Mom in Her Kerchief
and I in my Cap ...

The Kerchief is called a scarf or bandana today. This style of head wear has been around for a very long time. Perhaps because it is such a useful and beautiful item. No time to fix your hair? Put this beautiful hat on and the problem is instantly fixed. The band is basic single crochet the rest is done in a beautiful filet crochet style that isn't hard to do at all.

The short version is designed for shorter hair cuts.

The long version works with longer hair.

Crochet Kerchief Materials Needed

Yarn: I've used Red Heart Holiday. This is listed as 4 ply, however I've noted its closer to 3 ply sport weight. Check your gauge carefully before you begin. Crochet Hook: H 8 / 5.00 mm. I also use a size F 5 / 3.75 mm for weaving in the loose ends. Gauge: 15 stitches = 4 inches Gauge is important as it could end up too loose for your head. Because the Kerchief ties in back its okay to have it a little smaller, but not much as it may not cover your ears if its too small. Small Scissors Yarn Needle

The Kerchief is designed to be 21 inches around the brim. If you are going to adjust size make sure that your chain number is always divisable by 3 (divisable by 3 + 1 to make your turn and crochet back).

Rows 1 - 10: Chain (ch) 79 - Single Crochet (sc) back 78 stitches - chain (ch) 1 and turn. Repeat this for 10 rows. (If you are going to adjust the width of the brim, keep in mind that the end instruction for making the ties will change as well.) At row #10 do not chain (ch) 1 at the end.

Filet Crochet Style Body
Although this is not really a lesson in Filet Crochet the Kerchief uses the basic concept for the body of the work. Filet Crochet is done by thinking in blocks or squares - rather than stitches. One main difference with this pattern is that you'll be using Triple Crochet (tc), instead of the standard Double Crochet (dc) used in most Filet Crochet.

The short version of the Kerchief decreses one block each row.

The long version of the Kerchief decreses one block every 2 rows.

Basic Instruction

	The first block for every row begins by chaining (ch) 6. Filet Crochet Row 1: Turn your work, wrap the yarn around your crochet hook 2 times and insert your hook through the full top of the 3rd Single Crochet (sc) stitch.
	Do a Triple Crochet (tc). [Chain (ch) 2 - skip 2 stitchs in the row below - Triple Crochet (tc) 1 into the 3rd stitch.] Repeat the instruction between the [ ] to the end of the row. Ending with a Triple Crochet (tc) in the last available stitch of the row.

* For the Long Version of the Kerchief you would do a full row back and decrease one block for the third row.

* For the Short Version of the Kerchief you would decrese one block in the next row.

When crocheting across a filet crochet row always pick up the top 2 threads, right above a Triple Crochet (tc) post.

Decreasing One Block

	Decrease At the Beginning of a Row To decrease 1 block begin by Chaining (ch) 1 and turning. Slip Stitch (sl st) 3 to the top of the last Triple Crochet (tc) post. I find the top post stitch and count back a total of 3 stitches (counting the top post stitch as 1). This way I know exactly where to start.
	Right after the top post Slip Stitch (sl st), Chain (ch) 6 and Triple Crochet (tc) into the next top post stitch. Continue to Chain (ch) 2, skip to the next top post stitich, and Triple Crochet (tc) across.
	Decrease At the End of a Row To decrease 1 block at the end of the row is easy - just stop 1 short.

Continue to decrease 1 block each row (1 block every 2 rows for the long version). Until you only have 2 blocks left (if you are making the long version do another row with just the 2 blocks).

The very end is done with a Picot Lace stitch to give it a bit of a point.

	Picot Lace End Stitch All this stitch does is give the end of your Kerchief a fun little point. Chain (ch) 1 and turn, Slip Stitch (sl st) into the first stitch. Chain (ch) 3.
	When I'm doing this I hold on to the last of the Chain (ch) 3 above. Chain (ch) 3 more and double this over, Slip Stitching (sl st) into the 3rd Chain (sh) stitch.
	This is what it looks like, you should have your first Chain (ch) 3, followed by the second Chain (ch) 3 now doubled over and connected with a Slip Stitch (sl st).
	Chain (ch) 3 more/
	Connect this to the third Chain (ch) stitch in the second block. Cut and bind off the yarn by pulling the loose end through the last loop on your crochet hook - and pulling it tight.

The Kerchief Ties

Back to the rim of your Kerchief. Turn it sideways. Using a Slip Knot put a loop bank on your crochet hook.

Attach to the bottom edge (the same edge that would be in the very front of the Kerchief).

Single Crochet (sc) up, hiding the loose ends in as you crochet, 10 stitches.

Chain (ch) 1 and turn. Single Crochet (sc) 5 back - do 1 single crochet (sc) in every other stitch. In other words - skip 1, single crochet (sc) 1.

Chain (ch) 1 and turn. Skip 2 stitches, single crochet (sc) 1. Skip to the end, single crochet (sc) 1.

Chain (ch) 1 and turn. Single Crochet (sc) the last 2 stitches together.

Chain (ch) 81 - Slip Stitch (sl st) back over the chain (ch) 80. Slip Stitch (sl st) this into the last stitch back on your rim.

Repeat this on the other side. This creates the tie ends.

You could call this done if you are a user that doesn't put a lot of stress on your tie ends. Weave all your loose ends into the Kerchief. However, I like to reinforce mine for a little more security. It will most likely take me longer to explain this than it will for you to do it.

	Thread a yarn needle with the same yarn you used to make your Kerchief. Double it and knot it at the end. Start in the 3rd stitch from the brim.
To form a secure knot you'll double back and put the needle between the two threads. Pull this tight.
	Push the loose ends up, you'll be wrapping them inside as you sew.
Next stitch goes below this one - in the 4th stitch. This way you'll wrap the loose threads tight.
	Go under and around (so you wrap the yarn around the tie).
Next stitch is back into the third. You will work you way to the base by the brim. A total of four wraps - make sure you keep the loose threads inside each wrap.
	DON'T CUT YOUR THREAD ON THE NEEDLE. But you will trim the loose ends at this time. It will make working into the brim easier.
There are three stitches close to the tie end. You will sew / wrap the thread into these three. Start at the bottom - the next goes into the middle - followed by the top - and back into the middle. What this does is tighten the tie end and give several reinforced stitchs instead of the tie simply being held on with a slip stitch.
	Make sure you keep sewing in the same direction so you are actually wrapping the thread in.
When you are done, carefully push your needle back down through the tight wrap around the tie.
	This secures the sewing thread. Trim those ends as well.

From the end of October through about the 20th of December, I feature Holiday Kerchiefs in my shop for sale and allow people to pick the color they'd like them done in.

Visit Mom's Crochet Shop Here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MomsCrochetShop