Knitted scarves are beautifully and soft, but they take FOREVER to make (to a crocheter anyway)
Crochet scarves are often kinda ugly and kinda stiff; crochet is more dense than knitting, and doesnt have the nice soft drape.
That is, Until now! I experimented with a lot of stitches to find one that would LOOK nice (on BOTH sides of the piece, who wants a one-sided scarf?), would FEEL nice (not too dense, and with smooth stitches that glide across skin as knitting does), AND that wouldn’t take too long to make.
There were a few stitches that fit one or two of those categories; there is a single crochet ribbing technique that has a nice look and feel, but single crocheting an entire scarf takes awhile. Tunisian stitches are very soft and beautiful on one side, but they are also very dense and stiff, and the backside is very messy. Working in the back or front post of half double crochet or double crochet stitches can also create some nice ribbing, but it is also a bit dense.
What I finally settled on is this beautiful variation of a half double crochet stitch. I absolutely LOVE the look and feel of these scarves. And the stitch is SO EASY!
What this half double crochet variation does is allow the top of the crochet stitch, which looks like a line of knitting, to appear on the work:
Normally the top of the stitch is covered up by the next row of stitches, but half double crochet creates an extra loop which will be used instead of the top of the stitch, so the top of the stitch can become a pretty ribbing. Confused? Just keep reading. It’s easy, I promise.
Here’s how it’s done:
**You will need to know how to half double crochet to make this ribbed stitch. Half Double Crochet is an easy and basic crochet stitch; if you’re not sure how to do it, just do a quick search online. Once you are used to working half double crochet, you are ready to make the scarf.
1. Start with a row of half double crochet
2. The following rows will also all be worked in half double crochet stitches, but you will insert the hook into the extra loop BELOW the gap where you would normally insert the hook.
**You won’t really see the ribbing effect until after a few rows. So don’t give up on it too soon!
Some pictures to help:
Here’s where the hook is typically inserted into your work (but this is NOT how you will do this scarf)
Again, the above picture show where you do NOT want to insert the hook for this ribbed stitch. The hook needs to be inserted around the loop right BELOW where you would normally insert the hook:
The extra loop is there because you are using a half double crochet stitch. If you were using a single or double crochet, the extra loop would not be there.
If you are wondering why there are 3 loops on the hook, the 2nd loop is just a yarn over. And if you’re wondering why the extra loops are purple…Photoshop.
Aside from inserting the hook in a different spot, the stitch is exactly like a regular half double crochet. That’s all there is to it! Just half double crochet the entire scarf, but keep inserting the hook in the extra loop below the gap where you would normally insert the hook.
And a reminder, you won’t really see the ribbing effect until after you’ve finished a few rows. So don’t quit too early, give it a chance, this stitch is fabulous.
What pretty crochet ribbing :)
If you use the stitch, and maybe make a scarf for yourself or a loved one this winter, let me know how it worked out for you! Also, if anything is unclear, feel free to ask for some help or clarification! Thanks for reading :)
Brilliant – thanks for the pattern, it looks great.
Comment by wendy — December 1, 2010 @ 11:27 am
this is the neatest stitch I’ve seen. I’ll have to try this. I want to make another crochet scarf, but I don’t have the patience lol!
I saw your blog on craftgawker :)
Comment by Moe — December 3, 2010 @ 3:41 am
It’s SO PRETTY!
Comment by Cathy (Heritage Hollow) — December 5, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
(Just found you on craftgawker) I love the half double! I actually made myself a scarf with this stitch a couple years ago but mine went back and forth the whole way. I really like how yours is the long way! You’re right – it does make it look like a cute knit. I’m definitely going to try this!
Comment by Cassandra — December 7, 2010 @ 7:49 pm
I absolutely love this pattern! I had been trying to learn to knit because I love the ribbing look and was never satisfied with what I had tried in crocheting… until now!
I am about halfway through a scarf in this pattern and was just wondering if you do anything different to finish off the last row, or if you just push it to sit right when blocking it?
Thanks so much for sharing this great stitch =)
Comment by Aly — February 2, 2011 @ 6:51 pm
Hy Alyssandra, so glad you like the stitch! I just half double crocheted the last row, not different than any of the other rows. I don’t really push it any special way while blocking either; after blocking, it just sort of perfects itsself :)
Let me know how it turns out!
