It’s the dog days of summer, and I know all my fellow crafters are torn with wanting to knit while also trying to find a way to stay cool (and make knits that will keep you cool as well). I was wrapping my hair up in a top knot the other day to beat the heat, and thought about how fun a scrunchie pattern would be. If you’re a Millennial or Gen X-er, you’ve been rocking scrunchies for decades. Now that they’re back in style with Gen-Z, I thought this would be the perfect July pattern that won’t make you overheat.


It’s a straightforward pattern that you can easily tweak and adjust in order to customize the scrunchie size to your liking. It’s also the PERFECT stashbuster. I show you three scrunchie variations and provide two options for seaming the work together. I hope you’ll share your finished knits with me to see what creations you come up with – tag us on IG and Threads: @bearsdenessentials.

Friendly reminder that the new Pro-Takumi Circular Knitting Needles from Clover are now available. Made with sustainable bamboo and polished to smooth perfection, these needles feel wonderful to knit with. For a quick knitting pattern like this with fewer rows, I like that the cords rotate and won’t get twisted as I go. I love how the yarn glides on these needles, without making the yarn fall off. As Goldilocks would say, these needles are just right!

MATERIALS:

Yarn: Impeccable™ Solid Yarn by Loops & Threads®

285 Yards (260 meters) | 127.5 grams | Worsted Weight (Category 4) 

Yarn Yardage: ~50 Yards / 46 Meters | 22.5 grams total per scrunchie. 

  • Solid examples shown in Arbor Rose and Teal. 
  • Striped example shown in Skylight (MC) and Orchid Bloom (CC1). 

Knitting Needles: 

–US Size 8 (5.0 mm) Clover Takumi Bamboo Circular Knitting Needles 16” (41cm)

Notions:

–Scunchie No Damage® Thick Hair Black Elastics 24pk

–Jumbo Darning Needle

–Clover Row Counter

–Clover Yarn Cutter Pendant

–Four Locking Stitch Markers

SIZE INFORMATION: 

Finished Measurements:

Finished Scrunchie Diameter: Approx. 4.5” (11.5 cm)*

*Don’t worry much about hitting the exact diameter, you can customize it to your desired length & width. 

Gauge:

Approx. 20 sts/24 rounds = 4” (10 cm) square in fair isle pattern stitch using 5mm/US 8 needles 

Abbreviations and Stitch Glossary:

  • Approx: Approximately
  • CC1: Contrast Color 1
  • CO: Cast on
  • COFF: Cast off
  • K: Knit
  • MC: Main Color
  • Rnd(s): Round(s)
  • Stockinette Stitch created by knitting each stitch of every round
  • St(s): Stitch(es)
  • WS/ RS: Wrong side of the work / Right side of the work
  • “ / cm(s): Inch(es) / Centimeter(s)

CONSTRUCTION OVERVIEW:

  • The scrunchie is worked in the round from the bottom up in stockinette stitch. The scrunchie is then seamed up using a darning needle. It can be made two ways (RS or WS facing outwards).

PATTERN:

  • With size US 8 (4 mm) circular needles and MC yarn, cast on 76 sts. Place stitch marker, then join in the round. Be careful not to twist the yarn.

 Single Color Version:

  • Round 1: Knit.
  • Continue working in stockinette st for ~20 rounds or until work measures  ~3.5” (9cm) from CO edge.
  • COff using your preferred method to create a stretchy bind off. Leave an approx. 30” (76 cm) tail for sewing the edges together.

Two-Color Version:

  • Rounds 1-5: Knit. 
  • Change from MC to CC1.
  • Rounds 5-10: Knit.
  • Repeat Rows 1-10 once more.
  • COff using your preferred method to create a stretchy bind off. Leave an approx. 30” (76 cm) tail for sewing the edges together.

SEAMING THE SCRUNCHIE TOGETHER:

  • The scrunchie can be seamed up in two ways: kitchener stitch or whip stitch. 
  • For a scrunchie with the RS of the work (or knit stitch) on the outside:
  • Turn the tube so that the WS of the work is facing you, bunch the work, and place the hair tie around it in the center. You will be sewing the CO and COff edges together around it.
  • To help hold the edges together, place four locking stitch markers around the circumference. 
  • Start seaming by inserting your darning needle into the outer loops of the CO and COff edges. Work around the perimeter of the scrunchie to sew the edges together using your preferred stitching method. Scrunchie shown in the example was seamed using the whip stitch.  
  • For a scrunchie with the WS of the work on the outside:
  • Turn the tube so that the RS of the work is facing you, bunch the work, and place the hair tie around it in the center. You will be sewing the CO and COff edges together around it.
  • To help hold the edges together, place four locking stitch markers around the circumference. 
  • Start seaming by inserting your darning needle into the outer loops of the CO and COff edges. Work around the perimeter of the scrunchie to sew the edges together using your preferred stitching method. Scrunchie shown in the example was seamed using the kitchener stitch.  
  • Finish by weaving in ends.

I hope you had as much fun making this scrunchie as much as I did designing it for you! Don’t forget to follow Bears Den Essentials on social media and to share your finished projects tagging @BearsDenEssentials and with the hashtags #BearsDenEssentials and #BearsDenInTheWild! 

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date. For beginners, be sure to head to our YouTube Page (@bearsdenessentials) to get the full series of knitting tutorials we offer! For questions about this pattern and extra tips, email us at bearsdenessentials@gmail.com. Find Bears Den Essentials on

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DESIGNER AND PATTERN INFORMATION: All patterns, text, products, and photos are property of Hannah Ollenburger and Bears Den Essentials. Patterns and photographs cannot be distributed, copied in part or in whole, re-written, or re-sold without permission—electronically or physically. You may sell your finished products made using Bears Den Essentials patterns as long as you provide a direct link to this pattern in your listing and tag us on social media @bearsdenessentials. For any other use, please contact us directly (bearsdenessentials@gmail.com). Thank you for supporting artists by using and sharing our content ethically and legally.