Looking for a quick, romantic knit that feels like a little hug for your hair? Meet the Vanilla Scrunchie: a free pattern that’s soft, sweet, and full of whimsy.
It’s the kind of project you cast on during a quiet morning, tea in hand, and finish before lunch. Worked in the round with a delicate picot edge and soft stockinette body, it’s perfect for stash-busting those treasured yarn scraps too pretty to toss. Once you’ve reached the right length, fold it over a hair elastic and seal it with a three-needle bind-off, creating a cozy little loop of love for your bun, braid, or even your wrist.
Step-by-step video here.
Vanilla Scrunchie pattern
Needles
US 8 – 5 mm 32”- 80 cm circular needles.
Yarn
Lace weight – I used: Hobbii Friends Kid Silk in color 07 (219 yds / 200 m; 72% Mohair, 25% Silk, 3% Wool)
Yardage
approx. 109 yds / 100 m
Gauge
20 stitches and 24 rounds = 4″ / 10 cm in Stockinette st
Other notions
2 stitch markers
Tapestry needle
1 elastic hair tie
Sizing
Finished circumference: 10 (15) cm
GLOSSARY:
Picot cast on:
Step 1: CO 6 sts using Knitted Cast-On Method. (For the first time ONLY cast on 6 sts, after that CO 4sts)
Step 2: K2.
Step 3: BO 1 on your right-hand needle by slipping the far-right stitch over the second stitch on the needle.
Step 4: K1 (2sts on your right-hand needle.)
Step 5: BO 1 (1st on the right-hand needle.)
Step 6: Slip the right-hand needle stitch onto the left needle.
Repeat steps 1 – 6 (CO4, k2, BO1, k1, BO1, sl 1, etc) until you have the required number of CO sts.
3-Needle Bind Off
Step 1: Arrange the two pieces with their WS facing out.
Step 2: Hold the needles parallel, slip a third needle into the first st on each of the two needles, and knit the 2 sts together.
Step 3: Knit together the new first stitch on both parallel needles, then bind off.
Repeat step 3 until only one stitch remains on the working needle.
Break yarn and pull the tail through the last stitch to fasten off.
ABBREVIATIONS
approx – Approximately
BO – Bind off
BOR – beginning of the round
foll – Following
k – Knit
k2tog – Knit 2 sts together; decrease
m – marker
p – Purl
PM – Place marker
RS – Right side
st (sts) – Stitch (stitches)
WS – Wrong side
YO – Yarn over
Beginning – PICOT:
Cast on 80 sts using the picot cast-on method.
Place BOR m and join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Body
Rnd 1: *K2tog, YO; rep from * to end.
Rnd 2: Knit
Rnd 3: Purl
Continue working in stockinette stitch until you work measures approx 10 (15) cm from the purl round (rnd 3).
Ending
With another pair of needles, pick up 80 sts behind the purl round, starting from the stitch aligned with your BOR.
Flip your scrunchie (WS facing you).
Place an elastic hair tie in the middle.
With a third needle, BO with the three-needle bind off
to close your scrunchie.
FINISHING
Weave in ends and block the accessory to finished measurements.
Step-by-step video here.