The Garter Bow: A Knit-Look Crochet Pattern (Free Crochet Bow Pattern)

Have you ever looked at knitted squishy, textured garter stitch project and wished you could achieve that same cozy look with just a crochet hook? Well, grab your yarn, because today is your lucky day!

I am so excited to share the Garter Bow pattern with you. It is a stunning accessory that looks deceptively like knitting. Whether you want to add a cute touch to a tote bag or create an adorable hair accessory, this bow is versatile and chic.

Best of all? It’s completely customizable. If you are intimidated by complex shaping, don’t worry—this project is worked flat and uses simple stitch variations to create its unique shape. Hope you will enjoy this free crochet bow pattern!

Scroll down for the free pattern below, or support the design by purchasing the ad-free, printable PDF version here.

Before we get started, let’s gather our supplies. You don’t need much to whip up this beauty!

• Yarn: Approximately 80m (87 yds) for Size 1 or 145m (159 yds) for Size 2.  
  • Sample Note: The red sample shown was made with DK yarn, and the white sample with sport weight.  
• Hook: Use a hook one size bigger than what is recommended on your yarn label (e.g., a 5mm hook for DK yarn). This is crucial for keeping your slip stitches loose and draping well.  
• Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends and assembly.  
• Stitch Markers: To mark your folding points.  
• Optional: A knitting needle (if you choose to do the I-cord border technique).  

Here are the finished measurements for the standard sizes:

• Size 1: Width 14 cm (5.5 in) x Length 12 cm (4.7 in).  
• Size 2: Width 16 cm (6.3 in) x Length 15 cm (6 in).  

Note on sizing: To customize the size, you can adjust the width of the strip by adding more increase rows and changing the number of straight rows.  

Gauge does not matter for this project.

• Terminology: US Standard.  
• Ch: Chain
• Sl st: Slip stitch
• Sc: Single crochet
• St(s): Stitch(es)
• Rep: Repeat
• Tog: Together
• BLO: Back loop only
• FLO: Front loop only
• WS: Wrong side
• RS: Right side

• Turning Chains: Ch 1 and Ch 2 at the beginning of rows do not count as a stitch.  
• Row Identification: Rows where you crochet into the front loop are Right Side (RS) rows. Rows where you crochet into the back loop are Wrong Side (WS) rows.  
• Last Stitch: The last stitch of the row is always worked through both loops for stability.  

The Garter Bow Pattern Instructions

Part 1: The Base

We begin by making the long strip that creates the bow and tails.

Start: Ch 1.  

Row 1 (WS): Ch 1 and turn. Make 2 sl sts in the starting chain. (2 sts) .  

Row 2 (RS): Ch 1 and turn. FLO sl st in the first st. Make 1 FLO sl st and 1 regular sl st in the last st. (3 sts) .  

Row 3 (WS): Ch 2 and turn. Make BLO sc and a BLO sl st in the first st. BLO sl st in next st. Regular sl st in the last st. (4 sts) .  

Row 4 (RS – Increase): Ch 1 and turn. FLO sl st in the first st, then work FLO sl sts until 1 st remains. Make 1 FLO sl st and 1 sc in the last st. (1 st increased)

Row 5 (WS – Increase): Ch 2 and turn. Make BLO sc and a BLO sl st in the first st. BLO sl st until 1 st remains. Make regular sl st in the last st. (1 st increased) .  

Increase Phase: Repeat Rows 4 and 5 until your base is approximately 6 cm (2.4 in) for Size 1 or 7 cm (2.8 in) for Size 2. Make a note of whether your last row was a WS or RS row.  

Straight Section (No Increases):

Now, we work even to create length. Ensure your stitch count stays constant.  

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, turn. FLO sl st until 1 st remains. Normal sl st in last st.  

Row 2 (WS): Ch 1, turn. BLO sl st until 1 st remains. Regular sl st in last st.  

Repeat these two rows until this straight section measures 34 cm (13 in) for Size 1 or 47 cm (18.5 in) for Size 2.  

Decrease Phase:

Begin with the same row type (RS or WS) as your last increase row to ensure symmetry.  

