Simple Single Crochet Scarf with Appliqué Motifs

A cozy rectangular scarf in beginner single crochet, finished with ten small shaped appliqués. Motifs are worked separately and sewn on; arrange them however you like.

Skill level: Beginner (motifs use hdc, dc, slip stitch, and foundation single crochet)

Finished size: Scarf 7 × 64 in (18 × 163 cm), excluding motifs

Materials

• Worsted weight yarn (category 4)
  • MC (scarf): 500 yd (457 m)
  • CC (motifs): 150 yd (137 m) total, in one color or assorted leftovers
• Hook: US H-8 (5 mm), or size needed for gauge
• Yarn needle
• Scissors
• Stitch markers (optional)

Gauge

16 sc and 16 rows = 4 in (10 cm) in single crochet.

Gauge is not critical for fit, but it does change finished size and yardage. If your swatch is larger than 4 in (10 cm), go down a hook size; if smaller, go up.

Abbreviations (US)

Special Stitches

Foundation single crochet (FSC):
Ch 2. Insert hook in 2nd ch from hook, yo, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yo, pull through 1 loop (this makes the base ch), yo, pull through 2 loops (this makes the sc).
For each following FSC: Insert hook under the 2 loops of the base ch at the foot of the FSC just made, yo, pull up a loop, yo, pull through 1 loop (base ch), yo, pull through 2 loops (sc).
One FSC = 1 sc and 1 base ch.

Notes

• Pattern uses US crochet terms.
• Turning ch-1 and turning ch-2 do not count as stitches. Always work the first stitch of the row into the first stitch of the previous row (never into the turning chain).
• Stitch counts are given in parentheses at the end of each row.
• Motifs are worked in CC. Leave a long tail when fastening off if you plan to sew with that tail.
• Make the scarf first, then the motifs.

Scarf (MC)

Foundation: Ch 29.

Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Turn. (28 sc)
(29 ch − 1 = 28 sc ✓)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (28 sc)

Repeat Row 2 until the piece measures 64 in (163 cm) from the foundation edge.

Fasten off. Weave in ends.

Motifs (CC)

Motif A — Stem with Side Branch

Make 2.

Row 1: Ch 12, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (11 sc)
(12 ch − 1 = 11 sc ✓)

Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (11 sc)

Row 4: Ch 1, sl st in first st, ch 2, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next st. Leave remaining 7 sts unworked. Turn. (1 sl st, 3 sts)
(1 sl st + 3 sts = 4 sts used; 11 − 4 = 7 left unworked ✓)

Row 5: Ch 1, sc in first st, hdc in next st, dc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 6: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Rows 7–8: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (3 sc)

Row 9: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Do not turn. (3 sc)

Row 10 (side branch): Ch 1. Rotate the work 90 degrees clockwise so the row-ends of the 3-st strip face you. Work 1 sl st into the side of Row 9, 1 sl st into the side of Row 8, and 1 sl st into the side of Row 7. Ch 2, dc into the side of the next row, hdc into the side of the next row, sc into the side of the next row. Turn. (3 sl sts, 3 sts)

The 3 sl sts join the branch to the stem. Work the following rows into the 3 sts only (dc, hdc, sc).

Row 11: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 12: Ch 1, sc in first st, hdc in next st, dc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Rows 13–16: Repeat Rows 11–12 twice. (3 sts)
(4 rows = 2 repeats ✓)

Rows 17–19: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (3 sc)

Row 20: Ch 1, sc in first st, hdc in next st, dc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 21: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Rows 22–23: Repeat Rows 20–21 once. (3 sts)

Fasten off.

Motif B — Strip with End Bar

Make 2.

Row 1: Ch 4, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in last ch. Turn. (3 sts)
(4 ch − 1 = 3 sts ✓)

Row 2: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, hdc in next st, dc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Row 4: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in last st. Turn. (3 sts)

Rows 5–6: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (3 sc)

Rows 7–14: Repeat Rows 3–4 four times. (3 sts)
(8 rows = 4 repeats ✓)

Rows 15–17: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (3 sc)
(Repeat Row 5 three times ✓)

Rows 18–21: Repeat Rows 3–4 twice. At the end of Row 21, ch 9. Turn. (3 sts, 9 ch)
(4 rows = 2 repeats ✓)

Row 22: Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in each remaining ch, sc in each of the 3 sts. Turn. (11 sc)
(8 sc on the ch + 3 sc on the strip = 11 ✓)

Rows 23–24: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (11 sc)

Fasten off.

Motif C — Wide Base Stem

Make 2.

Row 1: Ch 12, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (11 sc)
(12 ch − 1 = 11 sc ✓)

Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (11 sc)

Row 4: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in next st, leave remaining 8 sts unworked. Turn. (3 sts)
(11 − 3 = 8 left unworked ✓)

Rows 5–16: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (3 sc)
(12 rows ✓)

Row 17: Ch 2, dc in first st, hdc in next st, sc in last st.

Fasten off.

Motif D — Double-Bar Piece

Make 1.

Row 1: Ch 9, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (8 sc)
(9 ch − 1 = 8 sc ✓)

Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (8 sc)

Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first 3 sts, leave remaining 5 sts unworked. Turn. (3 sc)
(8 − 3 = 5 left unworked ✓)

Rows 5–7: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (3 sc)

Row 8: Ch 1, sc in each st across, then ch 6. Turn. (3 sc, 6 ch)

Row 9: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each of the remaining 4 ch, sc in each of the 3 sts of Row 8, FSC 7 working off the last sc. Turn. (15 sts)
(5 sc on ch + 3 sc + 7 FSC = 15 ✓)

Rows 10–11: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (15 sc)

Fasten off.

Motif E — Wide Bar

Make 3.

Row 1: Ch 16, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch. Turn. (15 sc)
(16 ch − 1 = 15 sc ✓)

Rows 2–3: Ch 1, sc in each st across. Turn. (15 sc)

Fasten off.

Finishing

1. Weave in scarf ends. Weave in any motif tails you will not use for sewing.
2. Block motifs lightly so they lie flat. Pin to shape, mist with water, and let dry fully. (Optional for the scarf; a light steam or wet block will even the edges.)
3. Arrange all 10 motifs on the scarf (2 × A, 2 × B, 2 × C, 1 × D, 3 × E). Shift them until you like the layout — centered cluster, scattered along the length, or grouped near the ends all work.
4. Pin in place. With a yarn needle and matching yarn (or the long tails), sew each motif to the scarf through the back loops or with small whipstitches around the edge. Do not pull so tight that the scarf puckers.
5. Weave in remaining ends.

No fringe.

Motif checklist

Wear or gift. Motifs may also be used on their own as appliqués for bags, hats, or blankets.