Crochet Tie Knot Headband Alice band – free tutorial

Crochet Tie Knot Headband Alice band – free tutorial

The tutorial below will give instructions on how to cover a hairband the same size as mine, but also tips on how to adjust the tutorial to suit your hairband if it is a slightly different size!

This pattern is written in UK terms. See below for US conversions and stitch descriptions.

You Will Need

• A plain rigid plastic headband – TIP if your headband is the same width all the way around, this will be easier to cover.
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• 3.5mm hook and DK/heavy sport weight yarn 

OR

• 4.5mm hook and Aran/worsted weight yarn

Stitch descriptions

Slip stitch: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, pull this loop through first loop on hook

Double crochet (US single crochet): Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops

My hairband was bought from my local supermarket (cheap and cheerful!) and measures approx. 41cm (16in) long and 2.5cm (1in) wide.

Tube section

DK weight yarn (Aran weight yarn)

• Using a 3.5mm (4.5mm) hook, create a magic ring and chain 1.
• Make 10 (8) double crochet into the ring and pull closed.
• Working in a continuous spiral (do not slip stitch to join each round), work 1 double crochet into each stitch.
• Continue working double crochets, creating a tube, until your tube measures 41cm/16in (or the same length as your headband). Don't try and crochet around the headband: crochet the tube first and then put the headband in after.
• Slip stitch to fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing up later. 

TIP – after a couple of rounds, check your headband fits the tube. If it is too tight, restart and add 2 stitches. If it is too loose, restart with 2 less stitches.

Tie knot section

DK weight yarn (Aran weight yarn)

• Using a 3.5mm (4.5mm) hook, chain 10 (8), turn.
• Chain 1 (this does not count as a stitch now or throughout), make 10 (8) double crochet into each chain, turn.
• Chain 1, make 10 (8) double crochet into each chain, turn. Repeat this step until your long flat strip measures 54cm/21in (the length of your 41cm/16in headband, plus 13cm/5in)

At this stage, check your tie knot section is long enough before you fasten off the yarn: find the mid point of the long flat strip you have just made, and tie a knot in the middle, around the headband. Create a knot as tight or as loose as your like the look off, and keep it central on the headband. The two ends of the long flat  strip should reach the ends of your headband. If you need to pull gently to get them there, this is fine, but if they are far too short to reach, untie and add a few more rows.

Slip stitch to fasten off, cut yarn and leave a long tail for sewing up later.

Making up

• To make up the headband, first slide the tube onto your headband, and sew up the open end. Leave the tail.
• Find the middle point of your long flat strip and tie around the middle of your headband, you can adjust at this point until you are happy that the position is central and the knot looks how you would like it.
• Sew the ends of the strip section to the end of each hairband, by wrapping the strip round the base of the ends, and bringing the two bottom corners of the strip together on the inside of the headband. Sew the strip to the tube, and fasten off, sewing in any ends. Repeat on the other side.

How to modify the pattern for a different size headband

To make this pattern fit a wider or narrower headband, I recommend you do a test chain first. Using your hook and yarn, chain 12 sttiches. Hold this chain up against your headband, to see how many chains wide it is. If your headband is 6 chains wide, for instance, you will need to create a tube that is double this: 12 stitches around, and a flat strip that is 12 stitches wide.

Ta da! Your headband is complete. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, please do tag me as #lottieandalbert or @lottieandalbert online if you create the headband so that I can see it!

Lindsey xx

Ps you are free to make and sell headbands from this pattern, as long as you credit me as the designer. You are not free to distribute or sell the pattern itself.

Easy Potato Print Scandi Playtent Tutorial

Potato print Scandi playtent tutorial

Ahh the mighty potato, father of chips, crisps, vodka and ... potato printing! I set myself the challenge of personalising this play tent from Hobbycraft using fabric paint and a potato, and I love the result!

This quick and easy update could also be made with older children for a great holiday make, and then endless hours keeping them entertained playing inside.

Scroll down for the easy tutorial and to see how to make your own.

{The play tent and fabric paint was kindly gifted to me by Hobbycraft, although I was under no obligation to create this post.}

You will need

A large baking potato
Sharp knife
Ready to decorate playtent
Tulip Matte fabric paint in black (I didn't use the white pictured in the end)
Tulip fabric markers
Large ruler

Step 1

Cut your large potato in half and mark out a large half moon shape, approx 2in, on one side and a small half moon, approx 1in, on the other side.

Step 2

Score carefully around the half moon shape with your knife, cutting down about 2cm. Then holding the knife horizontally, cut into the potato removing the top 2cm of flesh around the half moon shape. Repeat for both sides. 

Step 3

Cut your potato into a rectangle around the half moon shape - this will help you to see where you are placing the shape when it comes to printing. Set your potato stamp aside to dry a little.

Step 4

Unfold your tent and, on the front side of all panels, mark out a grid pattern using your ruler and fabric pen. I created a grid in 4in squares for a Scandi look.

