‘Wrapped up’ crochet balaclava hood: free crochet pattern

‘Wrapped up’ is a simple crochet balaclava hood style accessory. It’s worked from back to front and joined with a cross-over under the chin. Simple edging is added to give it a minimalistic look whilst keeping your head and ears cozily covered.

Keep reading for the free pattern or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF version of the pattern from Etsy , love crafts or Ravelry.

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Pattern Notes

General Notes

• Please read through the pattern and all associated notes before starting your project
• This pattern uses standard US crochet terminology (UK equivalents are given in brackets in the abbreviations list where applicable)
• Numbers at the end of a row indicate the number of stitches in that row and are only given at the start of a section or where there is a change
• Turning chains do not count as stitches
• Unless otherwise indicated, stitches should be worked in consecutive stitches
• The first stitch of each row should be worked into the top of the last stitch from the previous row, unless otherwise indicated
• Instructions written between [square brackets] should be worked the specific number of times instructed

Construction

• The balaclava hood is worked from back to front in rows
• The shaping around the front is added and joined at the end

Skills Used

• Knowledge of basic crochet stitches, techniques and terminology is assumed
• Working into both sides of a starting chain (tips on working into chain stitches here)
• Simple increases and decreases
• Extended single crochet – see special stitches
• Crab stitch / reverse single crochet for the edging – see special stitches
• After the main written pattern, you will find some picture guidance to help show you how the project takes shape

Materials

Crochet Hook

5mm crochet hook, or size needed to obtain gauge

I used a Clover Amour Crochet Hook for this project – one of my favourites – learn more about different crochet hooks here.

Yarn

You will need approximately 285m/315yds of worsted or aran weight yarn that matches gauge. 

The item pictured used approximately 140g of Stylecraft special aran with wool in shade Royal (5524), 80% acrylic, 20% wool. 400g ball = 816m / 892 yds

Yarn Substitution Options

A similar aran or worsted weight yarn will achieve a similar result. Different fibres and yarns will produce a different finished result.

You may find this post useful when choosing yarn.

Other Materials & Notions

Yarn needle, scissors and a tape measure

Two stitch markers (optional)

Measurements & Finished Size

The finished hood is intended for adult use. 

Approximate finished measurements for the balaclava hood are as follows:

• 40cm/16in in length from crown to base 
• 23cm/9in deep from the back of the head to the face opening
• The circumference of the section around the neck is 58cm/22.5inches

Size Adjustments

Below is some general guidance on how you might adjust the size should you wish to modify the pattern:

• To change the length of the hood, change the number of stitches in the staring chain and alter subsequent stitch counts either side of the increase section and on the face shaping accordingly.
• To change the depth of the hood change the number of rows worked after the last increase row and before the face shaping starts.
• To change the fit under the chin / around the neck you can change the overlap on the face shaping, always ensuring the hood is a comfortable fit and not tight around the neck.

Gauge

13 sts and 12 rows in 10cm of extended single crochet using a 5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge.

Variation in your gauge will lead to variations in the finished size of your project. 

Learn how to make and measure a gauge swatch here

Stitches & Abbreviations: US terms 

(UK Equivalent in Brackets)

• ch = chain
• esc = extended single crochet
• rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• sc = single crochet (UK double crochet)
• sk = skip (UK miss)
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• WS = wrong side
• yo = yarn over

Special Stitches 

Extended Single Crochet (esc)

Insert hook, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through one loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through two loops to complete the stitch.

You can find a full tutorial for the extended single crochet here.

Crab stitch / Reverse single crochet

The Crab stitch is used for the edging of the balaclava hood. It is achieved by working a single crochet the opposite direction that you would normally work one, hence its other name; reverse single crochet.

There are many tutorials for this online if you’re not familiar with it. Although I do not have a specific tutorial for crab stitch, I do have one for the knurl stitch, which starts with crab stitch in the front loop so you may find that useful.

Additional tips for working this pattern

I wanted to share a few optional tips / tricks I have used when working the sample you see pictured. These are optional but you may find them helpful:

Working around the starting chain

The pattern starts with a chain. In the first row you will work into both sides of that chain to create a very narrow kind of u shape. When crocheting up the first side of the chain, work into the back bumps. When working down the opposite side, crochet into the two unworked loops. 

This blog post looks at the anatomy of a crochet chain and shows the different ways to work into it, so you may find that helpful if it’s something that you find challenging.

Invisible increases

When making the increases in the first part of the pattern, I used the ‘invisible increase’ method. The pattern uses increases which require two esc worked in one stitch. To make this less obvious, I worked the first esc in the back loop and the second through both loops. 

This techniques helps reduce any holes that a typical increase may make. Note that when working into the starting chain, I used a traditional increase method and worked into the back bump / two loops as described above.

Use of stitch markers

The first part of the pattern works increases around one end of the chain. The number of stitches up to and after the increase section remains static at 30 stitches. 

You may wish to place a stitch marker in the 30th stitch from the start and 30th stitch from the end of each row, moving them up row by row until the end of the increase section. This way you won’t have to count on every increase row (though I always advise checking your stitch count!).

For a small fee, you can purchase an ad-free PDF version of this pattern on Ravelry, love crafts or Etsy.

Note that the PDF version of the pattern contains more step by step photos than I have included here and is optimised for easy printing.

