Double Flower Tie Bandana Crochet Free Pattern

Introduction

This Double Flower Tie Bandana is a boho-chic accessory made for large dogs who deserve a little desert flair on their daily walks. It's worked as a simple half-circle in silver bulky wool, then dressed up with two ice-blue African flower motifs joined side by side at the neck edge. The result is a soft, squishy bandana that drapes comfortably over the chest and stays put thanks to two braided ties. If you can work half double crochet and a basic decrease, you have every skill you need to make this piece your own.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Bulky weight (weight category 5) wool, approximately 200 yards total: 150 yards silver (Color A), 50 yards ice blue (Color B).
• Hook: 6.0 mm (J-10) crochet hook.
• Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker (optional), a ruler or gauge square.
• Finished size: 20 inches (51 cm) wide at the neck edge, 10 inches (25 cm) deep at center, with two 12-inch (30 cm) braided ties.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: make a loop of yarn and pull it through the loop on your hook.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook, yarn over, pull through everything on the hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• hdc — half double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through all three loops.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops.
• hdc2tog — half double crochet two together: a decrease worked over two stitches to make one.
• sp — space (usually a chain-1 space).
• sts — stitches.

Gauge

12 stitches and 8 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) in half double crochet. Work a small swatch and measure the center of it with your ruler; if you have more stitches than 12, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Count your stitches at the end of every decrease row. The bandana narrows quickly, and one missed decrease throws off the point.
• Keep your hdc2tog decreases loose so the stepped edge of the triangle stays flat and doesn't pucker.
• Work the two flower motifs before the body so you can match their size and color placement while your tension is fresh.
• When you sew the motifs on, use only the back loops of the edge stitches so the front of the flowers stays smooth and raised.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Bandana Body (Color A)

Row 1: Ch 61. Hdc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across (60 hdc). Turn.

Row 2: Ch 1. Hdc in first 2 sts, [hdc2tog] 28 times, hdc in last 2 sts (32 hdc). Turn.

Row 3: Ch 1. Hdc in each st across (32 hdc). Turn.

Row 4: Ch 1. Hdc in first 2 sts, [hdc2tog] 14 times, hdc in last 2 sts (18 hdc). Turn.

Row 5: Ch 1. Hdc in each st across (18 hdc). Turn.

Row 6: Ch 1. Hdc in first 2 sts, [hdc2tog] 7 times, hdc in last 2 sts (11 hdc). Turn.

Row 7: Ch 1. Hdc in each st across (11 hdc). Turn.

Row 8: Ch 1. Hdc in first st, [hdc2tog] 5 times (6 hdc). Turn.

Row 9: Ch 1. Hdc in each st across (6 hdc). Turn.

Row 10: Ch 1. [Hdc2tog] 3 times (3 hdc). Fasten off.

African Flower Motif (make 2, Color B)

Round 1: Ch 4, join with sl st to form ring. Ch 3 (counts as dc), 11 dc in ring. Join with sl st to top of ch-3 (12 dc).

Round 2: Ch 3, dc in same st, ch 1, [2 dc in next st, ch 1] 11 times. Join with sl st to top of ch-3 (24 dc, 12 ch-1 sps).

Round 3: Sl st to next ch-1 sp, ch 3, dc in same sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1, [2 dc in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, 2 dc in same sp, ch 1] 11 times. Join with sl st to top of ch-3 (48 dc, 24 ch-1 sps).

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, sc in next dc, [sc in next ch-1 sp, sc in next 2 dc] 23 times, sc in last ch-1 sp. Join with sl st to first sc (72 sc). Fasten off, leaving a 12-inch tail for seaming.

Assembly of Motifs

Place the two motifs side by side with right sides facing up, aligning the flat edges. Using the tails and a yarn needle, sew them together along the center seam with a whipstitch, catching only the back loops of the edge stitches. Sew the joined motifs to the center of the neck edge of the bandana, with the motifs extending 1 inch above the edge.

Edging (Color A)

Join A at one corner of the neck edge. Work sc evenly around the entire outer edge of the bandana, including the motifs, working 3 sc in each corner to turn smoothly. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

Ties (make 2, Color A)

Cut 6 strands of A, each 24 inches long. Holding 3 strands together, fold in half and pull the loop through a corner stitch of the neck edge, then pull the ends through the loop to secure. Braid the strands, knot the end, and trim. Repeat on the other corner.

Assembly and Finishing

Weave in all ends on the wrong side, running each tail through a few stitches before trimming. Gently steam-block the bandana: pin it flat to the finished measurements (20 inches at the neck edge, 10 inches deep), mist lightly, and let it dry completely. Block the flower motifs separately if they curl, then re-check that the center seam lies flat. Give the braided ties a light tug to even them out.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Swap the ice blue for a warm terracotta or mustard to lean further into the desert boho look.
• Add a small button or a crocheted bobble at the center of each flower for extra texture.
• For a smaller dog, begin with a shorter starting chain (for example, ch 41) and keep the same decrease rhythm.