Row 1 (RS): Ch 1, turn. FLO sl st in first st. FLO sl st until 2 sts remain. Work 1 FLO sl st and 1 regular sc together over the last 2 sts. (1 st decreased) .  

FLO Sl St and Regular Sc Together (RS): Insert hook into front loop of next st, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook through both loops of the following st, yarn over, pull the stitch. Yarn over and pull through all loops.  

Row 2 (WS): Ch 2, turn. Make BLO sl st 2 tog in the first 2 sts. BLO sl st until 1 st remains. Regular sl st in the last st. (1 st decreased) .  

BLO Sl St 2 Tog (WS): Insert hook into back loop of first st, yarn over, pull up a loop. Insert hook through back loop of second st. Yarn over and pull through all loops.  

Repeat these rows until only 1 stitch remains. Do not cut your yarn.

You have two options here. You can work a simple Slip Stitch Border, or an I-cord Border which is what the sample is made with.

I-Cord Method (Summary):

Work from the WS.  

Setup: Ch 3. Pull up loops in the 2nd and 3rd chain from hook (3 loops on hook).  

Row 1: Anchor by pulling up a loop in the first row of the base (4 loops). Transfer first 3 loops to a knitting needle (or holder). Place marker in remaining loop.  

Row 2: Transfer first loop from needle to hook. Yarn over and ch 1 through this loop. Transfer next 2 loops to hook. Yarn over and pull through both.  

Row 3: Anchor into next column of base, pull up loop (3 loops on hook). Transfer the 2 I-cord loops to knitting needle.  

Row 4: Ch 1 through loop on hook. Transfer next 2 loops from needle to hook. Yarn over and pull through both.  

Repeat Rows 3 and 4 around the base. Anchor 2-3 times in the corners to turn smoothly.  

Navigating Corners & Angles

Because the shape of the bow changes, you need to adjust how often you anchor the cord to the base:

Sharp Tip Corners: Work 3 I-cord rows into the same corner stitch at the tip of the tails.  

Rounded Corners: Work 2 I-cord rows into the second (less sharp) corner. If you want it sharper, do 3 rows.  

Angled Edge: Anchor in every column and also in between every other column to ensure it doesn’t pucker.  

Closing the Tube (The Invisible Join)

Ending perfectly is key! Stop after a Row 2.  

1. Final Anchor: Insert hook into the next column of the base, pull up a loop, and then place all 3 loops on a holder.  

2. Turn & Setup: Turn the work to see the back. Insert your hook into the loop that has the stitch marker (from the beginning) and remove the marker.  

3. The Seam: Insert your hook under the horizontal bar of the first stitch on the back, and pull it through the loop on your hook. Repeat this for every row to create the final column.  

4. Finish: At the end, place this loop onto a holder with the 3 loops from before (you should have 4 loops on the holder).  

5. Seaming: Cut your yarn, leaving a long tail. Use a tapestry needle to seam the remaining live loops to the start of the I-cord using the duplicate stitch for a seamless finish.  

The Center Strip:

1. Ch 11 (13) or enough to fit tightly around the center of your bow.  

2. Row 1: Ch 1, turn. Sl st in every ch.  

3. Row 2: Ch 1, turn. BLO sl st in every st.  

4. Work Row 2 for about 5 repetitions (6 rows total).  

5. Cut yarn, leaving a 5 cm tail for seaming.  

Assembly:

1. Fold: Fold the base in half (WS facing each other).  

2. Mark: Measure 10 cm (4 in) or 13 cm (5 in) from the tips of the tails on the longer side and mark top and bottom.  

3. Sew: Sew a line connecting these two markers.  

4. Shape: Align the middle of the loop with the sewn line. Fold simply or using acordian fold and tie with yarn to hold the bow shape.  

5. Finish: Wrap the crocheted center strip around the middle (covering the sewn section). Pull snugly and sew the ends of the strip securely at the back.  

Share Your Work!

I hope you enjoyed making your very own Garter Bow! This pattern is such a fun way to practice shaping and texture.

I would love to see your finished bows! If you share on Instagram, please tag @artsymaki and use the hashtag #GarterBow so I can share your beautiful work.  

Download the ad-free, printable PDF version of the Garter Bow here

Happy Crocheting!

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