::DIY Wired Crochet Bun Maker::
(c) 2021, Kristen Stein Designs. All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce, sell, or republish this pattern, in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of the artist. If you make items from this pattern to sell, please reference the pattern with my name & website.
Share pictures of your finished project on Instagram and tag me @kristensteindesigns. I’ll add it to my customer Spotlight.
Other patterns available free, or for purchase,
can be found on Ravelry & Amazon.
Two Designs included in this free tutorial:: Below you’ll find instructions to make two different wired bun maker designs. Design #1 creates a double-thickness band with a wire ring embedded inside. Design #2 creates a single-thickness band with the wire ring crocheted to the outer edge. I find myself wearing Design #2 more often. But, try both patterns and see what works best for your hair length & texture.
Lightweight & comfortable. Perfect project for leftover yarn.
The foam one on top is too small for my hair and doesn't hold up with continued wear. These crocheted ones with embedded wire, hold up well and are super-soft in the hair. The longer and wider the band, the larger and fuller the bun. (I'm wearing the black one in the photos.)
The pattern in Design #1below is for the green one using double crochet stitches.
But any stitch will work. The second one pictured above was made
with the Tunisian crochet “knit” stitch. The dark brown one was
made with a chunky weight wool yarn.
(It was done with Design #2 - single thickness and the wire was crocheted around the outside edge.)
::DESCRIPTION::
Easy wired-crocheted bun maker. Ditch the bobby pins and the uncomfortable plastic or foam bun makers. These diy crochet bun makers are so comfortable that you almost forget you are wearing them. This project is a great way to use up scrap yarn and remnants, too!
I’m wearing the larger, black one in the photos. The wider and longer you crochet the band, the bigger the bun. Wrap it loosely for a large, soft, wispy bun. Or, wrap the hair more tightly around a narrower band for a sleek, tighter bun.
If you've never worn this type of bun maker, you simply pull your hair through the center hole on the area of the head where you'd like the bun to lay. Clamp down the hair using the embedded wire and flatten out the hair within the center hole. Pull the band out to the end of your strands and start winding the hair around the band as you move back toward the roots. When you return to the area where you'd like the bun to lay, fold the wired ends of the band around the wrapped section to create your rounded bun. Adjust the fit as needed to create your desired shape. You can then gently, spread out the hair to cover the tucked edges of the band, or leave the band showing for a little accent color at the base of your bun. You can gently loosen the bun for a messy bun look, or wind the bun tighter for a sleek smoother-looking bun. The choice is up to you. So, comfortable and no bobby pins needed. Truly effortless styling.
The tutorial for Design #1 includes instructions for the medium-sized green one.
Easy to modify for larger bands.
::MATERIALS NEEDED:: same materials are needed for Design #1 and Design #2
Supplies:: Yarn, crochet hook and about 30”(75cm) of 1/8” (3mm) flat bendable crafting wire, 2 stitch markers (or 2 strips of contrasting yarn to mark stitches), duct tape (used to wrap the wire ends).
(Note: I used the same flat wire that I used to create the bendable nose wires in my face masks. You can find it in the jewelry/ crafting supplies at your local craft store. Over time, the wire will eventually break due to continued wear and tear from the twisting, but it is easy to weave through a new wire when needed.)
Any yarn width will work. I recommend Size 2-4 (Fingering, DK, Light Worsted,) These light to medium weight yarns create a nice lightweight band.
For the green band pictured in the pattern below, I used about 20g (100-150 yds) of 2-ply wool #3 weight with a 4.5mm hook.
If you want to use chunky or bulky weight yarn, use Design #2 described below. You’ll make a single-thickness band and then crochet the wire along the outer edge of the band, rather than embed the wire ring inside. This is how I made the dark brown one in the pictures and the one in the picture below. Simply use single-crochet stitches to crochet the wire around the outer edge.
On this one I used #4 yarn & made the
band single thickness. I then crocheted the wire around the edge.
Design #2 - Single thickness with bulky wool, 5.5mm hook.
Wire is crocheted with single crochet around outer edge,
rather than embedded within the band.
You can use any crochet stitch you’d like. Double crochet stitches are used in the bun maker pictured in the pattern below. But you can play around with a variety of stitches.
