Hi again everyone! I’m Chenoa, one of the members of The Hook Nook Dream Team. I am so happy to be back on THN Life to gush about THN products and share with you a simple but elegant crochet pattern, the Cynoglossum Earwarmer.
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As a member of the Dream Team, I was able to get some THN products to try out and play with. The moment I met THN Yummy yarn, I was in love. The soft and squishy feel of the yarn is unmatched, and the colors are superb. However, what I love most was not obvious until I began working with the yarn - it’s tendency to be both light and super warm! So often, warm yarns can feel heavy or unbreathable. Not this yarn. THN Yummy yarn is warm and insulating, but breathable and light. You can find your The Hook Nook Yummy Yarn in the shop right HERE!
Playing around with THN Yummy yarn, I started trying out some new-to-me stitches. One I fell in love with is the Alpine Stitch. This stitch has beautiful definition regardless of the color of yarn you choose, which is great if you gravitate towards darker yarns. Even better, it creates a dense fabric because you’re working some stitches into stitches a few rows below, which takes the cozy factor to the next level. Read on below to learn how to crochet the Alpine Stitch, and for the Cynoglossum Earwarmer pattern!
***Note: Grab all of the materials for this project in THNLife Shop! Click here.
Alpine Stitch
The Alpine stitch is worked over sets of 4 rows and any odd number of stitches (5 or more). Here are the abbreviations and required skills for this stitch:
Chain (ch)
Single crochet (sc)
Double crochet (dc)
Special front post double crochet (sfpdc) - see directions below
Yarn over (yo)
Stitch(es) (st/sts)
Right side (RS)
Wrong side (WS)
To sfpdc, follow the directions below:
*Note: The sfpdc is similar to a normal fpdc (front post double crochet), which is just a double crochet anchored at a different point in your work than usual. The key difference is where you insert your hook.
To start, you will yo as if you were to work a normal dc (2 loops on your hook)
Then, instead of inserting your hook into the next st, you will insert your hook from front to back behind the dc st 2 rows below the st you are working. Pull up a loop of yarn around that stitch’s post (you will now have 3 loops on your hook).
Yo and draw through 2 of the 3 loops on your hook.
Yo and draw through the remaining 2 loops on your hook.
Let’s get started! We will need to work a few setup steps before we can dive into the Alpine Stitch...
Setup step 1: ch an odd number of sts
Setup step 2: ch 1 to turn (does not count as a st), and sc across your row. Your st count should always match the number of sts you chained in step 1.
Setup step 3: ch 3 to turn (counts as your first dc st), and dc across the rest of your row.
Now, we can start working in Alpine Stitch.
Row 1 (WS): ch 1 to turn (does not count as a st), and sc across your row.
Row 2 (RS): ch 3 to turn (counts as your first dc), *sfpdc, dc*. Repeat part within * * to end of row.
You can use the picture here to help you visualize where to work the first set of sfpdc. One of these sfpdc is marked in red for you.
Row 3: ch 1 to turn, sc across row.
Row 4: ch 3 to turn (counts as your first dc), dc, *sfpdc, dc*. Repeat part within * * until 1 st remains, dc.
You can use the picture here to help visualize where to work the second set of sfpdc. A previous row's sfpdc is marked in red for you, and the dc next to it is marked in pink. You’ll be working a sfpdc around the regular dc below, and you’ll work a regular dc above a previous sfpdc.
Repeat rows 1-4 until your piece is as long as you desire.
As you work the Alpine Stitch, you will start to see it’s beautiful texture. The first thing that came to mind when I began working this stitch was what a lovely earwarmer it would make - lightweight and breathable, yet warm with THN Yummy yarn! You can make the Cynoglossum Earwarmer while practicing the Alpine Stitch by following the directions below.
For this pattern, you will need:
100 yards of The Hook Nook “Yummy” yarn, or other bulky yarn
6.5 mm crochet hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)
Sewing needle or ends weaver (for finishing)
Gauge: 14 sts x 12 rows = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm)
*Note: your st gauge is much more important for this pattern than your row gauge. If your st gauge is correct, you can proceed whether or not your row gauge is correct.
Cynoglossum Earwarmer Pattern
Ch 13 sts.
Setup row 1: ch 1 to turn. Sc across row. You should have 13 sts.
Setup row 2: turn and ch 3 (counts as your first st), then dc across row.
Rows 3-6: begin working in alpine st (described above)
Continue working in alpine st until your piece measures about 20” (50 cm) from the foundation chain.
Note: It’s OK if you don’t end on a perfect pattern repeat, since this will be the back of your headband.
Cut yarn and fasten off, leaving about 18” (45 cm) of yarn for seaming.
Using your ends weaver or sewing needle, whip stitch your final row to your beginning row. If you want your headband to taper, you can scrunch these sts together by pulling very tight as you seam. Tie off, sew in ends.
The Alpine Stitch would also be amazing for blankets, bags, and even garments! It’s tighter weave will keep you warm and form a beautifully textured piece. I would love if you can share pictures of your earwarmers and tag them with #CynoglossumEarwarmer on Instagram or Facebook. Feel free to check out my website for more of my work, and you can find my patterns on my Ravelry page. A fully-formatted PDF of this pattern will be available for purchase soon.
Happy crafting, and stay warm!
