Free Crochet Pattern for stash busting Scrunchies

A scrunchie is a really quick project that can be crocheted in half an hour. And it’s just perfect for using up left over small amounts of yarn. The free crochet scrunchie pattern here will work for any weight of yarn. A great pattern to have to hand if you have a sudden need for a small gift, or just want to finish off an outfit. And scrunchies are also a perfect Market Make, if you want to create some items for sale. A free pattern for a knitted scrunchie is also available.

(If you are considering making items for sale, please check the copyright disclaimer at the end, and only do so on a small scale)

Size of finished Stash Busting Scrunchie

Each sample came out to a different diameter, depending on the weight of yarn chosen. The images above show the relative sizes of the finished scrunchies, ranging from a diameter of 11 centimetres for sock yarn, and 17.5 centimetres for chunky yarn .

Materials

Yarn: Any weight yarn will do. Only small scraps are needed. If in doubt you can weigh your scraps to check.

I used pure wool yarns for most of the samples, as that is what I had to hand. The double knit sample was worked in a 51% Lyocell/49% cotton blend. All other samples were worked in pure wool. It’s best to use a wool that is not exceptionally fuzzy, such as a mohair yarn, so it doesn’t get caught in your hair. But any standard knitting wool will work. Wool is quite a light yarn, so if you are using a plant based yarn such as cotton, a or petrol based yarn such as acrylic, the weights shown below may be slightly too little, and it would be best to round up a few grammes. (To read more about what your yarn is made from, and how the affects the way it works up, you can read this blog post here)

Fingering/Sock yarn sample takes 8 grammes

Double knit sample takes 15 grammes

Worsted weight sample takes 15 grammes

Chunky weight sample takes 19 grammes

Crochet hooks

The correct size hook for the yarn you are using. The hooks I used to work the samples are listed below as a guide

Sock yarn: 3mm crochet hook

Double knit yarn: 4mm crochet hook

Worsted weight yarn: 5mm crochet hook

Chunky weight yarn: 6mm crochet hook

Notions:

You will need a hair elastic in your favourite size. I used elastics with a circumference of 12 centimetres, or 4.75 inches. If yours is a different size, this won’t affect the pattern.

You will also need a darning needle for sewing in ends

Abbreviations and Accessibility

This pattern is written without abbreviations or tables, to aid screen reader accessibility.

Time to make:

1 – 3 hours

Note on the terminology

Each line of the pattern is written out with terms defined for both US and UK crochet terminology.

Crochet skills used

This is an Easy level pattern, suitable for a beginner.

You will need to:

Crochet around a hair elastic, chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, treble crochet

Pattern Begins

Note: Each round ends with a slip stitch. I did NOT chin 1 before working the first stitch of the next round, as I found it worked best this way. If it is easier for you, you can add a chain 1 after each slip stitch join

Round One

‘Work’ for this round means:

US Terms: Single crochet stitches,

UK terms: Double crochet stitches.

All instructions: Join your working yarn to the elastic with a slip stitch and work around the elastic until you have worked back around to the beginning. Use any even number of stitches. The stitches do not need to be pushed together. You will see a little elastic peeking out between them, but they shouldn’t be stretched out tight either.

For the size of elastic I used, I had 40 stitches for the fingering sample, 24 for the aran sample, and 16 stitches for the chunky sample. This is dependent on the size of your elastic more than your weight of yarn.

Note: at the end of round one, it can be useful to pop the work over a pillar candle, water glass or other round object. This helps smooth out the stitches and made sure they are not twisted before continuing. I used a candle from Rain and Wild Sustainable Scented Candles. (That’s not an affiliate link, she is a friend, and I LOVE her candles)

Round Two

‘Work’ for this round means:

US Terms: Single crochet stitches,

UK terms: Double crochet stitches.

Work into the first stitch, chain 2, skip next stitch. Repeat this step around to the end. You will end with a chain two and skip stitch. Join with a slip stitch to the first stitch created at the start of the round.

Round Three

‘Work’ for this round means US Terms: Single crochet stitches, UK terms: Double crochet stitches

Skip first stitch, work into the first chain 2 space, chain 5, skip next stitch. Repeat chain 5 and skip next stitch around to the end. You will end with a chain five and skip stitch. Join with a slip stitch to the first stitch created at the start of the round.

Round Four

‘Shell’ in US terms = 1 single crochet, 2 half double crochet stitches, 3 double crochet stitches, 1 treble crochet stitch, chain 2, 1 treble crochet stitch, 3 double crochet stitches, 2 half double crochet stitches, 1 single crochet stitch.

‘Shell’ in Uk terms = 1 double crochet, 2 half treble crochet stitches, 3 treble crochet stitches, 1 double treble crochet stitch, chain 2, 1 double treble crochet stitch, 3 treble crochet stitches, 2 half treble crochet stitches, 1 double crochet stitch.

Skip stitch, shell into the chain 5 space. Repeat this step to end, and join to first stitch of first shell with a slip stitch.

Finishing

Weave in ends

I hope you enjoyed this free crochet scrunchie pattern, and have fun wearing it. Why not post to Instagram, and tag me @TheFairythorn so I can see? You can also create a Ravelry project page to show it off.

Have you seen my patterns on Ravelry?

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Copyright disclaimer:

This pattern, including the wording and the pictures, are my work and copyright. Please do not distribute them except by using the link to this blog. You may not copy in any way, including by making your own videos, if they are directly based on my work.

This blog is not intended for commercial use. You may sell finished items based on this pattern only if you have made them in your own home, with your own hands.