Textured Ear Warmer

I had some yarn left over from another project that I had been trying to figure out what to do with. Then, it hit me: add an ear warmer to the Christmas gift stash. So, I did a quick search for a pattern on Ravelry - which is a fabulous website for finding patterns, yarns, etc. - and lucked out finding this pattern.

I’ve always been a little wary of making headbands because unless you’re making it for a specific person, it’s hard to know how big to make it. And making one that’s way too big or way too small is the worst feeling in the world. So I really liked that this pattern incorporated buttons to customize the size. For this headband, I made it to fit my head, then added a couple extra rows in case the person who ultimately receives it has a larger head or a lot of hair. Sewed on a couple buttons, and I was finished.

Here’s a quick lesson on yarn substitutions:

Since I was using yarn I already had on hand, and I didn’t have the yarn that was suggested by the pattern, I had to make some on-the-spot changes to my project. The pattern calls for a specific brand “super bulky” yarn which needs an 8mm or larger hook. The Red Heart Soft Essentials yarn I used is “bulky” yarn, meaning it has a smaller diameter than the yarn the pattern suggests. So, I needed to use a smaller hook. I used a 6.5mm hook for my headband, as suggested by the yarn label, and then followed the pattern as normal, making sure to match the measurements. Always remember: just because a pattern suggests a specific type of yarn, doesn’t mean you HAVE to use it! You can substitute with any yarn you want, just make sure you adjust your hook size accordingly. :)

Pattern: Easy Textured Headband

Designer: The Magic of Crafting

Yarn: Red Heart Soft Essentials

Time: 2.5 hrs