Crochet: Not-So-Simple Kerchief (Tutorial)

Here is the second of the kerchiefs I came up with this week. Well, actually it's the first one, but I wanted to share the Simple Kerchief first. This is the "Not-so-Simple Kerchief." After the complaining about the process a bit here I have to say I do like the final result. Of course Audrey makes most things look good to me, but I tried this on my sister, who has amazing curly reddish hair and it was darling on her too.

 

I think this kerchief has a fun pattern--nice and ropey and open, so it seems a good pick for summer, but I think these would be great for Fall too! This one can be tied under the chin or at the back of the head as with any kerchief but it has the added bonus of tying through the end. Kind of a fun look.

This pattern is worked from the top down and involves all the basic crochet stitches: single, double, and triple. There are decreases which are fairly easy but not mindless. If you are ready for something more involved this is your kerchief!

Click to read more and view the tutorial.

NOT-SO-SIMPLE KERCHIEF TUTORIAL

One size fits most.

Intermediate project.

A note about sizing: This kerchief measures 11" long and 15" wide (before the ties) with 6" ties on either side. I have found it works on just about anyone--my five-year-old, my sister, me!

MATERIALS:

• 1 skein worsted weight cotton yarn (I used Lily Sugarn' Cream)
• "I" crochet hook
• Tapestry needle for weaving in ends (this has a large eye and a blunt point)

TO MAKE: (tip: count your stitches as you go and you'll be less likely to miss one in a row)

Chain 55. The length of this chain should be about 16”. If it isn’t add or subtract chains, or just go with it if you like the length around your head. The nice thing about crochet is that you have a pretty good idea of its final size right from the start. This chain length will be the width of the kerchief, so it will stretch over your head from one ear to the other and then there will be 6-inch ties we will add later.

Row 1: Starting with the second chain from your hook, single crochet in each chain stitch to the end. (54 sc stitches) Note that the first sc in this row is curved a bit but don’t ignore it! (shown with the white pin in the photo below)

Row 2: Chain 1. Turn skip the first sc (the one beneath your turning chain marked by the white pin below) and sc in the next sc. Single crochet in each sc across to the end but leave the last sc unworked. (52 sc)

Row 3: Chain 4 (counts as first dc and first ch-2). Turn. Skip next 2 sc and dc in next 2 sc stitches. *Chain 2. Skip the next 2 sc. DC in next 2 sc.** Repeat from * to ** and finish with 1 dc in the second-to-last sc stitch. Leave the last stitch unworked. (52 stitches)

Row 4: Chain 1. Turn your work. Skip the first dc stitch and sc in the next ch st.

 Dc in the next ch st.

Triple crochet in the next dc stitch. (See the end of this post for a tutorial on triple crochet.)

Work one triple crochet in each stitch (dc and chain stitches) to the last set of dc stitches. Then work 1 dc in the next ch stitch and 1 sc in the next chain stitch, leaving the last 2 chain stitches unworked. (50 stitches—tc, dc, and sc together)
Row 5: Turn your work. Chain 1. Sk the first triple crochet and sc in the next tc. Ch 4 (counts as first dc). Dc in the next stitch. Skip the next two tc and dc in the next 2 tc. * Ch 2. Skip the next 2 tc. Dc in the next 2 tc. ** Repeat from * to ** until the last tc stitch . Leave the dc and sc stitches on this row unworked. (46 stitches)

Row 6: Turn your work. Ch 1. Skip the first dc sttich and sc in the next dc. Sc in each chain stitch and dc stitch across to the end leaving the last dc and the ch-4 at the end of this row unworked. (44 sc)

Row 7: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip the first sc and work a single crochet stitch in the next sc. Work sc in each sc to the last stitch. Leave the last stitch unworked. (42 sc)

Row 8: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip the first sc and work a single crochet stitch in the next sc. Work sc in each sc to the last stitch. Leave the last stitch unworked. (40 sc)

**Note that your edges are going to look a bit wonky. That will be fixed with a sc edging at the end!**

Row 9: Turn your work. Chain 1. Sk the first sc and dc in the next 2 sc. *Ch 2. Skip the next 2 sc. Dc in the next 2 sc. ** Repeat from * to ** finishing with one dc in the second to last sc stitch . Leave the last sc stitch on this row unworked. (38 stitches)

Row 10: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip first dc and sc in the next ch st. Double crochet in the next chain stitch. Tc in the next dc st. Tc in the next dc and every stitch thereafter to the last ch-2 space. Dc in the first ch st, sc in the next ch sp. Leave the last dc unworked. (36 stitches)

