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yo, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yo, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yo, draw through all loops on hook.
• Trdc2tog – Yo twice, insert hook into first st, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), (yo, pull through two loops on hook) twice (2 loops on hook), yo, insert into next st, yo, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), yo, pull through two loops on hook, yo pull through all three loops.

VERY IMPORTANT Notes

** Every time you switch your yarn color, you’re going to chain 1 to attach the new color.  That chain does NOT count as one of the chains. 

So, for example, if it says “switch to color C, ch 1” you’ll chain with the new color to switch, and then chain 1 after that.

(This is because that first chain that you use to change colors will get squished down when you pull on the yarn tails and basically disappears.)

** When you switch colors, don’t cut the yarn.  Just drop it and switch to the next color, and when you need it again you can pick it up and carry it up the side. 

Later, we’ll crochet over the sides for the border and yarn running up the sides will be hidden.

How this Pattern Works

You’ll be crocheting from the front edge of the bandana (the part that would be closest to your face) to the back point (the part that will be near the back of your head).

Then you’ll do the border and straps, working around the edge.

Each different colored wave section is made up of 2 rows, a wave pattern row and a single crochet row.

At the beginning and end of each row, you’ll be decreasing, so each row will shrink by 2 stitches.

This will create the triangle shape.

The wave pattern stays the same for each row, only the beginning and the end of the row will be different. The wave pattern looks like this:

• 3 sc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 3 tr, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 3 sc, repeat

And each wave row will alternate from the previous row.

Be sure to watch the video that goes along with this pattern, where I’ll show you how each row begins and ends and how to do the border and straps.

Video Tutorial

Instructions

Body of Bandana

With Color A, ch 50.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, ch 2, turn. (49 sts)

Row 2: Sk first st, dc in next st, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, *dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc; repeat from * 3 times, dc2tog, ch 1, turn. (47 sts)

Row 3: Sc2tog, sc in each st until 2 remain, sc2tog, switch to color B, ch 2, turn. (45 sts)

Row 4: Sk first st, *3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc; repeat from * 3 more times, 2 tr, trdc2tog, ch 1, turn. (43 sts)

Row 5: Repeat Row 3, switch to color C, ch 1, turn. (41 sts)

Row 6: Sc2tog, *hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc; repeat from * 2 more times, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (39 sts)

Row 7: Repeat Row 3, switch to color A, ch 2, turn. (37 sts)

Row 8: Sk first st, *hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc; repeat from * 2 more times, hdc, 3 sc, hdc2tog, ch 1, turn. (35 sts)

Row 9: Repeat Row 3, switch to color B, ch 3, turn. (33 sts)

Row 10: Sk first st, 2 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc, *3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc; repeat from * 1 more time, tr, tr2tog, ch 1, turn. (31 sts)

Row 11: Repeat Row 3, switch to color C, ch 1, turn. (29 sts)

Row 12: Sk first st, *hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc; repeat from * 1 time, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc2tog, ch 1, turn. (27 sts)

Row 13: Repeat Row 3, switch to color A, ch 1, turn. (25 sts)

Row 14: Sc2tog, 2 sc, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 2 sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (23 sts)

Row 15: Repeat Row 3, switch to color B, ch 3, turn. (21 sts)

Row 16: Sk first st, tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc, tr2tog, ch 1, turn. (19 sts)

Row 17: Repeat Row 3, switch to color C, ch 2, turn. (17 sts)

Row 18: Sk first st, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dhdc2tog, ch 1, turn. (15 sts)

Row 19: Repeat Row 3, switch to color A, ch 1, turn. (13 sts)

Row 20: Sc2tog, sc, hdc, dc, 3 tr, dc, hdc, sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (11 sts)

Row 21: Repeat Row 3, switch to color B, ch 2, turn. (9 sts)

Row 22: Sk first st, dc, hdc, 3 sc, hdc, dc2tog, ch 1, turn. (7 sts)

Row 23: Repeat Row 3, switch to color C, ch 1, turn. (5 sts)

Row 24: Sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, ch 1, turn. (3 sts)

Row 25: Sc3tog, FO. (1 st)

Border and Straps

Round 1:

With right side of bandana facing you, attach color A to left corner.

Ch 1, sc 34 times evenly along side, 3 sc in top corner, sc 34 evenly along other side, sl st in corner st.

First Strap: Ch 61, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch, sl st into corner st.

Round 1, continued: 

Sc in each st across front of bandana, sl st in corner st.

Second Strap: Ch 61, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and each ch, sl st into corner st.

Round 2 (Scalloped Border): 

Sc in first sc of round 1, *hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc;* repeat from * to * 5 times, hdc, dc, tr in next 2 sts, 3 tr in corner st, tr in next 2 sts, dc, hdc, sc, repeat from * to * 6 times, sl st into next sl st, FO.

Finished!

I hope you enjoyed this Makin’ Waves crochet bandana pattern!

I know it’s a little more complicated than some of my patterns, but it looks so cool that I think it’s worth the extra time to make it.

Looking for more free crochet patterns?

Check out these ones below!

Makin’ Waves Free Crochet Bandana Pattern (+ Video!)