How to Crochet a Covered Hair Elastic and Ruffled Scrunchie

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Prepare the elastic

You can start with a ready-made hair elastic, or cut your own from plain elastic. If you're cutting your own, cut it to about 1 centimetre wide, which is plenty for a basic covered hair elastic. Fold the elastic over on itself, put it around your wrist and give it a good stretch to check that it's long enough to go around a ponytail. When the length feels right, tie a knot and pull it tight, then clip the ends close to the knot. That's all the elastic needs, so you can put your scissors away for now.

Step 2 — Cover the elastic with single crochet

Tie your yarn around the elastic with a regular knot. It should be secure without being too tight or too loose. Push the knot up against the knotted part of the elastic. Insert your hook into the loop of the elastic, yarn over, pull through the elastic, then yarn over again and chain 1. This first loop is now wrapped around the elastic. Next, work single crochet stitches around the elastic, fitting in as many as you can, until you're back at the starting knot. The elastic will start to curl over on itself, and that's fine. It makes the finished piece rounder and less flat. It might look twisted, but you'll smooth the stitches out at the end. Fit in as many single crochets as possible, because the elastic can still show through when it's stretched, and more stitches cover more of it.

Step 3 — Work the ruffle round

If you'd like to change colour, do it now by joining your new yarn. If you're staying with one colour, just carry on. Slip stitch into the chain 1 from your first round, chain 2, then work a half double crochet in every stitch around. There are so many stitches that, when the elastic isn't stretched, they gather into a pretty ruffle, while a fully stretched elastic just looks like a regular hair tie. For a fuller, more defined ruffle, work two half double crochets into each stitch instead of one. If the stitches from the previous round get bunched together and are hard to find, pull them apart so you can see them clearly. It won't look neat while you work, but catching every stitch matters more at this point than covering the elastic.

Step 4 — Join and fasten off

When you're back at the beginning, slip stitch into the first stitch of the round, then chain 1. Cut the yarn and fasten off. You can leave the scrunchie as it is, or move on to the optional finishing touches in the next step. Once you've been all the way around, nudge the stitches back into place so they sit evenly and hide the elastic.

Step 5 — Add an applique or other finishing touches

An applique is a nice way to cover the knot. Use any applique you like. Thread the leftover yarn tail onto your yarn needle, place the applique over the knot, and stitch it down by grabbing its petals and passing the needle back into the elastic. The stitches will be hidden between the elastic and the applique, so they don't need to look neat. Just catch plenty of stitches and attach it in a few different spots to keep it secure. Then tie the leftover yarn tail to the tail left on the applique with a double knot, and trim all remaining tails to just over 1 centimetre so they hide behind the applique. Without an applique, the plain version still works well, and the little bulge of the elastic knot can sit on the underside when you wear it. You can also add extra rounds for more layers.

Frequently asked questions

What materials do I need to crochet a covered hair elastic?
You will need cotton yarn in one or two colours, a 3.75 mm crochet hook, some elastic, sharp scissors, and a yarn needle. You can use a ready-made hair elastic or cut your own from plain elastic, which is a good way to use up extra elastic from your sewing supplies. An applique is optional.

How wide should I cut the elastic for a crochet hair elastic?
About 1 centimetre is a good width for a basic covered hair elastic. Wider elastic is more than you need. Fold the cut elastic over on itself, put it around your wrist and stretch it to check that it will reach around a ponytail, then tie a knot and trim the ends close to it.

How do I make the ruffle on a crochet scrunchie fuller?
Work two half double crochets into each stitch instead of one. Because the ruffle round has so many stitches around the elastic, it gathers up into a ruffle when the elastic isn't stretched, and doubling the stitches makes that ruffle more defined.

What should I do if I can't find my stitches in the next round?
Pull the bunched-up stitches apart so you can see each one clearly. It won't look neat while you work, but at this point it matters more to catch every stitch than to cover the elastic. Once you're all the way around, you can nudge the stitches back into place to hide the elastic.

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