The perfect scrunchie recipe ! (Free knitting pattern)

Hello! Last year, I wrote for you an easy pattern to knit a seed stitch scrunchie. And this year, I m going further and writing a complete recipe that you cas use to make the knitted scrunchie of your dreams!

Even though I prefer circular needles, I also wrote the explanations for straight needles, because everyone has the right to prefer their own knitting style 🙂

The advantage of having this pattern here on my blog is that it can evolve with time. Feel free to tell me if there are other stitches of techniques that would deserve to be in this article.

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Table of contents

1 – Material
2 – Cast on your knitted scrunchie
3 – Knit your favorite stitch pattern
4 – Cast of and finishing the knitted scrunchie

1 – Material

3,5mm circular needles, with a 40cm cable (or longer if you use magic loop). You can also use straight needles, but there will be an additional sewing step.
Scrap yarn (about 12-15g of DK ). You can also use any other weigh if you use another needle size.
A hair tie (about 6-8cm diameter)
A tapestry needle
Optional: a crochet to cast (provisional cast on), or to sew the sides.
Optional: additional needles to cast off if you chose a provisional cast on

2 – Cast on your knitted scrunchie

To begin with, you must cast on 80 stitches (or enough stitches to go around your 40cm circular needle and join in the round). Th advantage of 80 is that it is a multiple of 2, 4 and 8, so you have many possibilities to choose your favorite stitch patterns! And if you need an odd number, just cast on 81 stitches 😉

You can cast on with the method of your choice. I will present here two different ways : the classic cast on and the provisional cast on.

Long tail cast on

It is the most basic and simple way to start a knitted scrunchie. It is easy but you might need to sew the ends.

Here is a link to a video to learn how to cast on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vm6oaYzHyA

Provisional cast on

It is a bit harder and you will need a crochet hook, but then it will be easier and quicker to join the two sides of the knitted scrunchie.

Here is my favorite method for a provisional cast on: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/provisional-cast-on-video/

You have to use a contrasting color yarn for the cast on, and then you start knitting directly on the stitches created.

Scrunchie in progress with a provisional cast on

3 – Knit your favorite stitch pattern

Now that we have cast on 80 stitches (or the amount you might need), it is time to actually knit the scrunchie !

You can choose the stitch patterns you prefer, even though I suggest not to choose lace stitches through which the hair tie might be visible. Also, before choosing the pattern don’t forget that the inside of the « donut » will be squished.

If you have cast on 80 stitches, you can choose any stitch pattern that is a repetition of 2, 4 or 8 stitches! If not, you can easily adapt the number of stitches to the pattern of your choice.

Then, for a « classical sized » knitted scrunchie, you will need to knit your stitch pattern for about 8cm (3 inches). You can adapt this to the length of your choice.

Below are a few example of stitch patterns you could use.

Stockinette: an unavoidable classic!

Circular needles: Knit all stitches.
Straight needles: Knit one row, then purl the next row. Repeat these 2 rows.
Stop at about 8cm (or your desired length).

Seed stitch: for a nice textured knitted scrunchie

Go see my seed stitch scrunchie pattern here.

Scrunchie tricot au point de riz — ©Binge Tricot

Broken rib stitch: Easy and different

Circular needles : Row 1: Knit all stitches. Row 2: *K1, P1*
Straight needles : Row 1: Knit all stitches. Row 2: *P1, K1*
Stop at about 8cm (or your desired length).

Simple fantasy stitch

This stitch pattern is stockinette with a few « button » in the middle.

Circular needles:
Row 1 : *K3, P1 *
Rows 2 and 3 : Knit all stitches
Row 4 : *K1, P1, K2*
Rows 5 and 6 : Knit all stitches.
Straight needles (I haven’t tested with straight needles, so please tell me if you see a mistake) :
Row 1 : *K3, P1 *
Row 2 : Purl all stitches
Row 3 : Knit all stitches
Row 4 : *P2, K1, K1*
Row 5 : Knit all stitches
Row 6 : Purl all stitches
Stop at about 8cm (or your desired length).

Another fantasy pattern

This stitch pattern makes the sides of the scrunchie « flatter ». It is stockinette with occasional garter stitch.

Circular needles:
Rows 1 and 2: Knit all stitches
Row 3 : Purl all stitches
Rows 4 and 5 : Knit all stitches
Straight needles (I haven’t tested with straight needles, so please tell me if you see a mistake) :
Row 1 : Knit all stitches
Rows 2 to 4 : Purl all stitches
Row 5 : Knit all stitches
Stop at about 8cm (or your desired length).

4 – Cast of and finishing the knitted scrunchie

If you chose a « classical » cast on

If you chose the classical long tail cast on method, it is time to bind off!

See how to do it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTAO80lAQOs

Now that you have bind off, you have a strip or a tube. If you knitted with straight needles, you need to sew the short sides of the strip to make a tube.

Then, turn the tube to have the inside part facing you and place the hair tie around. The hair tie is inside the scrunchie and we will sew the to edges together around it.

To close the scrunchie with a classical cast on, you can choose between two methods.

– With an invisible seaming:

For this method, you just need a tapestry needle and a lot of patience. It gives a nice smooth invisible edge (the seaming is hidden on the inside of the knitted scrunchie).

Find out how to do it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhbM_ZsoOgE

– Crochet join:

For this method, you need a crochet (but you don’t need to know how to crochet). It creates a visible edge a a nice finishing touch.

Here is how to do this: https://www.garnstudio.com/video.php?id=202&

If you chose a provisional cast on

First, place the stitches from the provisional cast on on another needle (the same size as those you used, or really close).

For those who used straight needles, you will also need to sew the short sides of the strip together to make a tube.

Then, turn the tube to have the inside part facing you and place the hair tie around. The hair tie is inside the scrunchie and we will sew the to edges together around it.

Finally, to close the knitted scrunchie, you can choose between Kitchener’s stitch and a 3-needle bind off.