How to Crochet an Infinity Scarf

Infinity scarves are a popular item to give as gifts and are easy to make. There are several ways to create infinity scarves and lots of patterns to crochet, knit and sew.

The basic infinity scarf is crocheted in a circle and can be worn longer or shorter. It can made using thin or chunky yarn and can come in several different styles, patterns and lengths. They make great gifts and are quick to crochet.

An infinity scarf is sometimes called a cowl and can be crocheted to be worn close to the neck for warmth or indoors to add color or sparkle to a sweater. These scarves are especially nice for the winter although with some of the lighter weight yarns they can be worn all year round.

Below you will learn how to crochet an easy infinity scarf, what types of yarns and crochet hooks to use and crocheting using different patterns.

Before starting your infinity scarf decide what type of yarn you want to use. For beginners I would stick with a worsted weight yarn such as Red Heart or Lion Brand. If you want a thicker scarf use a chunky yarn and for something more delicate or with sparkle use a light weight or yarn with sparkles in it.

As for a crochet hook a size G or H works well with worsted weight yarn but if you are using a chunky yarn opt for a larger hook such as a size L or even a Q hook. For lighter weight yarns I would suggest going down to a smaller size crochet hook to be able to handle the yarn properly.

Once you have your yarn choice make sure you pick a color that will be flattering for the person you are making it for. Neutral colors are sometimes best if you are giving it as a gift. This way the person will be able to wear it with any type of sweater or outfit. Browns, grays, blacks, and whites are always a good option.

To begin crocheting your infinity scarf crochet a slip knot and chain approximately 140 stitches you can crochet more just keep it at an even number. Remember the more you chain the wider your scarf will be. Determine how many times you want to wrap your scarf around in order to figure how long to make your scarf.

Also the size of your yarn and the size of your crochet hook will determine the size of your scarf. The larger the hook and thicker yarn will make a wider scarf. The average size is about 70 inches for an infinity scarf.

Once you have you have finished crocheting your chain you will begin to join your chain at both ends. Before doing this pull through your chain making sure that it is not twisted. Do this all the way until the end because this is the only way you can assure that your chain will not be twisted when you are joining both ends.

When you get to the end or the first chain, insert your hook into the first chain to create a circle, do this by completing a slip stitch. Now you are ready to move on to row 1.

Determine if you would like your scarf to have a tighter stitch or looser stitch. By single crocheting the scarf around it will give a less loose look. If you double crochet the scarf it will appear to have a more open weave or see through scarf. You can also alternate between single and double crochet for a different look

For the beginner I would suggest sticking with a single crochet.

Single crochet scarf:

Once you have your circle created, for ROW 1: chain one, and in the 2nd chain from the hook crochet a single crochet. Single crochet all the way around for a total of 140 stitches.

Row 2: Insert you hook into the first chain and single crochet all the way around for a total of 140 stitches.

Rows 3-12 (or the width you choose to stop) -Continue crocheting all the way around. You may need more than one skein of yarn depending on how large you are making the scarf and what type of yarn you are using. If this is the case be sure to join and weave in ends.

Finish off the scarf and weave in ends.

There are several ways to join yarn when crocheting. The old fashioned method is to tie two ends together. You can also use the weaving ends method by leaving a longer tail and weaving in the ends. The Russian join method is a clean way to join to ends of yarn together. Search for this way on YouTube or find photos on Pinterest or a search engine. It takes some practice but you have to figure out what works best for you to give a clean look to your crochet project.

When you finish off a project make sure that you secure it and fasten off correctly so it does not become unraveled by the person wearing the item. Again look online for the best ways to finish off a crochet project. I like to watch videos or read photo tutorials to learn and update my crochet skills.

Once you have learned the basic method of crocheting an infinity scarf try out different patterns and yarn colors.

A variegated yarn like the one shown in the photo will create a pretty pattern on scarf, while using different crochet stitches will make unique scarves and cowls.

Crochet a cowl neck for a shorter style of scarf or use a thin lightweight yarn for an elegant or more sophisticated style. You can even use a yarn to crochet a smaller scale scarf that look more like a necklace.

These types of scarves can be so much fun to crochet and you can easily make them your own or create a bunch for family and friends. They make great items for craft fairs or to donate to charities also.

There are several places to find patterns to crochet different types of infinity scarves. There is always the search engine method but I find that searching on sites such as Raverly or Craftsy which feature independent designers have some of the best patterns.

In addition to infinity scarf patterns there are also ways to crochet hooded scarves in a similar way. Neck warmers with buttons, long scarves, short scarves and other styles are also a way to change up the look.

You can also find some great patterns on Amazon and craft book websites such as Leisure Arts and Annie's. Depending on what type of scarf you are looking for you probably will be able to find these patterns for free but some of the more detailed or creative patterns are fairly inexpensive and most can be downloaded for immediate use.

I hope you enjoyed reading about infinity scarves and find this useful to crochet one of your own. If you have any questions please leave a comment below.