The Return of the Scrunchie

What goes around comes around and it looks like hair scrunchies are back in fashion!

I first noticed the hair scrunchie's return when my high school son came home wearing one on his wrist. When I asked him about it, he said it was his girlfriend's and then quickly escaped to his bedroom and leaving me with tons of questions. Why would he be wearing it on his wrist? What does it mean? Where the heck did she find a scrunchie? Of course, I took to my friend Google to find out what this all means and discovered the following:

Well, that makes sense?!?  Just like scrunchies were the "thing" back in the '90s, it appears they've come back around and are being used to mark relationships as well as be a practical hair accessory. After seeing the wrist scrunchie at the beginning of the school year, I did not think much of it until my son came to me and asked me to make a scrunchie for his girlfriend. I immediately went back to my friend Google to see who was making these and discovered the velvet yarn that I had been avoiding is the go-to fiber. I bought some in her favorite color (green) and whipped one up for him to give to her. She loved it!

The Velvet Scrunchies are actually quite addicting to crochet - very fast, easy and a quick sense of satisfaction of having completed one in under 30 minutes. A perfect project while binge-watching your favorite TV drama. Check out the instructions below on how to crochet your own Velvet Scrunchies. If you don't crochet and would rather I do it for you, the Knots-n-Knits Handmade Etsy shop has a huge inventory in stock in two sizes: one for thin or tiny ponytails and a second one for larger, thicker hair (perfect for a male wrist as well).

Knots-n-Knits Handmade Velvet Scrunchies in large

Here are a few things I learned about crocheting the Velvet Scrunchie and working with this particular yarn:

1. I used three different types of yarn and probably would not use the Bernat Velvet Yarn (not baby yarn) in the future. I will now because I have three large skeins (I'll make ear warmers/headbands out of it - a future post!), but for the Velvet Scrunchies, I would stick with the lighter yarn. My preferred yarn for this project is the Bernat Baby Velvet Yarn, Lion Brand (colors are pastels) and the Lion Brand Yarn Vel-Luxe Yarn (beautiful colors).
2. I also used two sizes of elastic bands for the Velvet Scrunchies because I have fine hair and a large scrunchie would overwhelm my head. I chose the Goody Ouchless Hair Bands for Fine Hair for the large bands and the same style but a smaller diameter for the small bands. The fine elastic band gives the stability to crochet around without the bulk of a thicker band. Avoid the elastic bands with the metal connector. I give my bands a good tug before I start to crochet to make sure they are not going to break.
3. Velvet yarn is not very forgiving when you have to pull it out it tends to tighten on itself and it is impossible to unknot the tiny thread that the velvet fibers are attached to. I had to throw away two that I made a mistake on and could not pull out to start over again. 
4. I've recommended some counts for each size below, but the number of stitches you single crochet is really up to you. Your main goal is to cover the band (especially if you are using black) when it is stretched. If you add too many stitches, then the Velvet Scrunchie will be stiffer and less flexible. Make a few and see what works for you. It is not an exact science so if you are a few stitches over or under, you'll be fine.

Knots-n-Knits Handmade Velvet Scrunchies in small

Crocheted Velvet Scrunchie Pattern

You'll need the following for the Velvet Scrunchie:

• Size H hook
• Elastic bands
• Velvet Yarn

Crochet Instructions for the Velvet Scrunchie:

1. Create a knotted loop on your hook and do a slip stitch around the band.
2. Single crochet around the band, making sure to tuck the tail of your loop into your stitches along the band.
3. For the small band, I crocheted about 30 stitches, about 20 with the thicker yarn
4. For the large band, I crocheted about 60 stitches, about 40 with the thicker yarn
5. Connect your last single crochet to your first stitch with a slip stitch. Do not turn and chain 2
6. Double crochet in the same stitch as your slip stitch
7. Two double crochet in each of the single crochets
8. Slip stitch into the second chain of the chain 2 in step 5. Add another slip stitch just for good measure (the Velvet yarn is slippery and I had a final slip stitch come loose).
9. Weave in all of the ends.

Give the Velvet Scrunchie Pattern a try and post your thoughts in the comments!

Not up to crocheting but you still want a Velvet Scrunchie? Head over to my Etsy Knots-n-Knits Handmade store to grab a few Velvet Scrunchies in a variety of colors and two different sizes!