Granny Stitch Circles
I get very cold and hurty ears at this time of year and so, to combat the chill, I have made myself some easy crochet earmuffs! This pattern is a very quick make and was inspired by my recent free crochet pattern for a granny stripe hat. It uses exactly the same pattern to begin.
Just before I cancelled Amazon Prime a couple of weeks ago, I hastily bought a couple of cheap pairs of fluffy earmuffs as I knew they’d be great for satisfying my urge for this quick-fix crochet project. This earmuffs pattern is also a great yarn stashbuster (I do love a stash buster!).
The only problem I have had so far is getting my choice of yarn colours right. I have been torn between all the possible combinations. It is so difficult to choose favourites sometimes! However, I had to draw a line in the sand and just make them. But, the nature of this design, is that you can make several pairs and swap them over depending on your mood. A crochet win!
Crochet Earmuffs Free Pattern
What Yarn? What Crochet Hook? What Else Do I Need?
Right, to make your own crochet earmuffs, you only need a few scraps of double-knit yarn. I used a 3.75mm hook rather than the usual 4mm I use for dk yarn as you want to make sure the stitches aren’t too loose.
I have loads of dk yarn in my stash; lots of little balls to use up. In this case, the yarn could be any brand, it’s a mix of all sorts. But generally speaking, I prefer to use merino yarn or an acrylic merino blend. For a speedy crochet pattern such as this, it doesn’t really matter.
You will need some shop-bought earmuffs. The ones I bought were sold in two-packs and under a tenner for both pairs. They fit me, an arguably grown-up woman with an average-sized head.
You will also need two 30cm / 12-inch lengths of thin elastic, two circles of fabric measuring around 20cm / 8 inches, and a darning needle.
Now, if you want to be really precise, you should also get some elastic to gather the fabric too but I didn’t have enough elastic left for that. It would be neater and easier if you did…
Crochet Video Tutorials
The written crochet pattern for earmuffs is below but check out this video for How to crochet a large granny square. Watch from 2:25 to see me demonstrate the first few rounds. Whilst it’s for a different thing, both projects start the same way. Round 3 is ever so slightly different in the tutorial but it achieves the same result. You actually hear me dither about changing how I’m going to do that round in the video!
UK Crochet Abbreviations
Please don’t be put off by the UK terminology. We’re talking granny stitch here and you all know that that’s a trio of US double crochet stitches. Whenever you see me write “treble”, it’s a US double. Everything else is the same.
beg = beginning, ch = chain, ch-sp = chain space, clu = cluster, st(s) = stitch(es), sp(s) = space(s), sl st = slip stitch,
sttr = standing treble start, tr = treble, rep = repeat, yrh = yarn round hook.
Special Crochet Stitches
Beg tr2tog:
This is used at the beginning of Rnd 1 to work the first “petal”. It uses the same principle as a Stacked start. See the video for the large granny square tutorial linked above.
Insert hook in circle, yrh and pull through, yrh and pull through both loops on hook (it helps to gently pinch the st at this point to make the next stage easier), insert hook in left leg of the st and the loop behind it (the pinch helps the back loop to become looser and more visible), yrh and pull through, (2 loops on hook), yrh and insert hook into the circle, yrh and pull through (4 loops on hook), yrh and pull through 2 loops, yrh and pull through 3 loops.
Standing tr start (sttr):
This is instead of starting rounds by chaining 3, it looks much tidier than a 3-chain and it’s fun to do! This method is perfect when changing colour at the beginning of rows/rounds:
Yrh three times and hold loops on hook with forefinger, insert hook in sp/st, yrh and pull through, [yrh and pull through 2 loops] twice.
Let go of the yarn wrapped around your hook. First treble stitch made.
Pattern for Crochet Earmuffs
Feel free to chain 5 and join with a sl st (you’ll see this shown in the video tutorial linked in Special Stitches above). But, I think using a Magic Circle is valid here. Better, in fact. Start however you like though!
UK Terms
Rnd 1: 1Beg tr2tog, ch2, *tr2tog, 2ch: rep from * 6 more times, join with a sl st into the 1st 2ch-sp. Fasten off & cut yarn. – 8 “petals”
2: Attach new yarn with 1sttr in any 2ch-sp, 2tr in same sp, 1ch, *3tr in next 2ch-sp, 1ch; rep from * 6 more times, join with a sl st into the top of the sttr. Fasten off & cut yarn.
3 (Inc): Attach new yarn with 1sttr in any 1ch-sp, (1tr, 1ch, 2tr) in same sp, *(2tr, 1ch, 2tr) in next 1ch-sp; rep from * 6 more times, join with a sl st into the top of the sttr. Fasten off & cut yarn.
4: Attach new yarn with 1sttr in any 1ch-sp, 2tr in same sp, miss 2 sts, 3tr, *miss 2 tr, 3tr in next 1ch-sp, miss 2 sts, 3tr; rep from * around join with a sl st into the top of the sttr. Fasten off & cut yarn. -16 clu
5 & 6: Attach new yarn with 1sttr in any sp between clusters, 2tr in same sp, *3tr in next sp; rep from * around join with a sl st into the top of the sttr. Fasten off, cut yarn and sew in ends.
Ok, now for the fun bit…
Turn Crochet Granny Circles into Earmuffs!
So, you can leave a long tail and use that to gather and secure the crochet to the ear muff. But it’s then more permanently fitted. If you add a little bit of elastic around the outer edge of the crochet circle and tie it closed, you can make the crochet covers removable. You can then make loads of different coloured crochet ear muff covers to swap over whenever you fancy a change!
This is the point where you need the round scrap of fabric. What happens if you don’t have fabric? You can go without if you’d rather but the fluff on my muff burst through the granny holes! Oh dear. Use fabric as a barrier between the fluff and the crochet. As you know, I didn’t have enough elastic to gather the fabric but I would recommend this step. If you going to, you could use either thread or shirring elastic.
To add the elastic to the crochet granny circles you’ve made, thread the length in and out between the stitches, all the way around the outer edge. Tie the ends together in a knot and it’s ready to pop snuggly around your muff! Add the fabric layer first.
Voila! How quick are these crochet earmuffs!!?
If your muffs are a different size, you may want to fiddle around to make the crochet covers bigger or smaller, but that’s all part of the fun.
If you like this free crochet pattern, take a look at what else I have on offer. My free crochet patterns can be found HERE!
Thanks for reading, cheers! x
