Beginner Ruffle Scrunchie

A quick, beginner-friendly crochet scrunchie worked in simple stitches around a standard hair elastic. Three joined rounds cover the elastic, add a little height, and finish with a full ruffle. It is an ideal leftover-yarn project and can be completed in one sitting.

Skill level: Beginner

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (CYC 4 / medium), 50 yd (46 m). Acrylic, cotton, or a wool blend all work. Acrylic gives the softest ruffle; cotton looks a bit more structured.
• Hook: US H/8 (5.0 mm) crochet hook, or a size that gives a slightly loose fabric. A US I/9 (5.5 mm) hook may be used for extra drape.
• Notions:
  • 1 standard snag-free hair elastic, approximately 2" (5 cm) in diameter when lying flat and unstretched (the seamless kind without a metal join is easiest to crochet around)
  • Yarn needle
  • Scissors
  • Stitch marker

Gauge

14 hdc = 4" (10 cm) using US H/8 (5.0 mm) hook.

Gauge is not critical for this project. The fabric should feel slightly loose, not stiff. If your stitches are very tight, go up one hook size so the elastic can stretch when worn.

Sizes

One size. Fits a standard ponytail elastic, approximately 2" (5 cm) in diameter.

Finished scrunchie measures about 3.5–4" (9–10 cm) across when lying flat with the elastic relaxed.

To use a larger or smaller elastic, work any even number of sc in Round 1 until the elastic is comfortably covered. Round 2 will match that count; Round 3 will be twice that count.

Abbreviations (US terms)

• ch — chain
• sc — single crochet
• hdc — half double crochet
• sl st — slip stitch
• st(s) — stitch(es)
• rnd — round
• yo — yarn over

Pattern Notes

• Pattern uses US crochet terminology.
• Worked in joined rounds around the hair elastic. Do not turn at the end of a round.
• Work in both loops of every stitch.
• The beginning ch-1 (Round 1) and ch-2 (Rounds 2 and 3) do not count as stitches. Work the first stitch of each round in the first stitch of the previous round.
• Join each round with a sl st to the first stitch of the round, not the beginning chain.
• Stitch count is given in parentheses at the end of each round.
• Keep Round 1 stitches slightly loose. Tight stitches will keep the elastic from stretching.
• Round 1 will look bunched on the elastic. That gathering is what makes the scrunchie.

Pattern

Make a slip knot, leaving a 6" (15 cm) tail, and place it on your hook.

Round 1 (cover the elastic): Insert the hook through the center of the hair elastic, yo, and pull up a loop. Ch 1 (does not count as a st; this attaches the yarn). Work 60 sc around the hair elastic, sliding the stitches along the elastic as you go so they sit evenly. The stitches will bunch together and hide the elastic — this is correct. Place a stitch marker in the first sc. Join with sl st to the first sc (skip the beginning ch-1). (60 sc)

Tip: Hold the elastic between the thumb and fingers of your non-hook hand and rotate it as you stitch. If a small stretch of elastic still shows, push the stitches together; do not add extra stitches unless you are using a larger elastic.

Round 2 (add height): Ch 2 (does not count as a st). Hdc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first hdc. (60 hdc)

Round 3 (ruffle): Ch 2 (does not count as a st). Work 2 hdc in each st around. Join with sl st to the first hdc. (2 hdc in each of 60 sts → 60 × 2 = 120 ✓) (120 hdc)

Fasten off, leaving an 8" (20 cm) tail.

Finishing

1. Thread the ending tail onto a yarn needle. Use it to close any small gap at the slip-stitch join, then weave the tail through the backs of the Round 3 stitches for 1–2" (2.5–5 cm). Do not wrap the tail around the elastic, or it may show and snag hair when the scrunchie is stretched.
2. Weave in the starting tail the same way, through the backs of the Round 1 stitches.
3. Trim the ends close to the fabric.
4. Stretch the scrunchie gently once or twice so the ruffle settles evenly around the elastic.

Optional look: For a less ruffled scrunchie, work 1 hdc in each st on Round 3 (60 hdc). For a taller, floppier ruffle, substitute dc for hdc on Round 3 only (ch 3 at the start of the round, and that ch-3 does not count as a stitch): 2 dc in each st around (120 dc).

Wear and enjoy.