Scrunchies are having its fashion moment right now, and they are one of my favorite fashion accessories to crochet.
It is a really simple project that can utilize every last bit of your scrap yarn, and one afternoon of playing around can give you quite a few of these scrunchies to use, gift, or display at your craft fair booth.
There are many ways to crochet a scrunchie that would work with any type of scrap yarn, crochet hook size, and skill levels. But we’ll go with a couple of beginner-friendly patterns for scrunchies.
So how do you crochet a scrunchie? You can crochet a beginner’s scrunchie by connecting a chain loop around an elastic hair tie and crocheting in the round to create a crocheted tube around the tie. After the tube is long enough to stretch with the hair tie, or longer, connect both ends and finish off the completed scrunchie.
In this blog post, I will show you two beginner-friendly patterns that are quick and easy. We’ll go step by step, so even if you’re new to crocheting you should be able to follow right along.
These patterns are achievable even if you are a complete novice, and you can up your crochet game while creating some stylish accessories for yourself and your loved ones!
What You Will Need
You don’t really need much to crochet a scrunchie. It’s a simple and low-cost project that will spice up your accessory drawer with relatively little effort!
Here’s all you need to have on hand to make your crochet scrunchie:
- An elastic hair tie
- A small ball of scrap yarn: I prefer DK yarn or worsted weight yarn because I love the chunky look, and it is a lot quicker and easier to work with compared to lighter weight yarn. However, any light to medium weight yarn you have would work with this pattern.
- A 5mm crochet hook (if you are using DK yarn): Use the crochet hook size that works best for your yarn weight.
- A tapestry needle to sew in the ends
Hint: I recommend using a crochet hook that is one size larger than the recommended size for your yarn. This helps to keep your scrunchie from turning out too stiff. For example, if your DK yarn recommends using a 4mm crochet hook, you should use a 5mm crochet hook instead.
How To Crochet a Scrunchie
Crocheting a scrunchie is so easy, even a beginner can do it. While you should probably learn to do a few basic stitches first to get the hang of it, you can probably get away with learning for this project. Plus, there are some great crochet stitch books out there if you ever need a reference.
Before you start
Crochet a swatch!
Since this pattern would work with any yarn weight and crochet hook size, you should crochet a small swatch (2×2″) before starting the scrunchie.
You want to make sure that the swatch is not too stiff, because then your scrunchie won’t have that stylish, effortless, scrunched up look.
If your swatch is too stiff, switch to a larger size crochet hook or a lighter weight yarn.
You will also need to know how to create the double crochet stitch for this pattern. (You can practice it while making your practice swatch!)
Double Crochet Stitch
Here’s how to do a double crochet stitch:
Have a chain of at least 12 stitches to practice, though the exact number of stitches doesn’t matter for this stitch.
Step 1: Yarn over (back to front) to create a loop. Insert your hook into the next chain, effectively creating another loop; making three loops on your crochet hook.
Step 2: Yarn over (back to front) to create a loop, draw the same loop through the first two loops on your crochet hook (two remaining loops).
Step 3: Yarn over (back to front) to create a loop, draw the same through the remaining two loops.
And that’s a double crochet stitch!
Now that you know the basics of this pattern, we can start making some colorful scrunchies!
Let’s get started!
Crocheting a Scrunchie, Step by Step
Step 1
Make a slip knot and chain 12, or until your chain is about 2 inches long. This will be the circumference of your scrunchie tube, so if you want the scrunchie to be extra wide and fluffy, continue the chain until your desired length.
Note: Don’t make this chain too long, however. You still want it to be proportional to the hair tie you are using.
Step 2
Place your chain through the hair tie and join the chain with a slip stitch. From here, you will crochet a tube around the elastic of the hair tie (when you finish, the hair tie will be hidden inside the scrunchie tube).
Step 3
Repeat double crochet stitches (see above) around the tube you’ve just created until your tube reaches the desired length.
Note: Don’t stop crocheting when your tube meets the other end!
Since the elastic will stretch, your crochet tube needs to be at least twice as long as the circumference of your hair tie to make sure that the hair tie has room to stretch. The extra length of the tube will also create the scrunched up look for your creation!
Step 4
When your crochet tube reaches the desired length, cut the tail, leaving approximately 10 inches. Yarn over (back to front) to create a loop and pull the yarn through your live crochet stitch. Fasten off the yarn to create a nice and tight knot.
Step 5
Sew the two ends of your tube together using a tapestry needle, make sure to weave in all loose ends to give your scrunchie and nice and clean look.
