How to Make a Knitted Scrunchie – Free Pattern Suitable for Beginners
If you’ve been looking for a quick, satisfying knitting project that you can finish in an afternoon, a knitted scrunchie is exactly what you need. These little accessories have made a massive comeback in recent years, and the best part is that they’re incredibly easy to make, even if you’ve never picked up a pair of knitting needles before. This free pattern will walk you through every single step, from gathering your materials to weaving in your last end, so you can create a beautiful handmade scrunchie you’ll actually want to wear — or gift to someone you love.
Whether you’re a complete beginner looking for your very first project or an experienced knitter searching for a fast stash-buster, this pattern is for you. Let’s get started.
Why Knit a Scrunchie?
Before we dive into the pattern, let’s talk about why knitted scrunchies are such a wonderful project. Unlike crochet scrunchies, which are equally popular, a knitted version has a softer, stretchier texture that sits gently on your hair without leaving a dent. The knit fabric has a beautiful drape, and when you use a luxurious yarn — even a small amount of something like mohair or a soft wool blend — the result looks far more elevated than a basic elastic ponytail holder.
Knitted scrunchies also make excellent gifts. They’re lightweight, easy to personalize with different yarn colors and textures, and they feel thoughtful without requiring weeks of work. You can knit a single scrunchie in under two hours once you’ve got the pattern down, which means you can make several at a time for holiday gifts, party favors, or just a little treat for yourself.
From a learning perspective, this project teaches you some of the most fundamental knitting skills: casting on, knitting and purling, joining in the round (if you choose that method), and binding off. If you’ve been practicing on swatches and feel ready for something you can actually use, this is the perfect next step.
What You’ll Need
Gathering your materials before you begin makes the whole process smoother. Here’s everything you’ll need to make one knitted scrunchie.
Yarn: You’ll need approximately 20 to 30 yards of yarn, depending on how full you want your scrunchie to be. Almost any weight works, but DK or worsted weight yarn tends to give the best results for beginners because it’s easier to see your stitches. Soft yarn is important here since this accessory will be worn close to your hair and skin — look for something labeled “soft” or “superwash.” Mohair blends, bamboo blends, and cotton yarns are all lovely choices.
Knitting Needles: You’ll want needles that match your yarn’s recommended gauge, typically somewhere between US size 5 (3.75 mm) and US size 8 (5.0 mm) for DK or worsted weight. You can use straight needles and seam the scrunchie at the end, or use double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a short circular needle to knit in the round. Either method works well.
Hair Elastic: One standard hair elastic, the kind sold in multipacks at any drugstore or beauty supply store. You’ll be encasing this inside your knitted tube, so the size doesn’t need to be exact, but a medium-sized elastic (about 2 inches in diameter, unstretched) works best.
Yarn Needle: Also called a tapestry needle or darning needle, this is used to weave in your ends and to seam your scrunchie closed if you’re knitting flat.
Scissors: A small pair of scissors for cutting your yarn.
That’s genuinely it. If you have a yarn stash, you likely already have everything you need.
Understanding the Stitch Pattern
This pattern uses a simple ribbing stitch, specifically a 1×1 rib (alternating knit and purl stitches) or a 2×2 rib (two knit stitches followed by two purl stitches). Both options create a stretchy fabric that gathers beautifully over the hair elastic.
If you’re a complete beginner and just learning to purl, you can also make this entire scrunchie in straight stockinette or even garter stitch (all knit stitches). The fabric won’t be quite as stretchy, but it will still work and still look lovely, and it’s a fantastic way to practice without worrying about switching between knit and purl.
For the purposes of this pattern, we’ll write the instructions using a 2×2 rib because it creates a particularly nice texture and is very forgiving of minor tension inconsistencies, which is common when you’re just starting out.
Abbreviations Used in This Pattern
Like most knitting patterns, this one uses standard abbreviations to keep the instructions concise. Here’s a quick reference:
CO — Cast on
K — Knit
P — Purl
K2 — Knit 2 stitches
P2 — Purl 2 stitches
BO — Bind off
Rep — Repeat
St/Sts — Stitch/Stitches
RS — Right side
WS — Wrong side
PM — Place marker
SM — Slip marker
If any of these feel unfamiliar, don’t worry. Each one is explained in context as it appears in the pattern below.
