Looking for a free crochet scrunchie pattern? Here are 24 of them: easy beginner scrunchies, soft velvet and chenille, ruffled and lacy ones, bows and puff stitches, and pumpkin, heart and Christmas scrunchies for the holidays. Every full written pattern is free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. Most take 20 to 40 minutes and less than 30 yards of yarn, so a scrunchie is one of the fastest handmade gifts you can make, and a great way to use up the odds and ends in your stash.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn, the hook, and how the first round starts, plus the finished size or time where the designer gives it. A few designers also sell an ad-free PDF, but the version linked here is free to read on the page.
How crochet scrunchies work. Nearly every pattern here starts the same way: you work a round of single crochet (or double crochet) straight around a plain hair elastic until it's covered. Then you add rounds of increases (2 or 3 stitches in each stitch) so the fabric ruffles and gathers. A few patterns work a flat ribbed strip instead and sew it into a tube around the elastic. Use the "ouchless" no-metal hair ties, so they don't snag hair.
Easy crochet scrunchies for beginners
Start here if you've never made one. Each of these is a stash-buster, too.
Easy Crochet Hair Scrunchie — Sarah Maker. A soft tube scrunchie: chain 10 around a hair tie, join, and then work 36 spiral rounds of half double crochet before you seam the ends. Worsted yarn on a J/6mm hook. It's a true beginner pattern and uses up leftover yarn.
Quick and Easy Crochet Scrunchie — Dreamee Crochet. Three rounds: single crochet around the band, then alternating 3 dc and 2 dc, then 3 dc in every stitch. Sport or DK yarn on a 3mm hook, about 3 1/2 inches across. There are video tutorials for both right and left handers.
Favourite Hair Scrunchy — Rich Textures Crochet. 60 sc around the elastic, then 4 treble crochet in each stitch for a big, full 240-stitch ruffle. It takes about 20 yards of light-weight Lion Brand Truboo on a 4mm hook and finishes about 3 1/2 inches wide. Rated beginner, with a video.
Stash Busting Scrunchies — The Fairythorn. Works with any yarn weight, and the pattern gives a hook for each one (3mm for sock yarn up to 6mm for chunky). Chain-space rounds build out to a shell edge, in US and UK terms. A worsted one uses about 15g and takes about half an hour.
The Lazy Scrunchie — Yippie Yarn Yay. 72 sc around the elastic, then four rounds of half double crochet with increases. Two strands of yarn held together on a 3.5mm hook (about 76 yards in all), with optional beads. Rated advanced beginner.
Velvet and chenille scrunchies
Velvet yarn makes the plush, shiny scrunchies you see in stores, and it's surprisingly easy to work with in big stitches.
Simple Velvet Scrunchie — The Nicole Chase. Single crochet around the hair tie until it's covered, then 2 dc in each stitch around. Bernat Velvet on a 5mm (H) hook. Only two rounds, and the designer calls it a great project for beginners.
DIY Velvet Scrunchie — Sarah Maker. 45 dc around the elastic, then 2 dc in each stitch for 90 stitches. Velvet yarn on a K/6.5mm hook, done in about 30 minutes.
Crochet Velvet Scrunchie — Marching North. Single crochet around the ponytail holder, then 2 hdc in each stitch. Lion Brand Vel-Lux on a 5mm hook, about 20 minutes of active time, with a video.
Hyperbolic Velvet Scrunchie — Moogly. Sc around the band, then two rounds of 2 dc in each stitch, so the fabric twists into a wavy "hyperbolic" ruffle. The page pairs hooks to three velvet weights (4mm for Baby Velvet up to 6mm for Bernat Velvet), and gauge doesn't matter.
Cluster Stitch Scrunchies — Daisy Cottage Designs. 40 dc clusters worked right around the elastic in one go, for a puffy, nubby look. About 20 yards of worsted or velvet yarn on a 5.5mm hook, with a video.
Ruffled, layered and lace scrunchies
Simple Crochet Hair Scrunchie — The Purple Poncho. 50 sc around the band, then 3 dc in each stitch for 150 dc. A deep ruffle about 4 inches across, using under 30 yards of Bernat Baby Velvet on a 6mm hook. Rated easy, with a video.
Ruffled Scrunchie — Crochet 'n' Create. 60 sc around the loop, then 120 dc, then 180 dc: three rounds that build a very full ruffle. About 15g of DK on a 4mm hook, written in both US and UK terms. Rated easy.
Layered Crochet Scrunchie — Nicki's Homemade Crafts. Two ruffles in one: after the first round you work into the front loops, then go back and work into the back loops. Try two colors for a pretty layered look. Worsted yarn on a 4mm hook, with a video.
Easy Lace Scrunchie — Hooked on Homemade Happiness. 50 sc, then a mesh round of dc and ch 1, then V-stitches, finished with a chain-4 scallop edge. Worsted cotton on a 5mm hook, beginner-friendly, with a video. (A reader comment notes that the V-stitch should read "dc, ch 1, dc.")