Comment by Jenn — February 4, 2011 @ 4:08 am
I LOVE this pattern! I’ve been looking for a while for a really beautiful yet simple scarf pattern and I’m glad I found this one! Just curious, what size hook/yarn did you use for the orange on at the very top/in general?
Comment by Maria — February 7, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
Glad you like the stitch :)
For the scarves in the pictures, I used bulky yarn and I think an I9 (5.5mm) hook. The stitch is kinda loose because of the way it is crocheted into the extra loop, so use a smaller hook than you normally would for whatever yarn you choose.
Comment by Jenn — February 8, 2011 @ 3:17 am
I love the way the final scarf looks! I am a beginning crochet-er, so this may seem like a silly question. How many chain stitches do you recommend for the scarf you have pictured?
Thank you!
Comment by Kristin — March 3, 2011 @ 9:54 pm
That’s not a silly questions at all! I experimented quite a few times to get a length and width that I liked, and figure out how many chains worked.
Actually, the size really depends on your personal preference, and the number of chains depends on your yarn, hook, and how you crochet (tightly or loosely). The best thing to do is crochet maybe 10 rows of maybe 20 stitches. This is called checking your gauge. Then, you can get a feel for the stitch, and you will know how many stitches will give you how much length. Use that to calculate how many chains to start with. 6 feet is a nice length, or if you like long scarves, you could go with 7 feet, 8 feet, whatever. And as you crochet it, wrap it around your neck to see how thick you like it.
So, say your 20 stitches are 6 inches long. And you want a 6 foot scarf. Then you would need 240 chains.
It can be tricky because as you crochet more of your piece, it will probably change size. When I crochet the first couple rows, it seems like it will be a lot longer than it actually turns out to be. And after it’s finished, depending on the material you use, it may stretch out. For example, the wool that I use relaxes a ton after I block it (soak it and lay flat to dry). It ends up probably a foot longer after I block it. It takes a little bit of patient experimentation with your materials before you can really get started on most projects.
Hope that makes sense. You can also add fringe if you want, that’s really easy. I’m sure you can find some quick tutorials online.
Feel free to ask any more questions if you get stuck :) And don’t worry about the length/number of chains too much. A scarf can be great at many sizes.
Comment by Jenn — March 6, 2011 @ 2:14 am
wow that was a long comment!
Comment by Jenn — March 6, 2011 @ 2:16 am
Jenn: Thank you so much for your crochet ribbed scarf. I intend to use it for multiple projects. Tell me please, how did you do the math for the 6′ scarf of 10 rowsx20 stitches? Keep sending your elegant ideas along.
Comment by Romi — April 13, 2011 @ 4:37 pm
Hi I was just wondering if you had your bootie pattern available.. they are very cute. Thanks!
Comment by Amy Ambler — April 13, 2011 @ 7:53 pm
First, you crochet a sample piece to check how large your stitches will be. So maybe crochet 10 rows of 20 stitches.
Let’s say your 20 stitches are 6 inches wide (or .5 ft wide), and you want a 6 foot scarf. 6 feet is 12 times longer than 6 inches (6ft / .5ft = 12), so you will need 12 20-stitch lengths, or 240 stitches (12 x 20 = 240).
If that still doesn’t make sense, I’ll try to explain better, let me know. I’m short on time right now–my web design work has been keeping me very busy–but I wanted to at least try giving you a quick answer :)
Comment by Jenn — April 17, 2011 @ 9:48 pm
Not yet, but hopefully will be soon! I planned on preparing the pattern for sale this spring, but I became very busy with my web design work, and haven’t had a chance for much crochet stuff this year :(
Comment by Jenn — April 17, 2011 @ 9:50 pm
Thanks for this informaion. This was very easy to follow and it looks great. The pictures made it really clear.
Thanks again:)
Comment by Iona — April 18, 2011 @ 2:05 pm
Is this the same as working through the back loop, or is there some extra loop I just happen to never see?
Comment by Pil — April 27, 2011 @ 10:48 pm
No, this is different than working in the back loop. There’s an extra loop created when working in a half double crochet. If you check the images in the post, you should be able to see what I’m talking about. Need any help, just let me know.
Comment by Jenn — April 29, 2011 @ 4:09 am
Hi Jenn! I have been following your blog for a while and check back occasionally for anything new. I saw mention of the possibility of you selling your bootie pattern. I would love to purchase it from you too! I understand that you have had a busy year, but I wanted to encourage you to keep going with the crochet as your time permits. Love your work!
