One of the best starting points for anyone learning crochet is to crochet a scarf, and we’re going to get you on the road with our favorite free crochet scarf patterns. Once you learn to make a simple crocheted scarf, you’ll be ready to take on all kinds of other beginner crochet ideas. You need a crochet starter kit to begin.
We’ve hand-selected these because they’re all simple and easy ways to make a scarf, and don’t rely on any unique crochet stitches that you’ll never use again. We’re not going to throw you in at the deep end with a double crochet scarf pattern or any crazy afghan stitch techniques (though if you want to learn those, we do have an article on intermediate crochet stitches). We’re starting you off on the road to a simple crocheted scarf. However, if this isn’t your first rodeo, we have included a few slightly more “beginner-advanced” scarves – but nothing too tricky.
And don’t worry, these are all free crochet patterns for beginners, so within these links you’ll have everything you need to learn how to make a scarf, step by step, slowly.
Enjoy!
How to Crochet a Scarf for Beginners at The Spruce Crafts
We’re big fans of The Spruce Crafts, and this scarf pattern is a good example of why.
They walk you through their beginner level scarf pattern, how to check your gauge, tools, and materials, and giving you tips at every step of the way.
For this scarf, you’ll need a K(6.5mm) crochet hook (we like this Driftwood hook on Amazon), a yarn or tapestry needle (I have these ones on subscription), and of course scissors. You’ll also need about 250 yards of worsted weight yarn, the color and brand are up to you, but I love this alpaca tweed from Mary Maxim. You can also use colorful cotton yarn.
The scarf itself in this design takes approximately 3 hours. The final scarf as per the design is seven feet long, by four inches wide.
The stitches used in this scarf are the chain stitch and the single crochet stitch. If you’re not familiar with those, I would suggest this video from Fiber Flux for the chain stitch and this video from Crochet Guru for single crochet stitch.
This is an ideal start point for anyone who wants to learn how to crochet a scarf for beginners step by step slowly!
Crochet Scarf for Beginners from Easy Crochet
This bills itself as a first crochet project for beginners, and there’s one key reason for this. This scarf is made of only one stitch!
Once you have the single crochet stitch under finger, you’re ready to take on this beautiful pattern. They also have this Bath Mat pattern to follow up the scarf if you feel like you have the single crochet stitch down.
The scarf in this pattern comes out to about 5 feet by 6.5″ in width.
You’ll need a 9mm crochet hook, a yarn or tapestry needle (again, these are my favorite), and scissors.
Krista even walks you through which bulky yarn you want to make this wonderful and cozy neck scarf come to life (it’s this Lion Brand Thick And Quick yarn).
The final result is an easy but beautiful scarf that you can keep for yourself, or feel confident giving away as a gift.
A 1 Skein, 30 Minute Scarf Perfect for Beginners from YarnHookNeedles
This is a super simple infinity scarf for beginners that uses one skein of bulky yarn.
The scarf takes only 30 minutes to crochet, and there’s even a video to go along with the pattern to make it as easy as possible to follow.
The stitches for this scarf are the chain stitch and half double crochet stitch. If you’re not familiar with either, I would suggest this video for chain and this video for half double crochet.
For this pattern you’ll want a Q crochet hook, a tapestry needle and scissors.
They also recommend this Lion Brand Thick And Quick yarn to make this scarf come to life.
If you’re looking for a 30 minute infinity scarf, this is your pattern!
How to Crochet a Scarf – no experience needed! at Sewrella
This scarf is a great way to just sit down and dig in, and work out if crochet is even for you!
As with many of the others, the stitches for this scarf are the chain stitch and half double crochet stitch. If you need an introduction or just a refresher, I would suggest this video for chain and this video for half double crochet.
This scarf ends up about 6 feet long and 8 inches wide – it’s a big, comfy beast of a scarf!
To make the scarf, you’ll need a K(6.5mm) crochet hook (my go to is this Driftwood hook on Amazon), a yarn or tapestry needle (I like this brand, personally), some measuring tape and of course scissors.
If you want to match the picture exactly, I would suggest getting this skein of Lion Brand Color Made Easy yarn.
This is one big pink delight of a scarf that will make any first time crochet fan proud!
Free Men’s Scarf Crochet Pattern at The Spruce Crafts
Back to The Spruce Crafts again, but this time it’s a slightly harder scarf, but with some very impressive results. With end measurements for the scarf approximately 5 inches in width and 75 inches in length.
This crochet men’s scarf uses the chain stitch, the single crochet stitch and the slip stitch.
This might be a step up for you, or this might be reinforcing some of the things you’ve already learned. If you need a refresher, click on the links above for a video tutorial for each stich before you get started.
Either way you’re going to come out of this with a stylish and functional scarf to be proud of.
Beginner Blanket Scarf at Creating In The Mitten
Another beautiful bulky yarn scarf, but this time you get to do something fun by adding in a fringe. Click on the link above for direction on how to complete. For this project you’ll need bulky size 6 yarn, 11.5 mm hook, and scissors.
