25 Free Crochet Bandana Patterns for Beginners

Free Crochet Bandana Patterns for Beginners by Janice Jones

Bandanas are incredibly versatile accessories worn for both practical and fashionable reasons! Here are some reasons why people choose to sport bandanas, also known as kerchiefs or headscarves.

Practicality & Protection

• Hair Management:  Keeps hair out of the face during physical activity, work, or windy days.
• Sweat Absorption:  This product absorbs sweat and keeps it out of the eyes, making it ideal for athletes, outdoor workers, and people in hot weather.
• Sun Protection:  Offers a layer of protection from the sun for the head, neck, or face.
• Dust Protection: It acts as a barrier against dust, dirt, and debris, which is helpful for construction workers, gardeners, and motorcycle riders.

Style & Self-Expression

• Pop of Color:  A pop of color adds a vibrant touch to any outfit, especially when choosing bold colors or patterns.
• Personal Style:  It can be styled in countless ways to reflect an individual's personality, from classic to edgy.
• Cultural Significance:  Holds cultural or historical significance for some groups, representing heritage or affiliation.
• Fashion Statement:  A trendy accessory that can elevate a simple look, often seen in streetwear and bohemian fashion.

Other Uses

• Identification: Used to distinguish team members, groups, or individuals.
• Wrist/Arm Band: This can be worn as a sweatband or to show support for a cause.
• First Aid: A clean bandana can be used as a makeshift bandage or sling in a pinch.

Ultimately, people wear bandanas for reasons as diverse as their styles and needs. Whether for practical use, a fashion statement, or a bit of both, the bandana remains a timeless and adaptable accessory.

Why Crochet a Bandana?

• Unique Style: Ditch the store-bought and create a bandana that reflects your style with your yarn color and stitch choice.
• Budget-Friendly: Crocheting your bandana is a cost-effective way to expand your accessory collection.
• Perfect for Beginners: Many bandana patterns utilize simple stitches and construction, making them ideal for those new to crochet.
• Thoughtful Gifts: A handmade bandana is a heartfelt gift for friends and family.

Have I convinced you that a crochet bandana could be your next project?  I hope so.  Here are my favorite beginner-friendly free crochet bandana patterns.

25 Free Crochet Bandana Patterns

1. Market Day Bandana

Designed by: Ashley Beals

Here is a beginner-friendly free crochet bandana pattern that uses basic stitches to create a beautiful design that is quick to make and practical to wear.

Get the Market Day Bandana

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2. Easy DIY Bandana

Designed by Julz Lovell

Here’s another beginner-friendly design with a simple lattice stitch consisting of half double crochet and chain stitches. Worked in a triangle shape from the tip outward, it allows beginners to practice their increases and finish the project quickly.

Get the Easy DIY Bandana

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3. Cruel Summer Bandana

Designed by Becca Parker

Inspired by THAT Taylor Swift crochet dress, if you love granny squares, this stash buster bandana is perfect for you. This pattern calls for cotton yarn in many colors, so charming and functional at the same time.

Get the Cruel Summer Bandana

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4. Autumn Breeze Bandana

Designed by Heather Brooke

Here’s a solid color granny square that beginning crocheters will love. Most granny square bandanas traditionally use a number 4 yarn, but this one is created with a lightweight CYC #2 yarn, which produces a lightweight product perfect for warm weather.

Get the Autumn Breeze Bandana

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5. Pink Kerchief Bandana Scarf

Designed by Alisa Sandler

This easy crochet pattern for beginners suggests Red Heart Super Saver yarn, making it economical and fast to crochet.

Like most free crochet bandana patterns, this one is worked from the lower tip upward with half-double and double crochet stitches.

Pink Kerchief Bandana Scarf

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6. Cool Granny Square Bandana

Designed by Heini Pääsky

This is a slightly different way to make the granny square, but not difficult. The bandana is created by making ten squares and five triangles and then sewn together with a slip stitch. If you love crochet puff stitch, you’ll love this pattern.

Cool Granny Square Bandana

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7. Mini Granny Square Bandana

Designed by Lynne Samaan

Here’s an interesting variation of the granny square that requires a total of 36 mini squares made with only two rounds each.  Once a few granny triangles are completed, the entire project is constructed using a single crochet join.  The final touch is a picot edging around all three sides.

Mini Granny Square Bandana

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8. City Chic Bandana Cowl

Designed by Tamara Kelly

This two-color bandana is worked with double crochet cluster stitches, treble, and single crochet stitches.  This one looks complicated but can be made by beginners who know these basic stitches.

