Heads up! This post contains affiliate links which means I get may get a commission if you purchase something based on my recommendations here. Shout out to Gina at Global Backyard for gifting me this mini skein to make my scrunchie dreams come true! 😁
I was oogling the pretty yarn colors available from my new favorite indie yarn dyer, Global Backyard, and I fell in love with this Day-Glo Mojito neon sock yarn and I knew it was destined to become a scrunchie! I was thrilled that Gina offers this color in 87-yard mini skeins because that is the perfect yardage for my favorite scrunchie knitting pattern. (Knitted scrunchies are super cute and really gentle on your hair).
Types of Knitted Scrunchie Patterns
When you make knitted scrunchies, be careful with patterns that use a “lengthwise” construction technique: meaning, you cast on a ton of stiches, knit a few inches, then wrap it around an an elastic and seam on the long side. I don’t love this technique because the long seam won’t stretch like the rest of the fabric. If you choose this technique, be sure to knit the length of the piece long enough that you can still get a full stretch of the elastic. I much prefer the technique I describe below, which is more of a “horizontal” construction…. you could also call it a “tubular” construction if you’re digging my retro side pony vibe!
Choosing an Elastic for Your Scrunchie
I’ve tried a few different kinds of hair elastics for the base of my scrunchies and many of them have stretched out, which is a bummer because there is really no way to replace them. Now I only use the elastics made for thick hair, like Goody Active or Burlybands. These types of elastics are about 1/4 inch thick and keep their stretch for a long time. Any color will do.
My Scrunchie Knitting “Pattern”
OK, so I’m not a pattern designer, but I’m going to attempt to write out instructions for this scrunchie knitting technique. My instructions assume you know how to knit magic loop and that you are comfortable doing a provisional cast on and kitchener stitch. Because working around the elastic is a bit fiddly, I don’t recommend you use this project to try out any of those techniques for the first time.
Materials
Sock Yarn Mini Skein (20g)
Hair Elastic
Size 4 (3.5mm) circular needles with a cable long enough to do magic loop
Spare circular needle in the same size (a size up or down would be fine too)
Instructions
Cast on 20 stitches using a provisional cast on method of your choice. (I like this method with a crochet hook or this method without one.)
Thread your needle with the cast on stitches through the center of the hair elastic and join to work in the round so your stitches wrap around the side of the elastic.
You can make the joining a little easier on yourself by working the first two rows flat and then pop it in the scrunchie and join to work in the round. This will give you something a little more substantial on your needles to start out with and you can stitch up the little gap this makes when you finish the piece.
From here, you’re basically just knitting a tube around the elastic:
Keep working in the round magic-loop style until your tube is long enough to cover the elastic in its fully stretched-out state. Keep going for a few more inches if you like an extra-wrinkly scrunchie! It feels a little fiddly at first, but soon you’ll get into a rhythm.
When your tube is the desired length you are ready to pick out your provisional cast on and place the stitches on your second circular needle. Do a final check to make sure your tube isn’t twisted and line up the tails from your cast on with your working yarn on the other end. (Keep in mind that you may need to knit another half-round if they don’t line up.)
Use kitchener stitch to graft the two ends together. Tie a discrete little knot with the remaining yarn tails and thread the tails into the center of the scrunchie.
Done!
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