Ice Blue Strawberry Circle Bib Crochet Free Pattern

Ice Blue Strawberry Circle Bib: A Free Beginner Crochet Pattern

Introduction

If you have never held a crochet hook before, this is the perfect first "real" project to fall in love with. The Ice Blue Strawberry Circle Bib is a bold, circular bandana made from seven simple granny squares joined into a flat disc, then edged with a wavy silver scallop border and topped with three plump little strawberries. It is designed for small dogs with a neck of about 25–32 cm (10–12.5 in), and it slips over the collar so it stays put while your pup trots around looking absolutely fabulous. The finished piece is soft, matte, and squishy in an aran wool blend, with crisp double-crochet clusters and a playful maximalist look that photographs beautifully. Every stitch is explained below, so even a complete beginner can make this from start to finish.

Materials Needed

• Yarn: Aran-weight wool blend (approx. 20% wool, 80% acrylic), 100 g / 170 m per skein.
  • Color A — Ice Blue: approx. 55 g
  • Color B — Silver: approx. 25 g
  • Color C — Strawberry Red: approx. 15 g
  • Color D — Leaf Green: approx. 5 g
• Crochet hook: 5.0 mm (US H-8) for the bib and granny squares.
• Crochet hook: 4.0 mm (US G-6) for the strawberry appliqués.
• Stitch markers (at least 4) to mark corners and the beginning of rounds.
• Tapestry needle (blunt-tipped, large eye) for weaving in ends and sewing on strawberries.
• Scissors for cutting yarn.
• Finished size: Bib disc approx. 20 cm (8 in) in diameter. Fits small dogs with a neck circumference of 25–32 cm (10–12.5 in). Each granny square measures 6 x 6 cm (2.4 x 2.4 in).

Abbreviations and Beginner Glossary

• ch — chain: wrap yarn over hook and pull it through the loop on your hook. This makes a small chain link.
• sl st — slip stitch: insert hook into the stitch, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook at once. It makes a nearly invisible join.
• sc — single crochet: insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops. One loop remains.
• dc — double crochet: yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through last 2 loops.
• tr — treble crochet: yarn over twice, insert hook, pull up a loop (4 loops), yarn over and pull through 2 loops three times. (Not used in this pattern but listed for reference.)
• sc2tog — single crochet two together (a decrease): insert hook into first stitch, pull up a loop, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops. Turns 2 stitches into 1.
• ch-2 sp — chain-2 space: the little gap made by two chain stitches in the previous round. You work your corner stitches into this gap.
• ch-1 sp — chain-1 space: the small gap made by one chain stitch.
• st(s) — stitch(es).
• beg — beginning.
• rep — repeat: do the same instruction again.
• magic ring — an adjustable loop of yarn you crochet into, then pull closed so there is no hole in the center.
• shell — a group of several stitches (here, 7 dc) worked into one stitch to make a fan shape.
• fasten off — cut the yarn leaving a tail, then pull the tail through the last loop to lock it.

Gauge

Gauge: One finished granny square (3 rounds) measures 6 x 6 cm (2.4 x 2.4 in) using the 5.0 mm hook. The finished bib disc measures approx. 20 cm (8 in) in diameter.

Why gauge matters: Gauge is simply how big your stitches turn out. If your squares come out larger than 6 cm, the whole bib will be too big for a small dog's neck; if smaller, it will be too tight. How to check: Make one complete granny square exactly as written, then lay it flat and measure it with a ruler. If it is bigger than 6 cm, try a smaller hook (4.5 mm). If it is smaller, try a larger hook (5.5 mm). Do this before you make all seven squares — it saves so much time!

Beginner Tips Before You Start

• Use stitch markers at every corner. Place a marker in each ch-2 corner space as you make it. Corners are where beginners most often get lost.
• Do not pull your yarn too tight. Keep a relaxed, even tension. Tight stitches make the squares curl and shrink, and they are hard to work into on the next round.
• Count after every round. The stitch counts in parentheses tell you exactly what you should have. If the number is off, fix it before moving on.
• Make one practice square first. Your first square is your gauge swatch and your confidence builder. It is fine if it looks a little wobbly — blocking fixes a lot.
• Keep your silver yarn separate. Color B is used for Round 3 of every square, the joining seams, the border, and the collar loop. Wind it into its own small ball so it does not tangle.
• Weave in ends as you go. After each square, thread the tails onto your tapestry needle and weave them into the back. Future you will be grateful.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Part 1: Granny Squares (make 7)

Use the 5.0 mm hook. Work Rounds 1–2 in Color A (Ice Blue) and Round 3 in Color B (Silver).

Round 1 (Color A): With A, make a magic ring. Ch 3 (this counts as your first dc), work 2 dc into the ring, ch 2, [3 dc into ring, ch 2] 3 times. Join with sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. Pull the ring closed. (12 dc, 4 ch-2 sps)

Round 2 (Color A): Sl st into the next 2 dc and into the first ch-2 sp. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in the same sp (first corner made). *Ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next ch-2 sp; rep from * 2 more times, ch 1, join with sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. (4 corners, 4 ch-1 sps)

Round 3 (Color B — Silver): Sl st into the next 2 dc and into the corner sp. Ch 3, 2 dc in the same sp, ch 2, 3 dc in the same sp. *Ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in the next corner sp; rep from * around, ch 1, 3 dc in the last ch-1 sp, ch 1, join with sl st to the top of the beg ch-3. Fasten off and weave in ends. (Each side: 3 dc + ch-1 + 3 dc + ch-1 + 3 dc)

Make 6 more squares the same way (7 total). Block all 7 squares lightly to 6 x 6 cm.