City Chic Bandana Cowl

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9. Watermelon Bandana

Designed by Sara Marshall

Here’s a whimsical variant of the traditional crochet bandana.  If you love watermelon, and who doesn’t, this is perfect for a summer picnic, a farmer’s market, or even the beach. As with most bandanas, it is worked from the tip to the widest side of the triangle.  Only basic crochet stitches (single, half-double, and double crochet stitches) are used in the design, with the watermelon seeds being worked in the puff stitch.

Watermelon Bandana

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10.  Multicolor Bandana (beta)

Designed by Kaitlyn Archambeau

This eye-catching bandana is made with multicolor yarn and crocheted in moss stitch. The designer acknowledges that the pattern is considered in beta because it was not tested or reviewed, but I would not let that stop you from making it. 

Multicolor Bandana

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11. Barbara Bandana

Designed by Master Yarnsmith Designs

“The Barbara Bandana is crocheted from the top down using basic shaping techniques and features the camel stitch, single crochet, and bobble stitches to create an engaging texture. The bandana is finished with a scalloped bobble edging to tie it together.” Though basic stitches, the combination, and shaping make this bandana more challenging for beginners. Seasoned crocheters, though, will love the texture and the task.

Barbara Bandana

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12. Granny Stitch Bandana

Designed by Melissa Hassler

This granny bandana looks similar to many others that use the granny square as the basis for their pattern. This one uses a stripy yarn to create color without changing colors, so I consider it beginner-friendly. It uses the granny stitch cluster (3 double crochet stitches, one chain), all worked in the same space, which is very doable for most crocheters.

Granny Stitch Bandana

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13. Granny Stitch Bandana

Designed by Em Rose

Everyone wants to make granny stitch bandanas.  My post seems to suggest that this is the only way to make a bandana, but that is not the case.  Rather, granny stitches make bandanas easy to make for the beginner.  I’ve included many here for you to choose from.  Since they are all free, pick one that you love the most.

Granny Stitch Bandana

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14. Summer Blue Head Scarf

Designed by Kathy North

This one uses basic stitches but is worked row by row from side point to side point. A series of increases accomplish the shaping and decreases along the sides. The delicate crochet flowers add a nice touch to the solid crochet fabric.

Summer Blue Head Scarf

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15. Barley Bandana

Designed by Woodland Stitchcraft

This bandana is made with fingering yarn and comes in three sizes - toddler, child, and adult. It’s created by working the puff and v stitch, giving it that unique texture.  Perhaps it is not entirely beginner-friendly, but it’s not so tricky that you should rule it out if you can make basic stitches. 

Barley Bandana

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16. Bobble Kerchief

By pattern-paradise

If you love making crochet bobbles, this could be the bandana for you. It doesn't look straightforward, but take it step by step, and you’ll be able to wear it quickly.

Bobble Kerchief

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17. Free Head Kerchief Crochet Pattern

Designed by Ashley from Heart Hook Home

The pattern is created with the crochet moss stitch, a combination of chains and single crochet stitches. The Picot stitch finishes off the edges and makes it simple yet eloquent at the same time.

Free Head Kerchief Crochet Pattern

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18. Crochet Bandana 

By Lion Brand

This exciting pattern is paired with Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton Yarn Dye Kit.  If you have ever wanted to try dying yarn yourself, this is the perfect opportunity.  I can’t wait to try the wool kit that I recently purchased from Joann’s.  Even if you don’t want to produce your yarn, the pattern is easy and works quickly. 

Crochet Bandana

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19. Eyelet Bandana

Designed by Emily Kessler

Here’s a bandana pattern showcasing a repeating shell motif. It is suitable for a beginner looking to expand their knowledge of stitches or anyone with extra yarn in their stash that needs a little love.  You can choose a smooth finish or if you prefer, a picot edge that adds a little flair.

Eyelet Bandana

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20.  Tunisian Beginner Crochet Bandana

Designed By Andrea Crețu

This pattern is a beginner-friendly design if you would like to learn how to do Tunisian Crochet.  It’s worked in number 2 yarn, so the final project is lightweight and a joy to wear.  To make this bandana, you must learn how to make Tunisian simple and purl stitches, Tunisian full stitches, and a regular return pass.

Tunisian Beginner Crochet Bandana

21. Bandana from Granny Squares

Designed by Cameron Heffernan from Annie Design Crochet

Colorful granny squares are a popular way to assemble a crochet bandana and for good reason.  They are beginner-friendly and you can control the colors you choose which means you can create an accessory to wear with a favorite outfit.

