Crochet Hair Accessories & Scrunchies Pattern

Materials and supplies

• Firm worsted cotton or cotton blend
• 4-5 mm hook
• Locking stitch markers
• Yarn needle and sharp scissors
• One snag-free hair elastic without an exposed metal join

Crochet terms used

The instructions in Crochet Hair Accessories & Scrunchies Pattern use US terms: ch (chain), sl st (slip stitch), sc (single crochet), hdc (half double crochet), dc (double crochet), inc (two stitches in one), and dec (decrease). Counts in parentheses show the stitches expected after that row or round.

Scrunchie pattern

This tutorial makes the ruffled scrunchie and a removable crochet tie. The other accessories in the collection image are styling ideas; flower clips and rings are not additional patterns hidden in these rounds. For a separate flower applique, follow the five-petal flower tutorial.

Choose and cover the elastic

Choose an elastic that already holds your hair comfortably. The crochet adds fabric around it but does not repair a weak band. Work each first-round sc around the elastic itself, not through it: insert the hook under the band, draw up a yarn loop, yarn over, and pull through both loops.

Join the yarn around the band with a slip stitch and ch 1; neither counts as a stitch. Work 60 sc as an initial example, sliding the stitches together. Check that the relaxed band is covered and can still extend comfortably. Add or remove sc before joining if your elastic or yarn needs a different number. Join with a sl st to the first sc and record the count as N.

The base count depends on the elastic and your stitch width. Sixty is a worked example, not a universal elastic size. Do not force an uncovered or tightly bound band to match it.

Round 2: add the ruffle

Ch 3; this chain does not count. Work 3 dc in the first sc and in every remaining sc around. Join to the first actual dc, skipping the starting chain. With the 60-stitch base, you now have 180 dc. (180)

For another base count, multiply N by three. For example, 54 base stitches produce 162 dc; 66 base stitches produce 198 dc. Keep all three dc of each group in one base stitch.

Round 3: finish the edge

Ch 1; this chain does not count. Work one sc in every dc and join to the first sc. Keep the same count as round 2: 180 sc for the example. (180) Do not crochet into the joining slip stitch or the starting chain.

Fasten off and weave each tail through several stitches on the reverse, changing direction without drawing the elastic tight. Stretch and release the band several times and check the joins and ends.

Optional removable tie

Chain until the unstretched chain measures about 45 cm, or your chosen tie length. Sl st in the second chain from the hook and every chain back. Keep these slip stitches loose enough that the strip does not curl into a rigid cord. Fasten off and weave in both ends, then tie the strip around the scrunchie rather than directly around loose hair.

Try the strip in place before cutting the yarn: you need enough length for a secure knot without tails that catch during wear. No clip or lining is required for this version.

Tips & troubleshooting

The elastic shows through

Slide the first-round stitches together and stretch the band gently to check coverage before starting the ruffle. Add or remove base stitches as needed, then record the final base count.

The scrunchie will not stretch

Check that the first-round stitches can slide around the elastic and that no yarn tail has been pulled into a tight ring. The crochet should accommodate the elastic rather than fix it at its relaxed circumference.

The ruffle has an unexpected stitch count

Multiply the base count by three for round 2. Do not include the starting chain as a dc, and join to the first actual dc rather than working another group into the join.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must my elastic have exactly 60 stitches?

No. Sixty is the worked example. Cover your actual elastic comfortably and call that base count N; rounds 2 and 3 each contain 3N stitches.

Can I make a less full scrunchie?

Work two dc per base stitch instead of three for a smaller ruffle. Both later rounds then contain 2N stitches; write down that variation so you do not compare it with the 180-stitch example.

May I sell the finished item?

Small-scale sales of finished items from this pattern are allowed with credit to Crochet Hair Accessories & Scrunchies Pattern. Do not copy, sell, or republish the written instructions or site images.

Keep exploring

To build on Crochet Hair Accessories & Scrunchies Pattern, continue with 20 Boho Crochet Bag Ideas, Best Free Crochet Bag and Accessory Patterns, Crochet Bucket Hat Pattern for Beginners. For a broader route through the site, use the Ultimate Free Crochet Pattern Library.