Part 2: Join-As-You-Go Assembly

Arrange the squares into a flat disc: 1 center square with 6 squares around it, each outer square sharing one full side with the center square (hexagon-style ring).

Joining method (whipstitch-style sl st join): Hold two squares right sides together. With Color B (Silver) and the 5.0 mm hook, join yarn at one corner ch-2 sp. Working through both layers, sl st in each st and each ch-1 sp across the side, ending at the next corner ch-2 sp. Fasten off. Repeat to join all 6 outer squares to the center square. Then join the 6 outer squares to each other along their touching side edges (6 short seams) to form a flat disc. Weave in all ends.

Part 3: Silver Scallop Edge

With Color B (Silver) and the 5.0 mm hook, join yarn at any outer corner of the disc.

Round 1: Ch 1, work sc evenly around the entire outer edge, working 1 sc in each st and 2 sc in each corner ch-2 sp. Join with sl st to the first sc. (Approx. 96 sc)

Round 2 (Scallops): *Skip 2 sc, work 7 dc in the next sc (shell made), skip 2 sc, sl st in the next sc; rep from * around. You will have approx. 16 scallops. If the count does not divide evenly, adjust by skipping 1 or 3 sc between shells so the last scallop meets the first neatly. Join with sl st to the first sl st. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Part 4: Strawberry Appliqués (make 3)

Use the 4.0 mm hook and Color C (Strawberry Red) for the berry body.

Round 1: With C, make a magic ring. Ch 1, work 6 sc into the ring. Join with sl st to the first sc. (6 sc)

Round 2: Ch 1, 2 sc in each sc around. Join. (12 sc)

Round 3: Ch 1, *1 sc in the next sc, 2 sc in the next sc; rep from * around. Join. (18 sc)

Round 4: Ch 1, sc in each sc around. Join. (18 sc)

Round 5: Ch 1, *sc2tog, sc in the next sc; rep from * around. Join. (12 sc) Stuff lightly with a tiny scrap of yarn or leave flat.

Round 6: Ch 1, sc2tog around. Join. (6 sc) Fasten off, leaving a 20 cm tail. Thread the tail through the remaining 6 sts and pull closed to form the pointed berry tip.

Leaf Cap (Color D — Leaf Green): With D, make a magic ring. Ch 1, work [3 dc, ch 2, sl st] 5 times into the ring. Join with sl st to the first dc. Pull the ring closed. Fasten off, leaving a tail. Sew the leaf cap to the flat top of the berry.

Seeds (optional): With a length of Color B (Silver), embroider 5–6 small straight stitches over the berry body in a scattered pattern.

Part 5: Collar Loop (optional, for slip-over wear)

With Color B and the 5.0 mm hook, join yarn at the top center of the disc (between two outer squares). Ch 12, sl st back to the starting point to form a loop, then work 12 sc around the loop. Join, fasten off, and weave in. Slip the dog's collar through this loop so the bib hangs at the chest.

Assembly and Finishing

1. Position the strawberries. Pin the 3 strawberries evenly around the silver scallop edge (approx. 12 o'clock, 4 o'clock, and 8 o'clock positions), with the pointed tips facing outward.

2. Sew them on. Thread each berry's yarn tail onto your tapestry needle and sew the berry securely to the bib, catching through the scallop edge and the bib fabric. Go around the base of each berry a few times so it cannot wobble.

3. Weave in all ends. Turn the bib to the back and thread every remaining tail onto the tapestry needle. Weave each tail in and out of several stitches (about 5 cm), then trim close to the fabric. Never knot your ends — weaving hides them.

4. Block the finished bib. Mist the whole piece lightly with water until damp but not soaking. Pin it flat and round on a towel or blocking mat, gently opening each scallop with your fingers. Let it dry completely (usually overnight). This opens the scallops, flattens the seams, and gives the bib its crisp circular shape.

Care: Hand wash cold, reshape, and dry flat. Do not tumble dry.

Pro Tips and Variations

• Change the colors: Swap Ice Blue for lilac, mint, or blush pink. Keep the silver for the border and seams so the scallops still pop, and choose a contrasting berry color like deep plum or coral.
• Adjust the size: For a larger dog, add a second ring of squares (12 more squares around the first ring) and add extra scallops in Round 2 of the border. For a tiny pup, use a 4.0 mm hook and lighter yarn to shrink the whole disc.
• Substitute yarn: Any aran-weight yarn works — cotton gives a crisper, washable bib, while a soft acrylic is easiest on beginner hands. Just check your gauge square again, since every yarn behaves a little differently.
• Make it removable: Instead of the collar loop, crochet two short ties (ch 25 each) at the top corners and knot them loosely under the collar — handy if your dog's collar buckle is bulky.