Free Beginner Crochet Pattern – “The Benjamin”

Coming up with a pattern idea is fun. Testing the pattern and physically making prototypes is even more fun. Actually typing up and posting the pattern is definitely not fun. Regardless, I am excited to share with you what I have fondly named “The Benjamin Scarf”.

This is probably one of my favourite patterns I have designed, and for great reasons. I struggle to find scarf patterns that create a squishy, soft, chunky fabric. Most scarf patterns turn out quite rigid with harsh edges and lines. I’ve never been a huge fan of this look and it took me a long time to figure out where I was going wrong.

I think I finally figured it out with this pattern, and I am so happy that I get to share it with the world! Avoid searching for years for the perfect scarf pattern, and just scroll down and start this one. It’s a super easy pattern (literally one stitch), and it works up quickly depending on the length you choose.

The posibilities are endless with this pattern. Not a fan of long scarves? Make it shorter and stitch the ends together to make an infinity scarf. Don’t like tassels? Don’t add them! Want to try something different? Add pom poms to the ends of your scarf for a super cute style.

I think you guys get where I’m going with this. This is a great pattern and I’m sure you’ll be coming back to it over and over again, which is why I want to offer it to you for free, forever!

“The Benjamin Scarf”

The trick to making a soft, flexible scarf is using a crochet hook that is way too big for the yarn. Typically a size 5.00mm/G hook is perfect for worsted weight yarn. We are going all the way up to a size 9.00mm. This helps to increase the amount of negative space between stitches, which helps make the scarf less dense and more squishy.

Play around with this and make a few test swatches! Not to call any yarn brands out, but some worsted yarns are thicker (or thinner) than others. You might need a 10.00mm hook to achieve the same effect.

Supplies:

• Size 9.00mm crochet hook
• Approximately 1200 yards of worsted weight yarn in up to 3 colours
  • Note that you might need more or less depending on the length, thickness, and type of finish you do for your scarf
  • I used 3 colours of the beautiful Vanna’s Choice Yarn by Lion Brand!
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• A fantastic movie to keep you entertained while you crochet the day away

If you want a stripey scarf, follow my pattern for changing colours. If you want a solid scarf, just carry on repeating row 3 forever, or until you are satisfied with the size of your scarf.

The best part about this scarf is that you don’t have to weave in any ends! Make sure for every colour change you start and end with a very long extra tail of leftover yarn. These will be used for your tassels later on.

Row 1: Chain 240 stitches

Note: This is also approximate. Since the pattern only uses one stitch over and over again, you don’t need to worry about how many stitches you start with (but you should definitely try to make sure you end with the same number of stitches you started with)!

Row 2: Half-double crochet in the second chain from the hook, and in each stitch across, chain 1, turn

Row 3: Insert your hook into second stitch from the hook, into the third back loop (or magic loop)

Note: If you haven’t done this before, go watch this Youtube tutorial to learn all about the magic third loop in a half-double crochet stitch.

Row 4+: Keep on repeating Row 3 until you are satisfied with the width of your scarf

My finished scarf had 42 rows to create a super chunky, borderline-obnoxiously large scarf.

If you’re following my striped pattern, here’s what you need to do:

Colour A – 1 Row

Colour B – 2 Rows

Colour C – 1 Row

Colour A – 2 Rows

Colour B – 1 Row

Colour C – 2 Rows

And repeat until you are satisfied with the width of your scarf.

Time to finish your scarf! If you are going for a tasseled scarf like mine, you’re going to need to add some extra strands to thicken up your finished product. Cut 8 inch lengths of yarn in each of your colours used. Hold three strands of one colour of yarn and fold them in half. Use your handy crochet hook to pull your mini-tassel through the end of a corresponding coloured stripe. Add at least 2 mini-tassels to each end of a stripe.

Once you have added all of your mini-tassels to the end of your scarf, it’s time to cinch the ends and assemble our giant tassel. I cut a 12 inch piece of yarn from one of the colours I used in my scarf and fed it back-and-forth through the very end of my work. Pull the two ends of your yarn tight and tie closed with a simple square knot. This will help to keep your giant tassel looking more round at the top rather than triangular.

About 1.5 inches down your tassel you’re going to tie another piece of yarn around to create a little “bulb” at the top of your tassel. I cut a 4 inch piece of yarn and held it around all of my mini-tassels and then tied another series of simple square knots. You don’t even need to hide the ends of this piece of yarn, as they blend right in with the tassel!

Repeat on the other end of your scarf and trim the ends of your tassels if there are any that are a bit too long. I trimmed my tassels in a rounded shape so they didn’t look so flat at the bottom.

Voilà! Now you have a beautiful, squishy, cozy scarf!

Some of you may be wondering why I named this scarf “The Benjamin”. The main reason is quite simple: I named it after my loving fiance. He’s been a huge supporter of mine since the very beginning of Strings & Things. I don’t know what I would do without him. After 6 years of being together, it’s about time he has a pattern named after him!