How to Crochet a Scrunchie: Your Ultimate Beginner-Friendly Guide!

Looking for a fun, quick, and super stylish crochet project that you can wear or gift? Learning how to crochet a scrunchie is the perfect way to dive into the world of yarn crafts! Scrunchies are not only trendy accessories, but they’re also fantastic for using up leftover yarn scraps and make wonderful, personalized gifts. This detailed guide will walk you through every step, ensuring you create a beautiful, fluffy scrunchie even if you’re a complete beginner.

Why Crochet Your Own Scrunchie?

• Eco-Friendly: Reduce waste by repurposing yarn scraps.
• Customizable: Choose any color, texture, or yarn type to match your style.
• Perfect Gifts: Handmade scrunchies make thoughtful and unique presents for friends and family.
• Skill Booster: Practice basic crochet stitches like single crochet and double crochet.
• Quick Gratification: Most scrunchies can be made in under an hour!

Materials You’ll Need

• Yarn: Any color and type you love! Worsted weight (Aran) yarn is a great choice for beginners. Cotton, acrylic, or even velvet yarn works beautifully.
• Crochet Hook: A 5 mm (H-8) crochet hook is ideal for worsted weight yarn, creating a nice, fluffy texture.
• Hair Tie/Elastic Ring: A standard elastic hair tie will be the base for your scrunchie.
• Yarn Needle: For weaving in ends.
• Scissors: For cutting yarn.

Watch the Full Tutorial:

Visual Aid:

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Crochet a Scrunchie

Let’s get started on your beautiful handmade scrunchie!

1. Secure Your Yarn to the Hair Tie

   First, take your hair tie and your yarn. Create a slip knot on your hook, then take your yarn tail and the working yarn and make a double knot around the hair tie. This ensures a sturdy base. Always double knot to make sure it’s super secure! Your yarn tail should be pointing away from your working yarn.

   Now, insert your 5mm crochet hook right inside the ring of the hair tie. Yarn over and pull it through. Yarn over again and pull through the loop on your hook. This “secures” your yarn to the ring and counts as your first chain. As you work, you’ll be weaving in the initial tail around the ring to hide it neatly.

2. Round 1: Single Crochet (SC) Around the Ring

   This round creates the base for your scrunchie and hides the elastic. You’ll be working single crochet stitches all the way around the hair tie.

   • To make a Single Crochet (SC): Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over, pull up a loop (you should have two loops on your hook), yarn over again, and pull through both loops.
   • Continue making SC stitches around the entire hair tie. The goal is to pack as many stitches as you can without making it too tight (which will make the elastic show) or too loose (which will leave gaps). You want it nice and snug, completely covering the elastic.
   • Pro Tip: Keep your stitches consistent to ensure an even look.

3. Join Round 1

   Once you’ve single crocheted all the way around the hair tie and it’s fully covered, it’s time to join the round. To do this, you’ll perform a slip stitch.

   • To Slip Stitch (SS) to join: Insert your crochet hook into the very first single crochet stitch you made. Yarn over and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook. This creates a seamless join for your base.

4. Round 2: Double Crochet (DC) for Fluffiness

   This is where your scrunchie gets its signature fluffy, ruffled look! We’ll be working double crochet stitches.

   • Begin the round: Chain 3. This chain 3 counts as your first double crochet stitch.
   • Make two more DC in the same stitch: Yarn over, insert your hook into the same stitch where you chained up, yarn over, pull through one loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through the last two loops. Repeat this one more time into the very same stitch. You now have the equivalent of 3 double crochets (chain 3 + 2 DC) in that first stitch.
   • Continue around: For every subsequent stitch (the ‘V’ at the top of each single crochet from the previous row), you will make three double crochet stitches into the same ‘V’.
   • To make a Double Crochet (DC): Yarn over, insert your hook under the ‘V’ (the top of the previous stitch), yarn over, pull through one loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through the remaining two loops.
   • Repeat placing three double crochet stitches into each single crochet stitch from the previous round all the way around. This abundance of stitches is what creates the beautiful ruffled effect.

5. Join Round 2 and Finish

   You’re almost done! Once you’ve double crocheted all the way around, it’s time to finish off your scrunchie.

   • Join the round: Locate the third chain from the beginning of this round (where you chained up 3). Insert your hook into that third chain. Yarn over and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook (slip stitch to join).
   • Fasten off: Cut your yarn, leaving about a 6-inch tail. Yarn over your hook and pull the tail completely through the loop on your hook, pulling it tight to secure.
   • Weave in ends: Use your yarn needle to weave in any remaining tails into the body of the scrunchie. Go back and forth a few times, following the lines of your stitches, to ensure it’s secure and won’t unravel.

Taking Your Scrunchie to the Next Level

Now that you know how to crochet a scrunchie, you can experiment!

• Vary Yarn Types: Try fluffy velvet yarn for a super soft scrunchie, or cotton yarn for a more structured feel.
• Different Stitches: Instead of double crochet, try triple crochet for an even bigger ruffle, or half double crochet for a slightly less dramatic look.
• Add Embellishments: Attach small crochet flowers, beads, or charms for extra flair.
• Stripes & Colors: Change colors between rounds for striped scrunchies, or use variegated yarn for a multi-colored effect without changing strands.

Care for Your Handmade Scrunchie

To keep your crochet scrunchie looking its best, hand wash it gently in cool water with a mild detergent. Reshape it slightly and lay it flat to air dry. Avoid machine washing or drying, especially for delicate yarns.