Blackwatch Headband & Skinny Scarf in Cascade Yarns - C250 - Downloadable PDF

Blackwatch Headband & Skinny Scarf – Free Crochet Pattern by Bonnie MacIntyre in Cascade 128 Superwash® Multis

This free downloadable PDF pattern by designer Bonnie MacIntyre offers two coordinating accessories in one: a stretchy, ear-covering headband and a sleek skinny scarf. Both pieces are worked in Cascade 128 Superwash® Multis, a chunky-weight superwash merino yarn, using crochet hooks and a clever hair elastic foundation. The pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and is an excellent project for crafters looking to expand beyond basic crochet into textured stitch variations.

About the Yarn and Materials

Both accessories are made from a single skein of Cascade 128 Superwash® Multis in Color #111. This yarn is a chunky-weight, 100% superwash merino wool, celebrated for its softness, washability, and rich tonal color variation. The multicolored colorway referenced as Blackwatch evokes deep, coordinating tones reminiscent of the classic tartan plaid — making these accessories a stylish cold-weather pairing.

• Yarn: Cascade 128 Superwash® Multis, Color #111
• Yarn Weight: Chunky
• Quantity: 1 skein for both pieces
• Additional Materials: 1 hair elastic (without a metal tab; dark blue recommended to coordinate with the yarn)
• Crochet Hook for Headband: J/10 (6.0mm)
• Crochet Hook for Scarf: K/10.5 (6.5mm)

The Blackwatch Headband

Construction and Design

The headband is designed to fit snugly around the head and cover the ears, making it a practical and fashionable cold-weather accessory. Its construction begins with a unique foundation technique: stitches are worked directly around a hair elastic, which serves as the structural anchor for the band. This eliminates the need for sewing or seaming at the join point and gives the finished headband a clean, professional look with built-in stretch.

Techniques and Stitches Used

The headband is worked flat in rows using a J/10 (6.0mm) crochet hook. The stitch pattern alternates between working into the back loops only and the front loops only on successive rows, which creates a subtle ribbed or ridged texture that adds visual interest and helps the band retain its shape against the head.

• Chain (ch) – used as a turning chain between rows
• Single Crochet (sc) – used in the foundation row worked around the hair elastic, and again in the final row to close the band back onto the elastic
• Extended Single Crochet (esc) – the primary body stitch, worked in alternating back loops and front loops to build the textured fabric

The Extended Single Crochet is a stitch that falls in height between a single crochet and a half double crochet. It is worked by inserting the hook, pulling up a loop, pulling through one loop on the hook, and then pulling through both remaining loops. This produces a slightly taller, more open stitch than standard single crochet, giving the headband a drapey yet structured fabric.

Row-by-Row Structure

• Row 1: 10 single crochet stitches worked around the hair elastic, chain 1 and turn
• Row 2: 1 ESC in both loops of the first stitch; 8 ESC in back loops only; 1 ESC in both loops of the last stitch — chain 1 and turn
• Row 3: 1 ESC in both loops of the first stitch; 8 ESC in front loops only; 1 ESC in both loops of the last stitch — chain 1 and turn
• Rows 2 & 3 are repeated until the crocheted length is long enough to reach almost to the opposite side