The original design is all white, but you could get your creative juices flowing and have a TON of fun by adding a few lines of color in there. This design makes approximately a 52 inch blanket without fringe.
Easy Everyday Triangle Scarf Crochet Pattern at Simply Collectible Crochet
This 1 skein pattern is from my new favorite crochet site, Simply Collectible Crochet. Click the link above to follow along but, first you’ll need US Size J/10 (6.0mm) crochet hook, yarn needle, scissors to complete this design.
The scarf is very lightweight which makes it perfect for cool spring and summer nights, and the angular shape makes it a fun pattern for beginners.
Crochet Fringe Infinity Scarf from Traverse Bay Crochet
If you enjoyed creating fringes in our earlier scarf, you’re going to LOVE this one. This scarf is worked with 2 strands together, and the pattern is super easy to follow. You can make it with any weight yarn, Laura makes it with medium worsted weight yarn, but really you can make it your own.
The scarf measures 54″ (27 inches folded in half) by 5″ and requires G hook, yarn, blunt needles, and scissors.
Aspen Infinity Scarf at Maria’s Blue Crayon
Infinity scarves should be on the top of your list for winter outfits. They’re squishy, elegant, and they provide endless warmness! The Aspen scarf is a wonderful gift for people who love simplicity. It’s made with only one color of yarn, and it can easily be styled with any outfit.
The stitches used to make this scarf are pretty basic. You don’t need to be a crochet expert to do them, which makes it a great chance for beginners to try their luck. You’ll only need a tapestry needle, a J hook, and two skeins of yarn.
The scarf is around 8 inches wide, but you can adjust it according to your preference.
Super Simple Crochet Scarf at Lw Vogue
Another super simple scarf that’s a pleasure to make! It requires a lot of stitching, but the result will be worth it. Plus, it’s only made using two stitches: the chain stitch and the half double crochet. So, if you know your basic crochet skills, you’ll find stitching a breeze.
The scarf requires two skeins of yarn, 126 yards each. They recommend using Yarn Bee Alpine Authentic to get the same result as shown.
Along with the yarn, you’ll need a K hook and a yarn needle. There’s a video available for instructions from Lw Vogue, so you don’t get confused.
The good thing about this scarf is its versatility. You can make it in the length you prefer, and you can make several colors of it for your outfits. Besides, it doesn’t take much time. If you get the hang of it, you can finish it in half a day.
Striped Neck Scarf at Ideal Me
The striped neck scarf is a trendy piece to match your outfits with. Its beauty lies in its simplicity. On top of that, you can find multiple uses for it. Its squared design allows you to use it as a hair accessory, as well as a neck scarf.
You’ll need a 5-mm hook to make this scarf, in addition to a tapestry needle and a pair of scissors. It measures 16 inches wide and 17.5 inches long.
The striped scarf is easy to bring to life, seeing as it has a pretty basic stitching pattern, including chain stitches and slip stitches. Despite that, it looks like a lot of work has been put into it. It’ll be a wonderful gift for your loved ones!
The Boyfriend Scarf at Dabbles and Babbles
It’s not the boyfriend you want, but it’s the boyfriend you need. This scarf will be the cutest addition to your wintery outfits. The classic texturing is enough to make you feel warm. Besides, the detailed ribbed stitch isn’t hard to learn. You just need to get the right yarn, and you’ll get yourself one elegant scarf!
You’ll need a 5.5-mm hook for this scarf, along with 400 yards of worsted yarn. They recommend using Plymouth Hot Cakes.
After you’re done, the scarf should measure 6.25 inches wide and 80 inches long. You should finish it in 6-8 hours maximum.
The scarf’s length is just right to match all your outfits. In addition to that, the width should make you feel warm enough on the cold nights of winter!
Hopefully, we haven’t overloaded you with new techniques! You can probably use a couple of them to make some fun animal crochet! Let us know which of these was the most helpful by leaving a comment below!
I knit (intermediate to advanced), but I can’t crochet my way out of a wet paper bag. My husband and I are starting to learn (I’m hoping he can figure out where I’m going wrong). The biggest problem so far is tight chain stitches at the beginning. It’s kind of messing everything else up. How do you keep them from tightening up so much as you go? Would a slightly bigger hook than what the manufacturer calls for help? I want to be able to do those decorative scalloped edges in the worst way for my knitted kitchen items. Thanks!
Picking up something new is always hard! But, crocheting is a great art and craft to get into so, keep with it! I’d look into how you hold your crochet hook and how you hold your yarn because it can make your stitches tight. I LOVE YouTube videos when trying to learn something new! (as you can probably tell from my posts) Check out this link below and see if it helps you identify where you’re going wrong. I would recommend sticking with the crochet hook that the yarn recommends. Feel free to reach out if you need additional help! <3
https://youtu.be/H6FuTHAxKAQ