Crochet bandanas can be practical accessories as well as satisfying small projects, and the Bonnie Bandana is designed around exactly that balance. The finished piece has a soft, substantial character because the project combines one strand of Friends Cotton 8/4 with two strands of Diablo. Instead of treating the bandana as a lightweight warm-weather accessory, the pattern is specifically described as a design for the cold season. Its checked colorwork also gives the simple triangular shape a distinctive visual rhythm.
This guide turns the supplied Bonnie Bandana pattern into a longer, beginner-friendly project article while keeping the original construction, measurements, materials, color combinations, stitch counts, row instructions, and finishing sequence unchanged. The pattern is worked in one piece, followed by a waved edging and tie strings crocheted directly onto the bandana. The original pattern identifies the intended skill level as intermediate, so the most useful approach is to slow down at the color changes and stitch-count checkpoints rather than rushing through the deceptively simple shape.
The design is by Laura Hjertefryd / Laura Takahashi Christiansen for Hobbii Design. The source pattern is Bonnie – Bandana, No. 1059-231-7799.
A useful way to think about this project is as three connected stages: build the triangular bandana, add the decorative waved edging, and finish with the long tie strings. Because the decreases happen continuously, every row deserves attention. The pattern specifically notes that the first stitch is skipped when starting each row, reducing the stitch count by one stitch per row.
Project overview
The Bonnie Bandana is made in one piece. The main fabric uses a yellow and green checked arrangement created by alternating five-stitch color sections and changing the color relationship as the rows progress. Once the triangular body is complete and only one stitch remains, the yarn is fastened off. The yellow waved edging is then worked around both sides of the triangle, and the yellow tie section is added along the opposite side of Row 1.
The finished width is 34 cm / 13.4 inches, and the pattern is listed as one size. The stated gauge is 10 x 10 cm (4โ x 4โ) = 16 sl st x 17 rows. Gauge matters particularly when you want the finished width to correspond closely to the stated measurement, so it is worth treating the supplied gauge as part of the project information rather than as an optional detail.
Materials and yarn setup
The project requires one skein of Friends Cotton 8/4 in Lemon Curd (22), one skein of Friends Cotton 8/4 in Olive (109), one skein of Diablo in Primrose (51), and one skein of Diablo in Olive (20). The crochet hook is 5.5 mm.
Friends Cotton 8/4 by Hobbii is listed as 100% cotton, with 50 g (1.75 oz) = 160 m (174 yds). Diablo by Hobbii is listed as 40% acrylic, 30% mohair, and 30% polyamide, with 25 g (0.8 oz) = 225 m (246 yds).
The unusual part of the yarn setup is important. You are not simply holding three unrelated balls together. The pattern says to work with one strand of Friends Cotton 8/4 and two strands of the same color Diablo, meaning both ends of the same Diablo skein are used at the same time.
For the yellow combination, use one strand of Friends Cotton 8/4 Lemon Curd (22) together with two strands of Diablo Primrose (51). For the green combination, use one strand of Friends Cotton 8/4 Olive (109) together with two strands of Diablo Olive (20). Keeping these combinations organized from the beginning makes the later checks much easier.
Abbreviations
Ch means chain. Sl st means slip stitch. Sc means single crochet. Dc means double crochet. Hdc means half double crochet.
Before you begin the triangle
The main bandana begins with yellow. The starting chain is Ch 55 followed by 1 turning chain (55). This opening number is one of the key checkpoints in the whole project.
The pattern includes a specific note that should stay visible while you work: when starting each row, skip the first stitch. This causes the stitch count to decrease by 1 stitch for every row. In other words, the shrinking triangle is created deliberately through the repeated first-stitch skip.
This is a project where counting is more valuable than speed. If a row does not seem to match the expected count, pause before continuing. Since the pattern changes color placement at Row 6 and continues decreasing afterward, correcting an error early is much easier than trying to find it several rows later.
Main bandana: Rows 1โ5
Row 1 establishes the first color rhythm. Work alternately 5 sc yellow and 5 sc green until the end of the row.
For Rows 2โ5, skip the first stitch and work alternately yellow over yellow and green over green. The source gives the corresponding stitch counts as 54, 53, 52, and 51.
The phrase โover yellowโ and โover greenโ is important to the checked effect. These rows continue the color alignment established in the first row rather than immediately reversing the colors. Keeping the strands controlled while working the color sections will help you maintain a clean visual division.
A practical checkpoint after Row 5 is to confirm that you have followed the four decreasing stitch counts exactly: 54, 53, 52, and 51. These numbers are part of the original pattern and should not be substituted with estimates.
The key color-change moment: Row 6
Row 6 is where the checkerboard effect changes direction. Skip the first stitch, and now work over yellow and yellow over green, creating the chequered pattern. The stitch count for this row is 50.
