Beaded Headband

Note: I found an error in the bead graph. It's corrected now. Excuse me for any inconveniency.

Materials: Anne thread (similar to Pearl cotton nr. 3), off-white or light beige.
Crochet hook 1,75 mm
152 3-mm seed beads, pearly green.

Size: the sc part is 4.5 cm (1.8") width, 33 cm (13") long.

Abbr.: st (stitch), yo (yarn over), inc (increase), dec (decrease), ch (chain), sc (single crochet), dc (double crochet).

Before you begin crocheting, string all beads in the thread. It's better to string some beads more; I stringed about 160 beads. If you string less beads, you'll have to cut the thread, string more beads and tie the thread again - a tiresome task.

First you make the tying string. You can make a simple chain, but I used a cord pattern from an old crochet book. I'll try to describe it.

You begin chaining 2 stitches; in the second ch from hook you make a sc. Turn the work and look at the stitch you've made. Under the two top loops, you'll see 2 lateral loops. Insert the hook into these two lateral loops and make a new sc. It's a bit difficult to identify these two lateral loops in the first row, but it won't matter if you don't insert your hook into the right loops. Turn the work. Now it'll be easier to see the 2 lateral loops; insert your hook into them and make a new sc. Turn the work.

You can find a good step-by-step picture explanation at the German site Teddy's Handarbeiten.

Keep working this way until the cord has the desired length (mine has 37 cm - 14.5 inches.)

Then ch 3 (= 1 dc), 4 dc in the same stitch (total 5 dc). Turn.
Ch 3 (= 1 dc), 1 dc in the first st, 3 dc, 2 dc in the last st (= 7 dc). Turn.
Ch 3 (= 1 dc), 2 dc in the first st, 5 dc, 3 dc in the last st (= 11 dc). Turn.
Ch 3 (= 1 dc), 1 dc in the first st, 9 dc, 2 dc in the last st (= 13 dc). Turn.
Ch 3 (= 1 dc), 1 dc in the first st, 11 dc, 2 dc in the last st (= 15 dc). Turn.

Now you'll begin to follow the graph. Working in sc, make the first row in plain sc - it's the right side of the headband.

Turn the work, ch 1, 1 sc, then insert the hook in the previous row stitch, yo, pull a loop, pull a bead until it's next to the crochet, yo (catching the thread next to the bead) and pull the loop through the two loops in the hook. Keep working in sc, with a bead in the middle of the row and another in the stitch next to the last one.

The next row is a right side row. First, 6 plain sc. Now, to fix a bead to a right row st you need to insert the hook FROM BACK TO FRONT, yo and pull the loop FROM FRONT TO BACK; the thread will be at the front side of the work. Pull the bead next to the work, yo next to the bead, pull the loop through the 2 loops in the hook. You'll get a twisted stitch, but never mind. Make more two beaded twisted sc and then 6 plain sc.

The 4th row is similar to the 2nd row.

Keep following the graph and repeat the part marked with "repetir' (repeat in Portuguese) until you have 12 5-beads groups. Make one more plaln sc row then work the decreasing dc rows: dec 1 st at each side of the 1st row (13 st), 1 st at each side of the 2nd row (11 st), 2 st at each side of the 3rd row (7 st), 1 st at each side of the 4th row (5 st) then make a group of 5 st together, keeping in the hook the last loops of each stitch, then yo and pull the loop through all loops in the hook.

Then you'll work the second tying string - make the same cord or chain you made at the beginning. Finish off.

I like these tied headbands better than the ones with elastic.