The ‘wrapped up’ balaclava hood crochet pattern

Main hood body

Ch33

Row 1 (RS): 1esc in second ch from hook and next 29 ch, 3esc in next ch, 1esc in last ch. moving to work around the opposite side of the chain, work 3esc in the back of next ch (second ch from end), 1esc in the back of each ch to end, turn. 67 sts

Row 2: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 3: Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in next 30 sts, 2esc in each of next 3 sts, 1esc in next st, 2esc in each of next 3 sts, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 73 sts

Row 4: Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in next 30 sts, [1esc in next st, 2esc in next st] three times, 1esc in next st, [2esc in next st, 1esc in next st] three times, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 79 sts

Row 5: Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in next 30 sts, [2esc in next st, 1esc in each of next 2 sts] three times, 1esc in next st, [1esc in each of next 2 sts, 2esc in next st] three times, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 85 sts

Row 6: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 7: Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in next 30 sts, [1esc in each of next 3 sts, 2esc in next st] three times, 1esc in next st, [2esc in next st, 1esc in each of next 3 sts] three times, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 91 sts

Row 8: Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in next 30 sts, [2esc in next st, 1esc in each of next 4 sts] three times, 1esc in next st, [1esc in each of next 4 sts, 2esc in next st] three times, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 97 sts

Row 9: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 10: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Row 11: Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in next 30 sts, [1esc in each of next 5 sts, 2esc in next st] three times, 1esc in next st, [2esc in next st, 1esc in each of next 5 sts] three times, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 103 sts

Row 12: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Rows 13 – 28: As Row 12.

Do not fasten off

Face shaping – First side

Continuing from last row of main hood body

Row 1 (RS): Ch1, starting in first st, 1esc in the next 18 sts, turn. 18 sts

Row 2: Ch1, sk first st, 1esc in next st and each st to end, turn. 17 sts

Row 3: Ch1, 1esc in each st to one from the end, turn. 16 sts

Rows 4-5: Rep Rows 2-3. 14 sts

Row 6: Ch1, sk first st, 1esc in next st and each st to end, turn. 13 sts

Row 7: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Rows 8-13:  Rep Rows 6-7. 10 sts

Row 14: As Row 6. 9 sts

Fasten off

Note that the step by step images are of a left handed version of the hood, so if you’re right handed, the shaping flaps will be a mirror image. and the overlap (over the page) will slant the opposite way.

Face shaping – Second side

With RS facing, count 18 stitches up from the base of the opposite side of the hood and join your yarn in the 18th stitch.

Row 1 (RS): Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn. 18 sts

Row 2: Ch1, 1esc in each st to one from the end, turn. 17 sts

Row 3: Ch1, sk first st, 1esc in next st and each st to end, turn.16 sts

Rows 4-5: Rep Rows 2-3. 14 sts

Row 6: Ch1, 1esc in each st to one from the end, turn. 13 sts

Row 7: Ch1, 1esc in each st to end, turn

Rows 8-13:  Rep Rows 6-7. 10 sts

Row 14: As Row 6. 9 sts

Fasten off

Edging

With RS facing, attach yarn to top of the last row end of the first side of face shaping. If your tension is fairly relaxed, you may wish to go down a hook side for the edging.

Row 1 (RS): Work a row of sc around the face of the hood; crochet evenly into the row ends** of the first side of the face shaping, 1sc into each stitch on the last row of the main hood body and into the top row ends of the second side of face shaping. 

Do not turn at the end of the row

** I worked a total of 21 stitches along each set of row ends which worked out at 3 stitches for each 2 row ends.

Row 2: Ch1, work the crab stitch (see special stitches) into each sc around the front opening of the balaclava hood.

Fasten off leaving a long tail (around 40cm) to sew together the front face shaping 

Joining

• With RS facing you, fold the two sides of the face shaping so that they overlap, with the first side face shaping on top.
• The fold should leave about a 10cm gap between either side of the front sides of the hood when laid flat.

• At this stage you may want to use locking stitch markers to tack the flaps in place so you can try on your hood and check you are happy with the fit.
• Once you have the face shaping flaps suitably alined, sew the last row of the first side of face shaping to the front of the hood on the RS (from top down). 
• Continue sewing along the bottom row ends where the two flaps overlap and sew the last row of the second face shaping side to the inside of the hood, on the WS – See left and right handed sewing guide illustrating this below.

Fasten off and weave in any remaining ends to finish your balaclava hood.

You can see below what the profile of your finished wrapped up crochet balaclava hood will look like from either side.

How to share your finished makes

I hope you enjoyed this pattern. I always love seeing your finished makes, so if you’re up for sharing and learning more about dora does, below is how you can do so:

• On Instagram, you can use the hashtag #DoraDoes to share your finished projects or just tag me @doraexplored
• If you have the bug for creating garments, why not join my dedicated facebook group “My Crochet Wardrobe” and share them there?
• Sign up to the WiP Tip for weekly crochet chat, offers and exclusives straight to your inbox – click here to sign up
• Find more free patterns here

Happy Hooking 

Dx

Below you can see that I paired the wrapped up hood with the one step at a time wrap for extra cosiness, and, in all honesty, because the coat I am wearing was entirely inadequate for the temperatures!

Dora Does Limited, Registered in England, Company Number 13992263. Copyright 2022.  This pattern is for personal use only and may not be shared or reproduced without written consent.