Lacy Hair Scrunchie — Crochet Spot. A single round: 1 sc into the elastic, then ch 8, repeated about 55 times until the band is covered. Baby yarn on an F/3.75mm hook makes a frilly 3 1/2-inch scrunchie that's sweet for little girls.
Bows, puffs and pretty details
Sweet Pea Scrunchie — Bella Coco. 40 stitches around the hair tie, doubled to 80, then a picot-style edge. Aran cotton on a 4.5mm hook, in two sizes (the mini is 3 1/2 inches). Written in UK terms, with right- and left-handed videos.
Blooming Heart Scrunchie — Happyheartsy. Sc around the elastic in a multiple of 5, then a round of puff stitches and hdc that blooms into little hearts, plus two decorative tails. Worsted yarn on a 5mm hook, with a video.
Crochet Bow Scrunchie — Darsi Stitches. A scrunchie (sc around the tie, then dc, tr, dc in each stitch) plus a separate 6-stitch bow worked for 42 rows and shaped tails. Sport-weight yarn on a 5.5mm hook, using less than half a skein.
Folded Leaf Scrunchie — Crochet 'n' Create. 24 sts around the band, then 12 petal groups of graded stitches that fold over like leaves. DK yarn on a 4mm hook, in UK terms. Rated intermediate, and lovely in fall colors.
Holiday and seasonal scrunchies
Quick little gifts for fall, Valentine's Day and Christmas.
Crochet Pumpkin Scrunchie — Shooting Star Crafts. A ribbed strip (chain 68, then rows of front- and back-post hdc) sewn into a tube around a 9-inch elastic, with a green stem. Worsted orange and green on a 6mm hook. Pair it with our crochet pumpkin patterns.
Pumpkin Scrunchie Tutorial — Chicken Scratch NY. Fast and chunky: 27 dc around a large hair tie (20 for a small one) in super bulky Bernat Softee Chunky on an L hook, finished with a ribbon stem and leaf.
Crochet Heart Scrunchie — Shooting Star Crafts. Chain 66, then 15 rows of single crochet with a colorwork heart chart, sewn into a tube around the elastic. White and pink yarn on a 5.5mm hook. A sweet Valentine's gift.
Christmas Scrunchies — Howling at the Moon. 40 dc around the elastic, then 120, then 240 stitches, changing colors as you go. Red, green and white make a candy cane look. No hook size is given, so use what suits your yarn.
Christmas Crochet Scrunchie — Olive & Artisan. 23 sc, then shells of [2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc] in every third stitch, with optional tinsel sewn in for sparkle. Bulky wool on a 6mm hook, easy and quick.
Tips for perfect crochet scrunchies
- Cover the elastic completely. In round 1, keep adding stitches until the band is fully hidden. The stitch count can vary with your elastic size, so count what you made and keep the increases in proportion.
- Use thicker elastics for thick hair. Big ruffles are heavy. A sturdy hair tie holds better than a thin one.
- Mind the yarn. Cotton gives crisp ruffles, velvet is plush and shiny, and acrylic is cheap and bright. Avoid scratchy wool for hair accessories.
- Weave in ends firmly. Scrunchies get pulled and stretched all day, so weave each tail through several stitches in different directions.
- Make a set. Two or three scrunchies in coordinating colors, tied with ribbon, make a lovely gift for a teen or a teacher.
Frequently asked questions
How much yarn do I need for a crochet scrunchie?
Usually 15 to 30 yards of worsted or DK yarn. Big ruffled styles can take up to 75 yards, and chunky one-round scrunchies can take as little as 10. Most scrunchies are perfect for leftover yarn.
What is the best yarn for crochet scrunchies?
Velvet and chenille yarns make soft, plush scrunchies that look like store-bought ones. Cotton is crisp, washable and gentle on hair. Any smooth acrylic works well for kids. Avoid fuzzy or scratchy yarns that tangle in hair.
Can you crochet a scrunchie without a hair tie?
Yes. Some patterns work a long tube or strip and thread a piece of flat elastic through it. But crocheting straight around a ready-made hair tie is the easiest and most secure method, so most patterns here use one.
How long does it take to crochet a scrunchie?
Most take 20 to 40 minutes. One-round velvet scrunchies can be done in 15 minutes, and colorwork or ribbed tube styles take about an hour.
More quick crochet gifts
Scrunchies are perfect tucked into a stocking. See our crochet stocking stuffer patterns for more, and pair one with a crochet ear warmer headband for a hair-accessory gift set. Add matching crochet earrings or a crochet bracelet, and slip everything into one of our crochet gift bags. For more one-sitting projects, try our weekend crochet gift patterns and easy crochet bookmarks. A scrunchie and a mini backpack from our crochet backpack patterns make a sweet gift set for a teen.