Gauge and Sizing
Gauge is less critical for a scrunchie than it is for a garment, but having a rough idea of your tension helps ensure your finished piece looks right. For a worsted weight yarn on US size 7 (4.5 mm) needles, you might expect around 18 to 20 stitches per 4 inches in stockinette. For this project, you don’t need to knit a formal gauge swatch — just proceed with the recommended needle size for your yarn and adjust the cast-on number if your scrunchie turns out too narrow or too wide.
The finished scrunchie, when gathered over the elastic, should be approximately 4 to 5 inches in diameter and about 3 to 4 inches wide. You can easily make it narrower by casting on fewer stitches or wider by casting on more.
The Free Knitted Scrunchie Pattern
Now for the fun part. Here is the complete, free pattern for a beginner-friendly knitted scrunchie.
Materials Summary
Yarn: Approximately 20–30 yards of DK or worsted weight yarn
Needles: US size 6–8 (4.0–5.0 mm), straight or DPNs
One standard hair elastic
Yarn needle and scissors
Instructions
Step 1: Cast On
Using your preferred cast-on method, CO 60 stitches. If you’re a beginner, the long-tail cast-on is the most common and creates a neat, elastic edge that works well for this project. If you only know the backward loop (thumb) cast-on, that works too — the cast-on doesn’t need to be perfect here.
If you’re using straight needles, you’ll be working flat (back and forth in rows) and seaming the two short ends together at the end. If you’re using DPNs or a short circular, join your cast-on row into a round, being careful not to twist your stitches. Place a marker to indicate the beginning of the round.
Step 2: Work the Rib Pattern
For flat knitting (straight needles):
Row 1 (RS): K2, P2; rep from to end of row.
Row 2 (WS): P2, K2; rep from to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until your piece measures approximately 8 to 10 inches in length. This length sounds long, but remember that when the piece is gathered over the elastic, it bunches up significantly and creates that full, ruffled effect that makes scrunchies look so beautiful.
For knitting in the round (DPNs or circular):
Round 1: K2, P2; rep from to marker, SM.
Repeat Round 1 every round until your tube measures approximately 8 to 10 inches.
When knitting in the round, your ribbing is worked the same way on every round because you’re always looking at the right side of your work.
Step 3: Insert the Hair Elastic
Before you bind off, take a moment to insert your hair elastic into the knitted tube you’ve created. This is much easier to do before binding off than after, because you have a live edge to work with.
Fold your knitted piece so the cast-on edge meets the live stitches (the ones still on your needle). Thread the hair elastic through the tube so it sits inside, running the length of the piece. At this point, your tube should be looped around the elastic.
Step 4: Join the Ends and Bind Off
Now you need to connect the cast-on edge to the live stitches to close the scrunchie around the elastic.
The easiest method for beginners is a three-needle bind-off. To do this, hold your needle with the live stitches in your right hand. Use a spare needle or simply pick up the cast-on edge stitches with another needle. Hold both needles parallel, with the wrong sides of the fabric facing outward (the right sides will be facing each other). Insert a third needle knitwise into the first stitch on both needles simultaneously, knit them together, and repeat with the next stitch. Then pass the first stitch over the second, just like a regular bind-off. Continue across until all stitches are bound off.
If a three-needle bind-off feels too complex for now, simply bind off your live stitches normally, then use your yarn needle to seam the cast-on edge to the bound-off edge with a mattress stitch or whipstitch. The seam will be hidden inside the gathered fabric once the scrunchie is complete, so it doesn’t need to be invisible or perfect.
Step 5: Weave in Your Ends
Thread your yarn tail onto your yarn needle and weave it through several stitches on the wrong side of the fabric, changing direction once or twice to secure it. Trim any excess. Repeat with any other yarn tails.
Give your scrunchie a gentle tug in all directions to make sure everything is secure, and you’re done.
Tips for Getting Great Results
A few small adjustments can make a big difference in how your finished scrunchie looks and feels.
Use a stretchy cast-on. A tight cast-on can make your scrunchie look puckered at the seam. The long-tail cast-on is naturally stretchy, but if yours tends to come out tight, try wrapping the yarn around your needle a little more loosely, or going up one needle size just for the cast-on row.