Row 11: Turn. Ch-4. Skip the first two sc and dc in the next 2 sc. *Ch 2. Skip the next 2 sc. Dc in the next 2 sc. ** Repeat from * to ** until the end. Leave the last tc, dc and sc stitches on this row unworked. (30 stitches, NOT counting the beginning ch-4)

Row 12: Turn. Ch 1. Skip first dc and sc in the next dc. Sc in each ch st and dc across to the end. Leave ch-4 stitch unworked. (28 sc)

Row 13: Turn. Ch 1. Skip first sc and sc in the next dc. Sc in each sc across to the end. Leave last sc stitch unworked. (26 sc)

Row 14: Turn. Ch 1. Skip first sc and sc in the next dc. Sc in each sc across to the end. Leave last sc stitch unworked. (24 sc)

Row 14: Turn. Ch-4. Skip the first two sc and dc in the next 2 sc. *Ch 2. Skip the next 2 sc. Dc in the next 2 sc. ** Repeat from * to ** until the end. (22 stitches NOT counting beginning chain)

(photos) Row 15: Turn. Ch-1. Sk first dc and sc in nxt dc. Dc in next ch st. Tc in next ch. Tc in each stitch across to the last set of ch-2. Dc in next dc. Sc in last dc. Leave ch-4 unworked. (21 stitches)

Row 16: Turn. Ch 1. Sk the next sc and sc in next dc. Ch 4. (counts as first dc and 2 ch st) Skip the first two sc and dc in the next 2 sc. *Ch 2. Skip the next 2 sc. Dc in the next 2 sc. ** Repeat from * to ** and end with 1 dc in the sc stitch. (20 stitches)

Row 17: Turn. Ch 1. Skip the first dc stich and sc in the next chain stitch. Sc in each chain st and dc stitch across to the end. Sc in two chain stitches leaving the 2 ch at the end of this row unworked. (18 sc)

Row 18: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip the first sc and work a single crochet stitch in the next sc. Work sc in each sc to the last stitch. Leave the last sc stitch unworked. (16 sc)

Row 19: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip the first sc and work a single crochet stitch in the next sc. Work sc in each sc to the last stitch. Leave the last stitch unworked. (14 sc)

Row 20: Turn. Ch 1. Sk the sc and sc in next sc. Ch 4. (counts as first dc and 2 ch st) Skip the first two sc and dc in the next 2 sc. Ch 2. Skip the first two sc and dc in the next 2 sc. Ch 2. Sk two sc and Dc in the next sc. Leave last sc unworked. (12 stitches)

Row 21: Turn. Ch-1. Sk first dc and sc in nxt chain st. Dc in next ch st. Tc in next ch. Tc in the next dc. TC in next five stitches. Dc in next ch st. Sc in next ch st. Leave ch-2 unworked. (10 stitches)

Row 22: Turn. Ch 1. Sk the next sc and sc in next dc. Ch 2. (counts as first dc) Dc in the next 2 tc. Ch2. Skip the next 2 tc. Dc in the next 3 tc. (8 stitches)

Row 23: Turn. Ch 1. Skip the first dc stich and sc in the next dc. Sc 5 more times to the end. Leave the chain stitches unworked. (6 sc)

Row 24: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip the first sc and work 4 sc crochet leaving the last sc stitch unworked. (4 sc)

Row 25: Turn your work. Chain 1. Skip the first sc and work a single crochet stitch in the next sc. Work 1 dec sc. (2 sc)

Don’t turn. Ch 1 and work sc edging down the side of the kerchief. Work 1 sc in the end of each row and two in the ends of the dc rows.

When you come to the bottom of this side (the front edge of the kerchief) chain 20.

Turn and work 19 sc back towards the kerchief. Work 55 sc across the front of the kerchief. Ch 20, turn and work 19 sc back towards kerchief (you should be working on the back side of the chain to end where the chain stitch meets the front of the kerchief.

Turn and work sc along the other edge of the triangle. Finish at the point end of the kerchief and fasten off.

You are almost finished!

We’re going to add another set of ties. With a slip knot on your hook, slip stitch into the bottom of the first row of triple crochet.

Chain 8. Join to the 8th chain in the existing tie with a slip stitch.

Turn. Work 8 sc along chain back towards kerchief.

Secure to kerchief with a slip stitch.

Weave in ends. Wear!

****

How to Triple Crochet:

(Yarn over two times,

... insert your hook, yarn over,

...pull through stitch. You should have four loops on your hook.

Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on your hook. You should have three loops on your hook.

Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on your hook. You should have two loops on your hook.

Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops on your hook. You have worked a triple crochet!)