Today I have another homemade Christmas gift to share with you. This time it is a crochet project.
I haven’t been crocheting much the past few months and let me tell you I have missed it. There is something so soothing about crocheting. I love being able to make useful items with just yarn and a hook.
Julia is going to be the recipient of the items I just finished crocheting: a scarf and an ear warmer (headband). Not only did I crochet them, but I also made up the patterns.
Thankfully, I wrote down what I did so that I can share the patterns with you. 
Super Simple Ear Warmer Crochet Pattern
Materials:
- J hook
- Worsted Weight Yarn (I used acrylic.)
- Blunt tip tapestry needle to weave in ends.
Ch=Chain
HDC=Half Double Crochet
HDC Dec= Half Double Crochet Decrease*
*To make a HDC Dec you need to (yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop) 2 times, yarn over, pull through all 5 loops on hook.
Here is a link to an illustration which should give you more clarification.
**Each row tells you to chain 2 and then turn. Do not count the chain 2 as a stitch or stitch in any chain 2. It is simply meant to help with turning and to give a nice edging the the ear warmer.
Chain 10
Row 1: HDC in 2nd Ch from hook and in remaining stitches of beginning chain. (9HDC)
Row 2: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in first stitch and in remaining stitches of row 1. (9HDC)
Row 3-7: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of previous row. (9HDC)
Row 8: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in 1st stitch. 2 HDC in next stitch. HDC in next 2 stitches. 2 HDC in next stitch. HDC in next 2 stitches. 2 HDC in next stitch. HDC in last stitch. (12 HDC)
Row 9-13: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of previous row. (12 HDC)
Row 14: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in 1st stitch. 2 HDC in next stitch. HDC in next 3 stitches. 2 HDC in next stitch. HDC in next 4 stitches. 2 HDC in next stitch. HDC in last stitch. (15 HDC)
Row 15-36: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of previous row. (15 HDC)
Row 37: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in 1st stitch. HDC Dec in next 2 stitches. HDC in next 3 stitches. HDC Dec in next 2 stitches. HDC in next 4 stitches. HDC Dec in next 2 stitches. HDC in last stitch (12 HDC)
38-42: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of previous row. (12 HDC)
Row 43: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in 1st stitch. HDC Dec in next 2 stitches. HDC in next 2 stitches. HDC Dec in next 2 stitches. HDC in next 2 stitches. HDC Dec in next 2 stitches. HDC in last stitch. (9 HDC)
Row 44-49: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of previous row. (9 HDC)
To Finish: Leave at least a 2 foot tail of yarn. Weave in beginning tail of yarn. Ear warmer should be approximately 19 inches in length. Match the 2 short ends and sew them together with the yarn tail and a blunt tip needle. Weave in ends and cut off extra yarn.
This is what your ear warmer should look like when you are finished.
Here is another view with the ear warmer folded like you would wear it. (back view)
Here is how the ear warmer would look from the front if you were wearing it.
I did want to note that the ear warmer may seem small, but it stays put on your head better being a little snug. Plus, the yarn stretches to accommodate the size of your head. However, if you find it is too small or too large, simply add or subtract a couple of rows at the end or in the middle somewhere.
Now, before I show you this last picture of the ear warmer I want to give you a warning. I took the picture using a timer and then I ran to sit down and smile. Also, I am the one wearing the scarf and ear warmer, but it would have been much better if Julia were the model. However, I didn’t want her to see it since it is a Christmas present.
So, you have been warned. 
Of course, Joseph jumping into the shot makes it a much better picture. Love that boy!
Now, here is the pattern for the scarf. It is a variation of my original.
Super Simple Scarf #2 Crochet Pattern
(See my original pattern here.)
Materials:
- J hook
- 100% Worsted Weight Yarn (I used acrylic.)
- Blunt tip tapestry needle to weave in ends.
Ch=Chain
HDC=Half Double Crochet
*Each row tells you to chain 2 and then turn. Do not count the chain 2 as a stitch or stitch in any chain 2. It is simply meant to help with turning and to give a nice edging the the scarf.
Chain 15
Row 1: HDC in 2nd Ch from hook and in remaining stitches of beginning chain. (14HDC)
Row 2: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of row 1. (14 HDC)
Row 3 to desired scarf length: Ch 2. Turn. HDC in each stitch of previous row.
To Finish Scarf: Once the scarf has reached the desired length, finish off. Weave in ends.
The scarf pictured at the top of this post is 3 feet 9 inches in length, minus the fringe. I have made scarves that are 5 feet in length and anywhere in between. The size is up to you. I don’t worry about counting rows, I just go for length. Much easier that way.
Fringe: To make the fringe you will need three 12 inch lengths of yarn for each “tassle”. There are 5 sets on each side of the scarf pictured which means you will need thirty (12″) pieces of yarn.
Take 3 pieces of yarn and pull through a stitch on the short end of the scarf. You can use a crochet hook to help get the yarn through the hole. Loop the yarn through itself so that there is a single knot attaching the fringe to the scarf. Repeat, evenly spacing the fringe, until you have 5 sets of fringe per end.
You can put fringe in each stitch if you like more fringe that what I did for this scarf. If Julia decides she wants more fringe then I will do just that.
Upon looking at this picture apparently I didn’t evenly space the fringe on one end. Oops. It is really easy to fix since you only make a single knot when you tie on the fringe.
Please let me know if anything doesn’t make sense in either pattern. I am not a great crochet pattern writer, but I did tell you exactly what I did to make the scarf and ear warmer. They really are “super simple”.