Granny Square Bandana Free Pattern

22. Triangle Hair Scarf

Designed by Wendy Harbaugh

This has to be the quickest bandana I found.  Made entirely of double crochet stitches, choose a varigated cotton yarn or create color by changing colors at the end of rows.

Triangle Hair Scarf

Crochet Bandanas Look Great on Pets Too!

Free Crochet Bandana Patterns for Cats and Dogs

23.   Dog Bandana

Designed by Kylee Keller

This colorful bandana would be perfect for a medium to large-breed dog.  It can be made for smaller dogs by first measuring your dog’s neck and then adjusting the pattern yourself.  It uses single crochet stitches in an interesting pattern. 

Free Crochet Bandana Patterns: Dog Bandana

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24.   Orson Button Up Cat Bandana

Designed by Charlotte Gillbanks

Cats look adorable in bandanas, also.  But, want to know a secret?  Dogs love this style too. 

Orson Button Up Cat Bandana

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25.   Best Bandana

Designed by Ashley Jane McIntyre

This is an easy bandana for your pet, worked in basic stitches.  The pattern includes instructions for two sizes, small and large, but if you need something between, the instructions provided will make that possible.

Best Bandana

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26.   Cro-Magnon Skull Cat Bandana

by Charlotte Gillbanks

This is a fun design that does look like a skull.  To be able to make this pattern, you will need to know how to make the double crochet, single crochet, and single crochet two together (sc2tog).  If this is your first attempt at making “lace” consider using stitch markers.  The designer provides a YouTube tutorial to help you along the way.

Cro-Magnon Skull Cat Bandana

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27. Pizza Bandana for Dogs

by Cari Lam

What dog wouldn’t love having a slice of pizza hanging around his neck?  It is intended for a large dog, but it is easy and created with single crochet stitches.  The pepperoni is created by working single crochet stitches into a magic circle and then fastening it off.

Pizza Bandana for Dogs

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28.   Expanding Hearts Cat Bandana

Designed by Charlotte Gillbanks

I love this heart bandana for cats and small dogs.  It reminds me of how much love our fur babies send our way.  There are instructions for this pattern and a link to a YouTube video to help you create this cute heart.

Expanding Hearts Cat Bandana

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29.   Dapper Pupper Bandana

Designed by Sonja Otto

This is an easy pattern that works up quickly.  The dog modeling this bandana is large, but the instructions demonstrate how to alter the pattern to make a bandana that fits your dog perfectly.  Stitches used in this pattern include half double crochet, single crochet stitches, slip stitches, and decreases.  Very beginner-friendly.

Dapper Pupper Bandana

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30. Free Caron Crochet Hair Bandana Pattern

by Yarninspirations

This pattern from Yarninspirations uses Caron Skinny Cakes, chain stitches, and double crochet stitches and is worked similarly to the granny square stitch. 

Caron Crochet Hair Bandana

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Stitches and Terms You Might Encounter When Making These Free Crochet Bandana Pattners

1. Chain Stitch: The beginning of most crochet projects.
2. Single Crochet: The single crochet stitch is the shortest and most basic of all the crochet stitches. 
3. Half Double Crochet: The half double crochet stitch is another basic stitch taller than the single crochet stitch and shorter than the double crochet stitch.
4. Double Crochet: The double crochet stitch is one of the basic stitches and is taller than the half-double or single crochet stitch. 
5. Increasing and Decreasing: Increasing and decreasing stitches shape your crochet project and create a specific pattern, such as the triangle shape in bandanas. You will see terms such as Single Crochet Two Together (sc2tog), meaning you will decrease a single crochet stitch.
6. Crochet Stitches: Bandanas use many different crochet stitch patterns, including the granny stitch, Shell Stitch, Crochet V Stitch, Bobble, and Puff Stitch.
7. Abbreviations: You might encounter many abbreviations when you crochet a bandana pattern. A few examples include: Single Crochet (sc), half double crochet (hdc), double crochet (dc)
8. Magic Circle: Sometimes, a bandana pattern starts in the round, uses the magic circle technique, or starts with a series of chains and then works in one of the chains.

Last Words

Whether you crochet a bandana for yourself, a friend, or your furry companion, these free pattern crochet bandana patterns offer a fantastic starting point. With time and creativity, you can create a unique and stylish accessory that will turn heads. So, grab your favorite yarn and a crochet hook, and get ready to stitch up some cool! 

Till next time, 

Janice

Free Crochet Bandana Patterns:  Pin for Future Reference

Disclosure:   This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from one of these links I will get a small  commission.

Hi, there, I'm Janice, the voice behind this website and avid knitter and crochet enthusiast. I want to share my passion with you and help you learn how to knit or crochet, smarter.

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