Coral Teal Flower Ear Saver Free Crochet Pattern

Introduction

This little ear saver is a simple, satisfying project for anyone who wants to make wearing a face mask more comfortable. Instead of looping mask elastic behind your ears, you hook the loops onto the buttons at each end of this soft teal strap, which sits comfortably at the back of your head. The design is beginner-friendly: a flat rectangle of single crochet topped with a tiny coral flower for a touch of desert boho charm. It works up in under half an hour, uses only scraps of worsted yarn, and makes a thoughtful little gift for nurses, teachers, delivery drivers, or anyone who wears a mask all day.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Worsted weight (category 4) acrylic yarn — approximately 20 yards (18 m) teal and 5 yards (4.5 m) coral.
• Hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8) crochet hook.
• Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, two small buttons (about ½ inch / 12 mm), and sewing thread or a length of matching yarn to attach the buttons.
• Finished size: 6 inches (15 cm) long and 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide.

Abbreviations

• ch — chain: yarn over and pull through the loop on your hook.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through both loops.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through the last two loops.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook in stitch, yarn over, pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
• MR — magic ring: an adjustable loop used to begin working in the round.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• rep — repeat.

Gauge

16 single crochet stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches (10 cm). To check, work a small swatch in single crochet and measure a 4-inch section; if you have more stitches than 16, go up a hook size, and if you have fewer, go down.

Tips Before You Start

• Keep your single crochet tension even and slightly firm — a dense strap holds its shape better and won't stretch out of length when the mask pulls on it.
• Count your stitches at the end of every row; the strap should stay exactly 24 stitches wide with no tapering.
• Leave a long tail on the coral flower (about 8 inches / 20 cm) so you have plenty of yarn to sew it securely to the center of the strap.
• Try the strap on before sewing the buttons — pin them in place first so the fit is comfortable for the wearer.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Strap (teal)

Row 1: Ch 25. Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (24 sc).

Rows 2-4: Ch 1, turn, sc in each st across (24 sc).

Fasten off after Row 4 and weave in the ends.

Flower (coral)

Rnd 1: Work 6 sc into a magic ring (6 sc). Do not join; you will work the petals directly into these stitches.

Rnd 2: In the first sc work [ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st]. Then in each of the next 5 sc work [sl st, ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st] — 6 petals total. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing.

Assembly and Finishing

Thread the long coral tail onto your yarn needle and sew the flower to the exact center of the teal strap, catching the back of the petals so they lie flat. Using sewing thread or matching yarn, sew one button at each short end of the strap, centered across the 1-inch width. Weave in all remaining ends on the wrong side. Gently steam or wet-block the strap flat and let it dry completely so it holds its rectangular shape; the flower petals can be nudged flat with your fingers while damp.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Make a set in different color pairs — teal with coral, mustard with cream, or sage with blush — to match different outfits or to give as a small gift bundle.
• For a wider, more cushioned strap, add two extra rows (Rows 5-6: repeat Row 2) for a 1½-inch width.
• Swap the flower for a small star or heart appliqué, or use a contrasting button color to make the ends pop.