Crochet Leopard Print Twist Ear Warmer

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Hi everyone! Thanks for checking out the free crochet pattern for the Leopard Print Earwarmer. Scroll down for the free pattern and design notes! 

This is the last winter pattern I’m sharing before Spring officially starts! Joann Fabrics had a really great sale on LBY Basic Stitch Anti-Pilling Yarn a few weeks ago, and I picked a few up with this leopard print project in mind.

I couldn’t decide which colors I wanted to use, and I figured you can’t go wrong with neutrals – so I grabbed a skein of Black, White, and Silver Heather. I LOVE leopard print because you could do any color combination and it would probably look great! I’m going to make myself a Lisa Frank inspired leopard print ear warmer for next winter with RAINBOW colors… so excited!

After working with this yarn for the first time, I can say I LOVE Basic Stitch. It’s really smooth and easy to work with, and the idea of a no-pill yarn is just lovely. It’s a no-brainer for garments like sweaters, cardigans, etc., but a lot of my handmade hats and scarves get pills too! I haven’t tried this myself yet, but Lion Brand’s website even says that if a pill forms, you just have to throw the finished project in the washing machine and the pills will come right off!

Anyway, this pattern is an extra thick ear warmer that I think would work for early spring, late fall, and ALL winter long! Since it’s worked in the round and then sewn together in the center, there’s an extra layer of crochet fabric to help keep your hears warm.

Materials Needed:

• Size US H – 5.0mm crochet hook (I use these from Amazon – they’re amazing!)
• 3 skeins of Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch in 3 colors of your choosing! (I used Black, White, and Silver Heather)
• Scissors
• Tapestry Needle

Gauge & Measurements:

• 4″ x 4″: 16 sts x 11 rows in sc
• Finished size before sewing ends together: 21″
• Finished circumference after sewing ends together: 19″
• Ear warmer height: 5″

This ear warmer fits a 21-23″ head. If you need to make the circumference smaller, do not do a full repeat of the chart (below) during the last section of the pattern. Crochet until the flat ear warmer measures the length you need it to be, even if it means not completing a full chart repeat. For example, if you need it to fit a 15″ head, crochet until you reach 13-14″ in length and then sew the ends together.

Similarly, if you need to make the ear warmer height smaller, then measure from below the ear to above the ear and make adjustments accordingly. If you would like the height to be 2″, then your initial chain should be 4″ long. This ear warmer is worked in the round as a tube and then the ends are sewn together at the end, so an initial chain of 4″ is actually only 2″ when laid flat. You may only be able to do one and a half chart repeats stitch wise, but the end result will be roughly the same.

Abbreviations (US):

• ch = chain
• sc = single crochet
• slst = slip stitch
• st(s) = stitch(es)

Stitches Used:

• Single Crochet (if you don’t know how, check out my tutorial here!)
• Slip stitch

Note: In this pattern, single crochet in the top loop only.

Pattern:

In the written instructions below, color 1 is white, color 2 is black, and color 3 is gray.

Follow chart below:

Ch 40.

Slst into 1st ch to join. Place stitch marker. (40 sts)

Round 1: Ch 1. Sc to last st of round. Slst into ch 1 from beginning of round. Note: do not sc in st that the ch 1 at the beginning of the round came out of.

Round 2: Ch 1. Then, following row 1 of the chart, 10 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 1 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 3: Ch 1. Then, following row 2 of the chart, 1 sc in color 2; 3 sc in color 1; sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 5 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 2 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 4: Ch 1. Then, following row 3 of the chart, 3 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 4 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 3 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 5: Ch 1. Then, following row 4 of the chart, 6 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 2; 4 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2. Repeat chart row 4 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 6: Ch 1. Then, following row 5 of the chart, 1 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 7 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 5 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 7: Ch 1. Then, following row 6 of the chart, 2 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 6 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 8: Ch 1. Then, following row 7 of the chart, 1 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1; 4 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 7 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 9: Ch 1. Then, following row 8 of the chart, 1 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 3 sc in color 3; 2 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 3; 2 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 8 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 10: Ch 1. Then, following row 9 of the chart, 1 sc in color 1; 3 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 3 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 2; 3 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 9 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 11: Ch 1. Then, following row 10 of the chart, 1 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 7 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 10 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 12: Ch 1. Then, following row 11 of the chart, 5 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 3 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 11 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 13: Ch 1. Then, following row 12 of the chart, 5 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 3; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1; 1 sc in color 2; 2 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 12 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 14: Ch 1. Then, following row 13 of the chart, 2 sc in color 1; 2 sc in color 2; 1 sc in color 1; 3 sc in color 3; 5 sc in color 1. Repeat chart row 13 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Round 15: Ch 1. Then, following row 14 of the chart, sc 1 in color 1; sc 1 in color 2; sc 1 in color 1; sc 1 in color 2; sc 2 in color 1; sc 2 in color 3; sc 1 in color 2; sc 4 in color 1. Repeat chart row 14 two more times. Slst into ch 1 from the beginning of the round.

Repeat rounds 2-15 three more times or until your ear warmer is desired length. Tie off yarn leaving a long tail.

Finishing

To finish the ear warmer and make the twist, fold the ear warmer in half so the first and last rounds meet. The wrong side should be facing out.

Fold the ends together as follows:

Then, using your tapestry needle, sew the edges together:

I went back over a second time for reassurance:

Your edges are now sewn together! Flip the wrong side back in, and your ear warmer will have a nice twist in the center:

AND you’re done! Enjoy your new ear warmer! 🙂

I can’t wait to see all the color combination possibilities! If you make a leopard print twist ear warmer, tag me on social media (@sarahfaithcrafts) and use #lptwistearwarmer.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Happy Making! <3