How to Crochet a Scrunchie (Quick Beginner Project)

You only need a few things for this project. Grab a skein of worsted-weight yarn in whatever color you love, a 4.5mm crochet hook, a pair of scissors, and a plain elastic hair tie. That's the whole supply list.

Any medium-weight yarn works here, so this is a great way to use up leftovers from bigger projects. A thicker yarn gives you a fuller, poofier scrunchie, while a thinner yarn makes a daintier one.

Start with a slip knot. Wrap the yarn around your fingers to make a loop, then pull the working yarn through and slide the loop onto your hook. Snug it up so it sits on the shaft without choking the hook.

If you crochet a lot, use whatever slip knot method you already like. The goal is just a secure starting loop you can build your first stitches from.

Hold the yarn tail flat against the hair tie with the same hand that holds your hook. Insert the hook into the middle of the elastic, catch the working yarn, and pull it through. Yarn over and pull through both loops to lock in your first single crochet.

This first stitch is the fiddly one. Once it's anchored to the band, everything after it gets easier.

Keep working single crochet into the center of the hair tie all the way around. Aim for 40 to 50 stitches. More stitches give you tighter, fuller ruffles later, and fewer stitches make a looser, softer scrunchie.

As you stitch, push the loops together every so often so there are no gaps. You want the elastic completely wrapped by the time you get back to the start.

Close the foundation round with a slip stitch into your first single crochet, then chain three to start the ruffle. Now work three triple crochet into each single crochet all the way around. Yarn over twice, insert the hook, and pull through in pairs until one loop is left.

Packing three tall stitches into every base stitch is what forces the fabric to gather and ruffle. This is where the scrunchie starts to look like a scrunchie.

Continue those three triple crochet clusters into every stitch around the band. About halfway through you'll see the ruffle really take shape, curling and gathering into that full, wavy edge.

Keep your tension relaxed. If you crochet the ruffle round too tightly it can curl in on itself instead of flaring out the way you want.

When you reach the end of the ruffle round, slip stitch into the third chain from the start to close it up. Chain one, cut the yarn, and pull the tail through the loop to lock it. Then feed the tail back through the bottom of a few stitches with your hook to hide it.

Snip the extra tail close, fluff and arrange the ruffles with your fingers, and your scrunchie is done.

Once you've got the basic scrunchie down, the fun part is repeating it in every color you own. Swap yarns between rounds to make striped or two-tone versions, or change your stitch heights to get bigger and smaller ruffles.

Each one only takes a few minutes, so a rainy afternoon can turn into a full basket of handmade scrunchies. They wear great in your hair, stack as bracelets, and make quick gifts.