Step 6 (optional)
Hand-wash your scrunchie with warm water and soap and lay on a towel to dry.
How to Crochet a Scrunchie – Advanced Options
This is a beginner pattern, but if you want to show off your crochet game, you can replace the double crochet stitch with any fancy stitch that you like.
I recommend using the single crochet moss stitch or the basic crochet V stitch since these stitches are neither too bulky nor too lacy to create the perfect flowy look. Both of these stitches are also really easy to do, as they add a small twist to the basic stitches that every crocheter knows how to do.
Don’t believe me? Here’s how.
Option 1: Single Crochet Moss Stitch
A single crochet moss stitch is just a single crochet (sc) and a chain (ch) on the first row, but on the second row, you sc into the chain stitch you did on the first row, still making a ch in between. Basically, it’s the same pattern but you reverse the order for each row.
Here is how to crochet a moss stitch using single crochet step by step:
Step 1: Create a slip knot and chain until you reach the desired length.
Step 2: Skip 2 ch and sc into the 3rd ch from your hook. Ch 1 stitch. Skip a stitch. Sc into the next stitch (after the skip). Repeat until you reach the end of your row.
Step 3: Sc into the last row’s ch stitch. Ch one. Skip a stitch (the skipped stitch should be a sc stitch you just made in the first row). Sc in the next stitch after the skip, ch 1. Repeat until you reach the end of your row.
Repeat step 3 until your desired length.
Option 2: Basic Crochet V Stitch
Similarly, basic crochet V stitch is just two double crochet (dc) stitches sandwiching a chain stitch – so it creates a little V shape.
Here is how to crochet a basic V stitch:
Step 1: Create a slip knot and chain until you reach the desired length.
Step 2: Skip 3 st. (Dc 1, ch 1, dc 1) all into the 4th chain from your hook. This is one crochet V stitch.
Skip 2 st from your foundation and (dc 1, ch 1, dc 1) into the next stitch (after the two skips). Repeat until the end of your row.
Step 3: Turn and ch 3. Skip 1 st (this will correspond to a dc from the first row).
(Dc 1, ch 1, dc 1) into the ch that was in between the 2 dc of the V from the row below. Repeat until the end of your row.
Repeat step 3 until your desired length.
Bonus Styling Tips!
The scrunchie is the best thing that’s happened to long hair. It’s not only stylish, but it also doesn’t damage your hair.
Scrunchies work best with a loose braid or a messy bun, since there’s minimal grip involved.
If you want to look extra stylish, match your scrunchie with an accent color from your outfit to achieve an effortless look!
And voila! Instant #fashion.
Related Questions
My Scrunchie is Too Stiff and Bulky
You have a scrunchie-shaped product that cannot wrap around your hair because it’s too stiff and bulky? Your yarn may be too big for your crochet hook size.
Did you crochet a gauge swatch before you start? You want the swatch to be soft and flowy before getting started on the real thing.
If your swatch doesn’t look flowy enough, you will want to switch to a lighter weight yarn, or a bigger crochet hook size to achieve the light and flowy look. If you have already finished off your scrunchie, you can snip the end open and salvage most of the yarn, as well as your hair tie, to start over.
My Scrunchie Doesn’t Have the “Scrunched Up” Look
You have a tube wrapped around your hair tie, but it’s not scrunched up, or your scrunchie doesn’t stretch out as much as you would like. If this is the case, your tube may be too short.
If you don’t know where to end your tube, try stretching out the hair tie all the way to see if the tube covers up the entire stretched-out length of the hair tie. If not, continue crocheting until it does. You can also crochet another inch or two past this length, if you really want to be sure to get plenty of scrunch in there.
This length will ensure that your end product looks like a scrunchie and can comfortably wrap around your hair tie.
Where Do the Loose Ends Go?
Once you finish crocheting, you will have two annoying loose ends that you need to weave into the end product.
First, make sure that the start and the end of your tube are properly fastened so that it doesn’t unravel in the wash. Then, tuck the loose ends inside the tube as you sew the two ends together and hide them from view.
Once you finish sewing, cut the yarn, leaving two inches, and use the tapestry needle to tuck it inside the tube.
Do I Have to Block?
Blocking is the technique used to stretch a finished knitting or crocheting project so that it would assume the proper shape and size that the pattern calls for.
This pattern creates a scrunched up look and doesn’t need to hold a precise, clean shape, so you do not have to block to achieve the desired look!
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