Knit loosely. Because this fabric needs to stretch and gather over the elastic, working with a slightly looser tension than you normally might is a good idea. If you’re a tight knitter by nature, try going up half a needle size.
Choose the right yarn. Slippery yarns like silk or bamboo can be harder to handle if you’re a beginner. Starting with a smooth wool or acrylic gives you better stitch definition and easier needle movement. Save the fancy yarns for once you’re comfortable with the pattern.
Experiment with length. A shorter tube (around 6 inches) creates a flatter, more minimal scrunchie. A longer tube (up to 12 inches) creates a super full, ruffled look. Both are beautiful — it really comes down to personal preference.
Make multiples. Once you’ve made one scrunchie and understand the pattern, you can knit several in a row during a movie or while listening to a podcast. They make wonderful last-minute gifts when wrapped with a ribbon or tucked into a gift bag.
Variations to Try Once You’ve Mastered the Basic Pattern
Once you’ve made one or two scrunchies and feel confident with the basic construction, there are so many fun ways to change things up.
Colorwork: Using two colors in simple stripes is a great way to add visual interest. Simply carry the unused color up the side of your work or cut and rejoin for each stripe.
Different stitch patterns: Try a seed stitch (alternating knit and purl within each row to create a bumpy, textured fabric) or a simple cable for a more advanced look.
Texture yarn: Using a fluffy yarn like mohair or a novelty yarn with a bouclé texture creates a scrunchie that looks incredibly luxurious and expensive with almost no extra effort.
Oversized scrunchie: Double your cast-on to 120 stitches and use bulky yarn with larger needles for a bold, fashion-forward accessory that works as a statement piece in fine hair or as a bracelet-style wrist accessory.
Gradient yarn: Self-striping or hand-dyed gradient yarn looks stunning in this pattern because the short rows show off color changes beautifully without any extra work on your part.
Caring for Your Knitted Scrunchie
How you care for your scrunchie depends on the fiber content of your yarn. Acrylic and superwash wool scrunchies are typically machine washable on a gentle cycle and can be laid flat to dry. Natural fibers like non-superwash wool or silk should be hand washed in cool water with a gentle detergent and laid flat to dry.
Avoid putting your scrunchie in the dryer, as heat can damage both the yarn and the hair elastic inside. With a little care, a well-made knitted scrunchie should last for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this scrunchie without knowing how to purl?
Yes, absolutely. If you only know how to knit (the knit stitch), just work every stitch as a knit stitch for every row or round. This creates garter stitch when worked flat or stockinette when worked in the round, and both make a perfectly functional and attractive scrunchie.
How much yarn do I need if I want to make several scrunchies?
A single skein of DK or worsted weight yarn (typically 200 yards or more) is usually enough to make six to ten scrunchies, depending on how long you make each one. This makes scrunchies an ideal stash-busting project.
My scrunchie looks too loose or too tight around the elastic. What did I go wrong?
If it’s too loose, try casting on fewer stitches or using a smaller elastic. If it’s too tight and the elastic is very difficult to insert, try casting on more stitches or using a larger elastic. Because gauge varies from knitter to knitter, minor adjustments like these are completely normal and not a sign that you’ve done anything wrong.
Can I use this pattern with chunky or bulky yarn?
Yes, though you’ll want to reduce your cast-on number significantly — try starting with 30 to 40 stitches for a chunky yarn. The scrunchie will work up even faster and have a bolder, chunkier texture.
Final Thoughts
A knitted scrunchie is one of those rare projects that manages to be both genuinely useful and genuinely enjoyable to make. It’s fast enough to feel satisfying, small enough to carry with you anywhere, and beautiful enough that you’ll be proud of the result. Whether you’re knitting your very first project or just looking for a quick win on a busy afternoon, this pattern delivers every time.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different yarns, colors, and stitch patterns as you grow more comfortable. The scrunchie is a forgiving canvas — almost anything goes, and any “mistakes” tend to disappear once the fabric gathers over the elastic anyway.
So grab whatever yarn is nearest, find your needles, and make yourself something lovely. You deserve it.
