Crochet a Lacy Triangle Bandana - Free Pattern & Chart

Stay cool on sunny days and add a handmade touch to your summer outfits with this lacy crochet bandana pattern. The triangle head scarf has a beautiful shell pattern and helps keep your hair away from your face. Find the free pattern below with step-by-step photos and a handy chart.

What I love about crocheting a triangular shape in rows is that you can easily adjust the size of your bandana simply by adjusting the number of rows. Best of all, this project only takes a few hours to complete.

image of 3 lacy crocheted bandanas in white, red, and pink

THE STORY BEHIND THE PATTERN

To find a stitch pattern that I liked, I turned to one of my favorite resources: The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs by Linda P. Schapper. I made some swatches to explore different patterns, chose my favorite, and turned my little rectangle into a triangle.

image of a book of crochet stitches with a small purple crochet swatch on top

This lacy shell pattern is essentially a 2-row repeat. One row is “3s and Vs” made of 3 double crochets alternating with V-stitches. The other row is “singles and shells” made of 1 double crochet alternating with shell stitches. Also, each shell row begins and ends with a half-shell to help keep the bottom edge of the triangle as straight as possible.

image of a white triangle crochet scarf on a wood floor with a ball of yarn and scissors

Rows 1-4 set up the triangle shape and get the motifs going, and then you just keep alternating Rows 7 and 8 until you get the size project you want. Trust the process as you start the triangle, and you’ll soon get into the rhythm of the crochet bandana pattern.

image of a white triangle crocheted bandana styled on a wood floor with flowers and yarn

FINISHED SIZE

Approx. 17 inches wide (excluding ties) x 8.5 inches tall at center

SKILL LEVEL

I always encourage crocheters of all levels to try new things. Smaller projects like head scarves are a good place to experiment. For this pattern, you really only need to know how to chain, slip stitch, single crochet, and double crochet. I do recommend that you feel comfortable with recognizing your different stitches as well as reading crochet patterns.

MATERIALS

#3 cotton crochet thread, approx. 50g or 148 yards – I used Knit Picks Curio, a mercerized cotton

4/0 or 2.5mm crochet hook – but you could also go slightly larger or smaller

Scissors

Yarn needle that is small enough to pass through little stitches

Optional: blocking supplies like a blocking board or blocking mat, rustproof T-pins, spray bottle with water or a steamer

GAUGE

Exact gauge is not super important for this project since you can easily adjust the final size by adding or subtracting rows. Remember that this project is intended for lightweight yarn and small hooks.

ABBREVIATIONS IN U.S. TERMS

Ch(s): chain(s)

Dc: double crochet

Sc: single crochet

Sk: skip

Sl st: slip stitch

St(s): stitch(es)

( ): work everything inside the parentheses into the next st, e.g. (2 sc) = 2 sc in the next st

[ ]: work everything inside the parentheses the number of times indicated

SPECIAL STITCHES

V-stitch: dc, ch 3, dc, all in one stitch

Shell: 7 dc, all in one stitch

Half-shell: 4 dc, all in one stitch

CROCHET CHART

If you like crochet charts, I made one for you. If you do not prefer charts, the written pattern follows with lots of photos. Repeat Rows 7 & 8 until you get the size head scarf you like. I worked 18 rows. Be sure to end on an even/shell row. Then scroll down to the “Edging & Ties” section to finish your project.

CROCHET BANDANA PATTERN

Begin with ch 4. Sl st to 1^st ch to form a ring.

Row 1: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). (V-stitch into ring, ch 1) 2 times. Dc into ring. Turn. – 2 V-stitches

image of a purple crocheted piece on a white background

Row 2: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). Sk ch-1 space, shell in ch-3 space which is a V-stitch, ch 1, dc in ch-1 space, ch 1, shell in next ch-3 space which is a V-stitch, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch. Turn. – 2 shells

Row 3: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). V-stitch in ch-1 space, ch 1. 1 dc each in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th dc of shell, ch 1. In the center dc, (V-stitch, ch 1, V-stitch, ch 1). 1 dc each in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th dc of shell, ch 1. V-stitch in last ch-1 space, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch (you might need to scooch over some stitches to find the right ch). Turn. – 4 V-stitches

Row 4: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). Sk ch-1 space, half-shell in V-stitch, ch 1, sk ch-1 space, 1 dc in 2^nd dc, ch 1, sk ch-1 space, shell in V-stitch, ch 1, dc in center ch-1 space, ch 1, shell in V-stitch, ch 1, sk ch-1 space, dc in 2^nd dc, ch 1, sk ch-1 space, half-shell in last V-stitch, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch. Turn. – 2 shells, 2 half-shells

