No Buttons Required Ear Savers: Free Crochet Pattern

Hi friends! A few weeks ago I became aware of the need for “ear savers” for front-line medical workers on the coronavirus pandemic. Workers develop wounds behind their ears from wearing masks so much. Crafters developed “ear savers” or “mask mates” that sit on the back of the head and have buttons to secure the straps around, thus saving workers’ ears.

It’s been amazing to see the world come together in support. Knitters, crocheters, and seamstresses have been working tirelessly to produce these. People are 3d printing them, too. I’ve been making lots of them, and I ordered some buttons, but they won’t get here for another couple weeks (for obvious shipping delay reasons because, you know, pandemic). I didn’t want to wait that long to start donating them, though. So I started searching for alternatives to buttons.

This is one fantastic pattern I found that uses pop tabs from soda cans instead of buttons. I quickly ran out of pop tabs, though, but I still had lots of yarn and time. So this is what I came up with. Nothing revolutionary, just my take on the ear savers pattern. Do what you will with them and let me know if I can be of any help.

Pattern Details

Finished Size: about 4.5″ long, 1.25″ tall

Buttons measure just over 1″ in diameter.

Materials

• Worsted-weight yarn. I’ve heard that cotton is best, but acrylic washes just fine. I ran out of cotton, and I have tons (and tons and tons) of spare acrylic, so that’s what I’m using now.
• H (5.00 MM) crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• That’s it!

Ear Saver Band

Round 1: Leave a long (12″) starting tail. Make a magic ring to count as your first chain. Ch 16. This will result in 17 chains total.

If you don’t feel comfortable making a magic ring, just ch 17 instead.

Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and each chain until you reach the last one. 5 hdc in this chain. Turn to work across opposite end of starting chain. Do not crochet over the tail because you’ll need it to sew on the “button” later. Hdc in each ch until you reach the last one. 3 hdc into this chain. Sl st to top of ch-2 to join.

Round 2: Ch 2, hdc in same stitch. 2 hdc in next st. Hdc 13. 2 hdc in each of next 5 hdc. Hdc 13. Hdc 2 in each of last 3 hdc.

Invisible join to first hdc, leaving long (12″) tail for sewing.

Button (make 2)

Make a magic ring, ch 1. (If you don’t feel comfortable making a magic ring, just ch 2 instead and work into the second chain from the hook.) 6 sc in magic ring.

Round 2: 2 sc in each sc around: 12 sc

Round 3: sc in each sc around

Round 4: sc2tog 6 times.

Fasten off. Tie ends of button together in a tight double knot, then trim. The ends will hide inside the button.

Assembly

Use the long starting and ending tails from the ear saver band to sew the buttons onto either end. I created an X with the yarn and went over it twice. Weave in ends firmly.