This is an excellent point to stop and inspect the fabric before moving on. The color relationship should now begin producing the small checked blocks visible in the finished bandana. If the colors appear to be continuing in straight vertical sections instead of forming the intended check, this is the row whose instruction deserves another careful reading.
Because two strands of Diablo are being worked together with one strand of Friends Cotton 8/4, keeping the yarn strands from separating can also make the fabric easier to read. The goal is not to change the yarn arrangement, but simply to maintain the same three-strand combination consistently.
Continuing the triangle: Rows 7โ10 and beyond
For Rows 7โ10, skip the first stitch and work alternately green over green and yellow over yellow.
The pattern then says to continue in this manner, changing the colors every 5 rows until 1 stitch remains. Fasten off.
This final instruction is what turns the broad starting edge into the pointed triangular shape. Rather than adding separate triangular pieces, the bandana narrows row by row as the first stitch is skipped.
A useful mental checkpoint is the progression itself: start with 55 stitches, decrease by one stitch each row through the repeated first-stitch skip, and continue the color changes every 5 rows until the final single stitch remains. The exact row-by-row color placement should follow the supplied pattern rather than being improvised.
Reading the finished shape
The finished body is intentionally simple in construction, but the combination of the triangular decrease and checked colors gives it a strong visual identity. The photos in the source show how the pointed section falls toward the back and how the two tie strings extend from the starting-edge side.
At this stage, resist the temptation to add a separate border or extra shaping. The original pattern has a dedicated waved edging instruction, and that edging is crocheted directly onto the completed bandana.
Adding the waved edging
The waved edging is worked with yellow. Place the right side of the work facing you and join the yarn in the side of Row 1.
Work 1 sc, then repeat (3 dc in one row, 2 sc) along the side until you reach the tip at the final row. Continue along the other side. Finish with one sc in the first row, on the opposite side from where you started.
This edging is one of the details that changes the character of the finished piece. The combination of 3 dc in one row followed by 2 sc creates the repeated wave along the diagonal edges.
When working around the point, pay attention to the instruction to continue along the other side after reaching the tip. The edging is intended to travel around the two sloping sides rather than being treated as two disconnected borders.
The yellow edging also connects visually with the yellow portions of the checked fabric, so maintaining the specified yellow yarn combination keeps the original design relationship intact.
Tie strings: the final construction stage
The tie strings are also worked with yellow. Begin with Ch 80, then continue along the wrong side of the bandana and work 1 sc in each stitch along the opposite side of Row 1. Chain 80 again, then turn.
The next step is to work 1 hdc in each stitch. The source gives the total as 80+55+80 = 215. Fasten off and weave in ends.
This section is an especially useful place to keep the original numbers visible. The two 80-chain sections and the 55-stitch bandana edge are not interchangeable values. Together they produce the stated 215 total in the final hdc pass.
Once the final yarn end has been woven in, the construction of the Bonnie Bandana is complete.
Stitch-count checkpoints
For a project with repeated decreases, a small checklist can prevent most avoidable mistakes. The original pattern provides these important checkpoints:
- Starting chain: Ch 55 plus 1 turning chain (55).
- Row 1: 5 sc yellow and 5 sc green alternately until the end.
- Rows 2โ5: stitch counts 54, 53, 52, 51.
- Row 6: stitch count 50.
- Rows 7โ10: continue the specified alternating color placement.
- Continue changing colors every 5 rows until 1 stitch remains.
- Tie-string section: 80 + 55 + 80 = 215.
These checkpoints are not extra pattern modifications. They are simply a convenient way to keep the original instructions organized while working.
Colorwork tips for a cleaner checkered effect
The checked appearance depends on keeping the yellow and green combinations consistent. Yellow is Friends Cotton 8/4 Lemon Curd (22) with two strands of Diablo Primrose (51). Green is Friends Cotton 8/4 Olive (109) with two strands of Diablo Olive (20).
Because the Diablo is used from both ends of the same skein, it helps to identify both working ends before starting. The goal is to avoid accidentally pulling a strand from a different color combination. This is especially useful when both color groups are sitting close together during the repeated five-row changes.
The mohair-containing Diablo also contributes to the soft, fluffy appearance visible in the close-up source photograph. Avoid treating that visual softness as a reason to alter the stitch structure. The stitch instructions remain exactly as written.
Beginner-friendly ways to stay on track
Although the source describes the project as intended for intermediate crocheters, the construction can be easier to understand when broken into checkpoints. First establish the 55-stitch starting chain. Then focus only on the current row and its decrease. Next, check the color relationship. Finally, move to the next row.
Do not try to memorize the entire pattern while crocheting. The most important repeated instruction is the first-stitch skip, because that is what creates the one-stitch-per-row decrease.