Row 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). V-stitch in ch-1 space, ch 1. 1 dc each in the 2^nd and 3^rd dc of the half-shell, ch 1. V-stitch in the single dc, ch 1, 1 dc each in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th dc of shell, ch 1. In the center dc, (V-stitch, ch 1, V-stitch, ch 1). 1 dc each in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th dc of shell, ch 1, V-stitch in the single dc, ch 1, 1 dc each in the 2^nd and 3^rd dc of half-shell, ch 1, V-stitch in last ch-1 space, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch. Turn. – 6 V-stitches

Row 6: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). Sk ch-1 space, half-shell in V-stitch, ch 1. Repeat [1 dc in 2^nd dc, ch 1, shell in V-stitch, ch 1] until you’re at ch-1 space at the top of the triangle. Dc in center ch-1 space, ch 1. Repeat [shell in V-stitch, ch 1, dc in 2^nd dc, ch 1] until last V-stitch. Half-shell in last V-stitch, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch. Turn. – 2 shells, 2 half-shells

Row 7: Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). V-stitch in ch-1 space, ch 1. 1 dc each in the 2^nd and 3^rd dc of the half-shell, ch 1. Repeat [V-stitch in the single dc, ch 1, 1 dc each in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th dc of shell, ch 1] until you reach the single dc at the top of the triangle. In the center dc, (V-stitch, ch 1, V-stitch, ch 1). Repeat [1 dc each in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th dc of shell, ch 1, V-stitch in the single dc, ch 1] until the last half-shell. 1 dc each in the 2^nd and 3^rd dc of half-shell, ch 1, V-stitch in last ch-1 space, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch. Turn.

Row 8: same as Row 6. Ch 4 (counts as 1^st dc + ch 1). Sk ch-1 space, 4 dc in V-stitch, ch 1. Repeat [1 dc in 2^nd dc, ch 1, shell in V-stitch, ch 1] until you’re at ch-1 space at the top of the triangle. Dc in center ch-1 space, ch 1. Repeat [shell in V-stitch, ch 1, dc in 2^nd dc, ch 1] until last V-stitch. 4 dc in last V-stitch, ch 1, dc in 3^rd ch of foundation ch. Turn.

Repeat Rows 7 & 8 until your bandana is your desired size. Your last row should be a Row 8, a shell row.
I worked 18 rows.
Break off yarn.
If your triangle looks slightly wonky, don’t worry. The pattern does have a slight lean to one side that subtle when the triangle is small and becomes bit more noticeable the larger the triangle gets. That is normal, and you can adjust this a bit if you block your project at the end.

EDGING & TIES

I like making ties for the bandana while also crocheting a reinforced edge for the long side of the triangle. There are many ways to create ties, and you can certainly crochet them however you like.

I begin with a ch 90 to start the first tie.

With the wrong sides of the shell rows facing you, join the ch-90 to the right edge of the scarf (the turning chain of Row 18) by working 1 sc around the turning ch. Work 2 more sc into the same space.

Continue to work 3 sc into the side of each row. I find that working around the dc or turning ch at the edge of the row is easier than trying to work into the actual sts. When you reach the center point where your starting ring is, work 1 sc into the ring. Then keep working 3 sc into the side of each row until you’ve reached the end. For your last sc, instead of working around the dc of Row 18, try to work into the top of the dc. This will create a smoother edge so that the top of that last dc of Row 18 won’t stick out.

Ch 91 to start the 2nd tie. Then you’ll work back the other way.

Sk the 1^st ch from your hook. Work 1 sc into each remaining ch of the 2nd tie.

When you get back to the triangle, make sure you’re crocheting across the long edge of the triangle again. It might feel like you have to twist the project a little. Continue to work 1 sc into each sc.

When you get to the first tie, work 1 sc in each ch until the end of the ch. I also like to work a sl st into the same ch as the last sc to round off the end of the tie.

Break off and weave in all your yarn ends.

image of a purple lacy crocheted triangle head scarf with ties

BLOCKING YOUR CROCHETED BANDANA

To give your bandana a nice finish, I suggest blocking it. Blocking will help even out edges and relax the stitches. I pin my bandana onto foam blocking mats, spray with water until saturated, and let dry completely before unpinning.

If your ties look a bit twisty, spritz those with water as well. Run the ties through your fingers to flatten. You don’t have to pin them down. Just let them relax.

image of a red crocheted lacy triangle pinned to a foam board

If you notice that your project is sliding up on the pins, try pinning at an angle to keep the crochet close to the mat. You might also be stretching the bandana too much. Stretching out the project isn’t the goal. The goal is to guide the shape a little bit.

image of a hand and a piece of red crocheted lace

You can also explore other blocking methods in Faith’s class Blocking Knits 101. To brush up on your basic crochet stitches, watch my beginner crochet class, Crochet Sampler.