A crocheted scrunchie is a popular hair accessory made by stitching yarn directly onto an elastic band. This small-scale project offers nearly instant gratification, often finished in a single sitting, making it excellent for beginners. The simplicity of the pattern allows new crafters to quickly master fundamental stitches while creating a stylish item used to secure hair or decorate a wrist.
Materials and Supplies
Material selection begins with the yarn, which influences the texture of the finished accessory. Worsted-weight acrylic or cotton yarns are recommended for durability and structure, while velvet yarn provides a soft, luxurious texture. The crochet hook size should correspond to the yarn weight, typically 4.0 mm to 5.5 mm (G-6 to I-9) for worsted weight. The elastic band serves as the structural foundation. A thin hair tie provides flexibility, whereas a thicker elastic band offers greater stability and volume for the final ruffle. Basic notions include sharp scissors and a blunt-tipped tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends.
Necessary Crochet Techniques
Before starting the scrunchie pattern, a few foundational crochet skills must be established. The chain stitch (ch) forms the base of many projects, created by looping the yarn over the hook and pulling it through the existing loop. The single crochet (SC) is the shortest and densest stitch. A taller, more voluminous result is achieved with the double crochet (DC), which requires one yarn over before inserting the hook. All rounds are closed using a slip stitch (sl st), which joins the working yarn to the starting stitch without adding height.
The defining technique is working directly around the elastic band. This involves holding the elastic against the working row and inserting the hook under the elastic instead of into a traditional stitch. The yarn is then worked over the elastic, effectively encasing the band within the yarn. This technique forms the ruffled base and allows for high stitch density.
Step-by-Step Scrunchie Construction
The construction process begins by securely attaching the yarn to the elastic hair band. Form a slip knot on the hook, insert the hook under the elastic, and pull the slip knot through to complete a slip stitch, anchoring the yarn firmly. This anchor point is followed by a starting chain of two or three chains, depending on the main body stitch. The first round establishes the signature volume and ruffle effect, requiring a high density of stitches.
The goal in the first round is to completely cover the elastic band with yarn, working a continuous sequence of stitches directly around the circumference. For a standard ruffled look using double crochet, work approximately 75 to 100 stitches around a typical hair tie. This high count creates the gathered, dense fabric because the yarn fabric is much longer than the circumference of the elastic it covers. If the stitch count is too low, the fabric will lie flat.
To execute this density, the hook is inserted under the elastic band, the yarn is pulled through, and the chosen stitch (DC is common for maximum ruffle) is completed. This action is repeated continuously, pushing the completed stitches closely together along the elastic. Maintaining consistent tension is important to ensure the stitches are uniform and the elastic remains completely hidden by the yarn.
Once the desired stitch count is reached and the entire elastic is covered, join the working yarn to the first stitch of the round using a slip stitch. This action closes the loop and completes the foundational tube around the elastic. The final step involves securing the working loop by cutting the yarn, leaving a tail of about six inches, and pulling the tail completely through the last loop on the hook to create a secure knot.
Customization and Care
Once the construction is finished, the loose yarn tails must be secured to prevent the scrunchie from unraveling. This finishing step involves threading the yarn tails onto a tapestry needle and carefully weaving the ends through the body of the crocheted fabric for several stitches. The needle should be guided through the stitches in multiple directions to lock the fibers in place, then the excess yarn is trimmed flush with the fabric.
Customization offers a range of options, such as substituting the single crochet base with a double crochet for a greater ruffle volume or even a treble crochet for extreme fullness. Different stitch patterns can also be worked into the second round to create texture, or multiple yarn colors can be introduced for stripes or variegated effects. Care instructions depend on the fiber used; acrylic and cotton yarns can typically be hand-washed in cool water and laid flat to dry, while specialty fibers like velvet may require more gentle spot cleaning to preserve their texture.