Another useful habit is to inspect the fabric whenever a five-row color sequence is completed. The pattern specifically changes colors every 5 rows, so those points provide natural visual checkpoints without introducing any new measurements or stitch instructions.
Troubleshooting common pattern-reading issues
If the triangle is not getting narrower, check the beginning of the row. The pattern specifically says to skip the first stitch when starting each row.
If the checked pattern looks wrong, revisit the color instruction around Row 6. That is the point where the color relationship changes to create the chequered pattern.
If the stitch count is drifting, compare your work with the original decrease sequence. Rows 2โ5 should correspond to 54, 53, 52, and 51, followed by 50 stitches in Row 6.
If the final tie section does not seem to match the stated total, review the sequence rather than changing the numbers: Ch 80, work 1 sc in each stitch along the opposite side of Row 1, Ch 80, turn, then work 1 hdc in each stitch for the stated 80+55+80 = 215.
If the edging looks uneven, check that you are following the stated repeat of 3 dc in one row and 2 sc along the side. The waved appearance comes from that specific combination.
Finishing and presentation
After fastening off, weave in the ends as instructed. Take a moment to inspect the edge and the triangular point before wearing the bandana. The source photographs show the finished accessory worn over the back of the head, with the pointed section extending down behind the hair and the yellow ties hanging below.
The finished width is 34 cm / 13.4 inches, and the project is listed as one size. These measurements belong to the original pattern and should be used as the reference when evaluating your completed piece.
The close-up view is particularly helpful for appreciating how the yellow and green blocks meet and how the fluffy Diablo fibers soften the surface. The larger finished photographs also show why the project is intended for colder-season wear rather than as a very lightweight traditional bandana.
Quick reference
Materials:
- 1 skein Friends Cotton 8/4, Lemon Curd (22)
- 1 skein Friends Cotton 8/4, Olive (109)
- 1 skein Diablo, Primrose (51)
- 1 skein Diablo, Olive (20)
- Crochet hook 5.5 mm
Yarn:
- Friends Cotton 8/4: 100% cotton; 50 g (1.75 oz) = 160 m (174 yds)
- Diablo: 40% acrylic, 30% mohair, 30% polyamide; 25 g (0.8 oz) = 225 m (246 yds)
Gauge: 10 x 10 cm (4โ x 4โ) = 16 sl st x 17 rows.
Size: One size.
Measurement: Width 34 cm / 13.4 inches.
Color combinations:
- Yellow: 1 strand Friends Cotton 8/4 Lemon Curd (22) + 2 strands Diablo Primrose (51).
- Green: 1 strand Friends Cotton 8/4 Olive (109) + 2 strands Diablo Olive (20).
Construction:
- Bandana body worked in one piece.
- Waved edging crocheted directly onto the bandana.
- Tie strings crocheted directly onto the bandana.
Why this project is worth making
The Bonnie Bandana is a good example of how a straightforward triangular construction can become visually distinctive through color planning and texture. The body is built with a controlled decrease, while the checked arrangement gives the fabric a graphic pattern. The waved edging adds movement around the sides, and the long yellow tie strings complete the wearable shape.
The project also offers several useful crochet practice points without requiring multiple sewn-together components. You work with a starting chain, single crochet, double crochet, half double crochet, slip-stitch terminology, color changes, repeated decreases, and direct finishing work. At the same time, the source pattern remains compact enough that the construction can be followed as a focused project.
The most important lesson is consistency. Keep the three-strand yarn arrangement intact, follow the color combinations exactly, skip the first stitch at each row as instructed, respect the listed stitch counts, and preserve the five-row color-change rhythm. Once the triangular body reaches its final single stitch, the remaining work becomes the decorative edging and tie section.
Final checklist
Before considering the project finished, confirm that the body began with Ch 55 plus 1 turning chain (55), that Row 1 used alternating groups of 5 sc yellow and 5 sc green, and that Rows 2โ5 followed the listed counts of 54, 53, 52, and 51. Check that Row 6 reached 50 stitches and used the color relationship specified for the chequered pattern.
Next, confirm that the color changes continue every 5 rows until 1 stitch remains. After fastening off the body, verify that the yellow waved edging follows the 1 sc and repeated (3 dc in one row, 2 sc) construction along both sides and around the tip.
Finally, check the yellow tie section: Ch 80, 1 sc in each stitch along the opposite side of Row 1, Ch 80, turn, then 1 hdc in each stitch for the stated 215 total. Fasten off and weave in ends.
The result is a soft, checked, cold-season crochet bandana with a distinctive pointed silhouette and decorative edge. Following the original numbers and sequence carefully will preserve the proportions and construction shown in the supplied photographs.
Pattern reference: Bonnie – Bandana, No. 1059-231-7799, designed by Laura Hjertefryd / Laura Takahashi Christiansen for Hobbii Design. ๎filecite๎turn0file0๎