Gauge and yarn width doesn’t matter. Just create the bands according to your desired length and width. If you have long hair, I’d recommend making them longer to accommodate the hair and have enough wire to fully wrap around the bun to secure it place.
::INSTRUCTIONS for Design #1 (with wire ring embedded between two layers::
Choose this design for light to medium-weight yarn (Size 2-4). The wire ring is embedded inside and can be removed easily when the wire breaks for over use and continued wear & tear. But, you may have to reshape this design more frequently than design #2 described below.)
Finished item: The completed bun maker for this pattern will be about 14”x2” with a 5” center hole for gathering the hair. It was crocheted with #3 weight yarn and 4.5mm hook.
You can play around with length and width according to your hair length.
End of Row 1.
Design #1 Row 1: Create a foundation chain that is about 15" long; dc in 4th chain from hook and in each chain thereafter until you reach the end of the row. Turn.
Design #1 Row 2: ch3 (acts as 1st dc); dc in each dc stitch thereafter until you reach the end of the row. Remember to dc in the top of the turning chain as well. Turn.
Design #1 Rows 3-4: Repeat Row 2 until the band measures about 2" in width, or to your desired width. (Remember that we will be folding the band in half.)
End of Row 4
We will now begin making the center opening. Start by placing the two stitch markers 5" from both ends of the band. You should then have about 5" between the stitches markers. We will create an opening along the band by skipping over these center stitches in Row 5.
Design #1 Row 5: ch3 (acts as 1st dc); dc in each dc stitch thereafter to first stitch marker. Now count the number of stitches between the two stitch markers and chain stitch the same number of stitches that must be skipped over to create the cente ropening; skip the stitches in between the stitch markers; dc in the stitch holding the 2nd stitch marker; dc in every dc thereafter until you reach the end of the row. Turn.
You should how have an opening in the center of your band.
Design #1 Row 6: ch3 (acts as 1st dc); dc in each dc stitch thereafter until you reach the center chain space; dc in each chain stitch in center; dc in each remaining dc stitch until you reach the end of the row. Turn.
Design #1 Rows 7-9: Repeat Row 2 until your band measures a little over 4" in total width, or to your desired width. (Keep in mind that this band will be folded in half.)
How it looks at the end of Row 9.
We will now seam the edges while also leaving another 5" open in the center.
Creating the opening on top to match the opening on the bottom.
With right-sides together, fold the band lengthwise so that the 5" opening is on the bottom edge of the band. Place your stitch markers through the equivalent stitches along the top edge to create another opening that matches the 5" opening on the bottom.
Seaming the edge: Start on the bottom corner of the short edge, use a slip stitch to seam the front and back edges together until you get to the first stitch marker. Slip stitch across only one edge of the band in between the stitch marker so that you maintain an opening there. Do not seam shut the band between the two stitch markers. Just advance with slip stitches along one edge until you reach the next stitch marker. Continue to seam the band closed using slip stitch seam from the 2nd stitch marker to the end of the shorter edge of the band. The only area that shouldn't be seamed is the 5" opening in the center of the band.
How the band looks after seaming.
Now turn the band right side out.
Turn right side out.
Cut about 29"-30" of wire. Turn the edges of the wire onto itself and pinch with scissors or pliers to prevent a sharp edge. Bend and twist the ends in equal and opposite "C" shapes to intertwine the wire ends. Pinch again with pliers or the scissors to flatten and smooth the wires. Then wrap with duct tape to further protect the wire ends and help prevent them from poking through your crocheted band.
Intertwined flat wire ring to fit inside the band.
Duct taped at the end to protect the wire ends.
Place the flat wire ring inside the crocheted band.
Place the wire ring inside the crocheted band. We will now use slip stitches around the center ring to seam the band closed in the center and fully embed the wire ring.
The completed wired, crochet bun maker.
Congratulations!! Your wired, crochet bun maker is complete. It should measure about 13" to 14" inches in length and about 2" wide on the edges. You can experiment with different lengths and widths to find the size that works best with your hair length and texture.
With continued use, the wire inside will likely bend to the point of breaking. But, with the double-crochet stitches, you have an easy opening to remove the broken wire and pass through a new wire if need be.