Step 5

Turn your tent inside out, ready for the printing stage!

Step 6

Using the two half moon shapes, print shapes on the inside of the two front panels. This way, when you fold the panels back when the tent is set up, the pattern will peep out!
Squirt the black fabric paint into a shallow dish, and dip the shapes gently into it to pick up the paint.
Following the fabric maker horizontal lines (you should just about be able to see them through the fabric), push firmly down on the tent surface to transfer the paint. Don't worry if the paint looks a little patchy or uneven - this all adds to the look. If there are any large patches that haven't been covered at then end, you could always fill them in with a paint brush.

Step 7

Once your paint is dry, you are ready to turn the fabric back the right way, contract your tent following the instructions, and enjoy!

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial, please do follow me on Instagram at @lottieandalbert to keep up to date with future tutorials! The pattern for the half moon crochet bunting is soon to follow!

Lindsey x

Crochet Monstera Leaf Pompom Crown - free pattern

Let's be honest, no one needs an excuse to wear a pompom crown. Perhaps it's your birthday or festival season, or perhaps you just want to feel a bit special while you're doing the washing up?! Make yourself a super quick and fun pompom crown with Monstera Cheese Plant leaves, and then wear it with pride!

You Will Need

Knitcraft Cotton Blend Plain DK 100g each of:

1 x Mustard 

1 x Purple 

1 x Teal 

1 x Light Pink

1 x Coral

3mm crochet hook

6cm Pompom maker

fabric-covered hairband 

Thin floristry wire (I used this one)

Metal yarn needle

Abbreviations

This pattern is written in UK crochet terms

ch        chain

dc        double crochet (US single crochet)

htc       half treble crochet (US half triple crochet)

tc         treble crochet (US triple) crochet

st(s)     stitch(es)

ss         slip stitch

Gauge

Gauge is not essential for this project, although using a smaller hook than the ball band recommends will help keep give your cheese plant leaves shape.

Stitch descriptions

Slip stitch: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, pull second loop through first loop on hook

Double crochet: Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both loops

Half treble crochet: Yarn over once, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all loops on hook

Treble crochet: Yarn over once, insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through 2 loops on hook, yarn over and pull through remaining two loops on hook.

Cheese Plant (Monstera deliciosa) pattern

Make 1 in each colour.

Starting chain: leaving a long tail before your slip knot, Ch16

Leaf point: ss in 2^nd chain from hook, dc, htc, tc along starting chain, ch3, ss in next 2 chains along starting chain

Leaf 1: ch4, ss into the top of the ch3 from the leaf point, ch3 and work tc, htc, dc, ss back along the ch4 you made at the start of leaf 1, ss in next 2 chains along starting chain

Leaf 2: ch6, ss into the top of the ch3 from leaf 1, ch3 and work tc, htc, dc, 3ss back along the ch6 you made at the start of leaf 2, ss in next 2 chains along starting chain

Leaf 3: ch6, ss into the top of the ch3 from leaf 2, ch 2 and work htc, tc, htc, dc, 2ss back along the ch6 you made at the start of leaf 3, ss in next 2 chains along starting chain

Leaf 4: ch5, ss into the top of the ch2 from leaf 3, ch2 and work htc, tc, htc, dc, ss back along the ch5 you made at the start of leaf 4, ss in next 2 chains along starting chain

Leaf 5: ch4, ss into the top of the ch2 form leaf 4, ch1 and work dc, htc, tc, htc back along the ch4 you made at the start of leaf 4, ss in last chain of starting chain

Without turning your work over, rotate the leaf 90 degrees clockwise. You are now going to work back down the starting chain towards the leaf point, on the other side of the starting chain.

Stem: Ch2 (does not count as stitch), 11htc, 2dc, 3ss, turn

Leaf point: ss in 2^nd stitch from end, htc, tc, ss in next 2 stitches along starting chain

Repeat Leaves 1-5 along the other side, working the final 2 ss for each leaf into the htc on the other side of the starting chain. Fasten off and leave a long end.

Cut a length of wire slightly longer than the leaf and weave the wire through the middle of the leaf stem. Fasten the wire to the top and bottom of the leaf stem, while stretching the leaf slightly. This will allow you to shape the leaf when it is attached to your hairband.

Pompoms

Using your 6mm pompom maker, make one pompom in each of the five colours – make sure you trim your pompoms thoroughly to shape them neatly.

Attach your five pompoms to the hairband by tying them on, then sewing any end through the fabric of your hairband to secure them. I positioned my pompoms as follows: Light pink – coral – mustard – teal – purple. Now attach your cheese plant leaves using the long tails and ends you left to tie and then sew to the headband. Follow the photographs to position yours, or make it up as you go!

I hope you enjoyed this pattern! Please feel free to leave me a comment here or over on Instagram @lottieandalbert, and use the hashtag lottieandalbert so I can see what you've made!

Lindsey x