::INSTRUCTIONS for Design #2 (with wire ring crocheted to the outer edge::
Choose this design when using bulky or chunky yarn. Works well with Size 3 or 4 yarn as well, but you may need to wrap the wire with yarn before crocheting it around the outer edge. This design creates a stronger band with the wire around the entire outer edge. But, because the wire is crocheted to the edge, it will be harder to remove the wire when it eventually breaks from continued use. But, this design provides a nice strong band. So, you can definitely try it at see what you think. It’s my preferred style.
(Designer Note: if using thick yarn, I recommend single crochet stitches rather than double crochet stitches)
For the green & white band featured, I used about 25g / 90m of yarn and a 4.5mm hook. (I used more yarn than needed because I wrapped the wire ring before crocheting it to the band.
Design #2 Row 1: Create a foundation chain that is about 15" long; dc in 4th chain from hook and in each chain thereafter until you reach the end of the row. Turn.
Design #2 Row 2: ch3 (acts as 1st dc); dc in each dc stitch thereafter until you reach the end of the row. Remember to dc in the top of the turning chain as well. Turn.
We will now begin making the center opening. Start by placing the two stitch markers 5" from both ends of the band. You should then have about 5" between the stitches markers. We will create an opening along the band by skipping over these center stitches in Row 5.
Design #2 Row 3: ch3 (acts as 1st dc); dc in each dc stitch thereafter to first stitch marker. Now count the number of stitches between the two stitch markers and chain stitch the same number of stitches that must be skipped over to create the cente ropening; skip the stitches in between the stitch markers; dc in the stitch holding the 2nd stitch marker; dc in every dc thereafter until you reach the end of the row. Turn.
You should how have an opening in the center of your band.
Working on center opening in Row 3.
Design #2 Row 4: ch3 (acts as 1st dc); dc in each dc stitch thereafter until you reach the center chain space; dc in each chain stitch in center; dc in each remaining dc stitch until you reach the end of the row. Turn.
Design #2 Row 5: Repeat Row 2.
Fasten off weave in ends.
Cut about 29"-30" of wire. Turn the edges of the wire onto itself and pinch with scissors or pliers to prevent a sharp edge. Bend and twist the ends in equal and opposite "C" shapes to intertwine the wire ends. Pinch again with pliers or the scissors to flatten and smooth the wires. Then wrap with duct tape to further protect the wire ends and help prevent them from poking through your crocheted band.
Shaping the wire around the crocheted band.
Twisting the ends.
Protecting the ends with duct tape.
Wrap the band with yarn. (You can skip this step if you are using bulky or chunky yarn, or if you don’t mind a little metal wire showing.) If you use Size 3-4 yarn, you’ll want to wrap the wire ring with yarn to prevent the metal from showing through when it is added to the outer ring. You can skip this step if you don’t mind a little of the wire showing through. Most of the band is covered by hair anyway.
Wrap the wire ring with yarn to prevent the wire from showing.
(Optional)
The wrapped wire ring before attaching to the band.
Join the yarn on the right side of the band in one of the shorter edges. Place the band inside the wire ring and use single-crochet stitches to evenly crochet around the band attaching the wire ring as you go. The flat, flexible wire can easily be shaped as needed as you move around the band.
When you reach the end. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Your bun maker using Design #2 is now complete!
The finished band using Design #2.
Note: Remember that design #2 is a bit sturdier than design #1, but it will be harder to remove a broken wire since the complete wire is crocheted to the band. If you like this design better, you can simply detach the outer edge if the wire eventually breaks and then crochet on a new wire ring. With design #1, if the wire breaks, you can simply remove stitches in the seam of the center opening, remove the broken wire and add a new wire ring when needed.
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I've made several of these using a variety of tunisian and conventional crochet stitches.
Try different yarn weights and stitches. With bulkier yarn, make the band single thickness and crochet the wire around the outer edge of the band.
Have fun making these. Let me know if you make one. I'd love to see what you create. Post a picture in the comments, or tag me on Instagram @kristensteindesigns.
Other patterns available free, or for purchase,
can be found on Ravelry & Amazon.
Happy Crafting!
-kristen
(c) 2021, Kristen Stein Designs. All rights reserved. Please do not reproduce, sell, or republish this pattern, in whole or in part, without the expressed written consent of the artist. If you make items from this pattern to sell, please reference the pattern with my name & website.
Share pictures of your finished project on Instagram and tag me @kristensteindesigns. I’ll add it to my customer Spotlight.
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