Comment by Suzanne — August 12, 2011 @ 6:25 am
Thanks for the message Suzanne :) Hopefully I’ll start updating this blog soon, and also start selling my patterns. Yes, it’s been a busy year, so I haven’t been able to do all the Etsy/crochet stuff I’ve wanted, but the encouragement definitely helps, so thanks a bunch!
Comment by Jenn — August 15, 2011 @ 6:46 am
Love this pattern. I am intermediate to expert and have been looking for a replacement edging for a pattern I want to do. This will be perfect!
Comment by wendy — August 23, 2011 @ 11:54 pm
I need a pattern. how many chain and rows
Comment by Elaine — August 25, 2011 @ 1:57 am
I did it
Comment by Elaine — August 25, 2011 @ 2:35 am
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Elizabeth — August 26, 2011 @ 2:19 am
I round your pattern and it is exactly what I looked for. I’m french and I didn’t find this stitch explained in french, so it was not easy for me to do it but I succeed. However I don’t know how you do to begin and and the scarf by the braid…I begin with chains and it’s not esthetic… Have you a solution? Thanks a lot!
Comment by Caroline — August 27, 2011 @ 10:20 pm
The first row should be regular chains, as you did. The secret is to have uniformly sized chains, not too loose and not too tight (takes some practice), and also to begin your first row by crocheting in the bottom loop of the chains, instead of the top as you probably normally would.
Comment by Jenn — August 28, 2011 @ 7:23 pm
I know what you mean, knitting a scarf can take forever but crocheting is very difficult for me. I always forget the count and stitch I am on. Thanks for your tutorial !!
Comment by Courtney — September 13, 2011 @ 5:20 pm
What a fantastic idea…thanks for sharing with us. I am anxious to give this a try! :D
Comment by Gramma Rita — September 17, 2011 @ 7:59 pm
I have been looking high and low for a scarf like this. I am a fairly new crocheter. I really like the look of this. Thank you so much for sharing!
Comment by Peggy — September 18, 2011 @ 6:29 am
What size needle did you use?
Comment by Ashley — September 20, 2011 @ 3:36 am
I used an I9 (5.5mm). But the size of the needs of course depends on the size yarn, and how tightly or loosely you crochet. But you should definitely use a hook a couple sizes smaller than you normally would to keep this stitch neat and pretty.
Comment by Jenn — September 26, 2011 @ 4:35 am
Hi!
Like the half double crochet scarf. What size crochet needle do I use for worsted yarn. If I want to make a scarf for the troops that measure 6″-7″ wide and 50″ long. Can you send me the pattern for this. Since USO wants the scarf to be these measurements. Thanks
Comment by Evelyn — September 28, 2011 @ 12:01 pm
Thanks for your gorgeous pattern.I am starting it right away as I bought some wool 2 weeks ago and have been searching everyday on the net for a great scarf pattern. Thanks for sharing….sharing is caring!
Comment by Sue — September 28, 2011 @ 1:30 pm
The size needle and number of stitches to get the length and width that you want depends on the yarn and how tightly or loosely you crochet. But as a general rule for this stitch, you should use a hook that is 1 or 2 sizes smaller than you normally would. To get the correct length, crochet a small square, and figure out how many stitches you need for 5″. Then multiply by 10, and you know how many stitches you need to make it 50″ long. For the width, just stop adding rows after it’s 6-7″ wide. Hope that helps!
Comment by Jenn — September 28, 2011 @ 4:36 pm
Hi. Just wanted to tell you that I made a scarf like this for a friend of mine with alpaca wool. It turned out just perfect. Almost 2 meters long. :) Beautiful.
Do you know if its possible to make a cowl/neck warmer (or what you call) it with this pattern?
Comment by Karys — October 1, 2011 @ 11:50 am
oh awesome! So glad it worked out for you :) Sure, you can make a cowl, but this stitch can’t really be done in the round, so you would need to sew the ends of the piece together after finishing the crocheting. Or, if you wanted to go in the round, you could use a modified version of this stitch, where you would just keep going around and around; this creates a ‘right side’ which looks knitted, and a ‘wrong side’ which just doesnt look so nice. But because it would be a cowl, having a wrong side might be ok, and it could look pretty awesome, I think I might try that!
Comment by Jenn — October 1, 2011 @ 9:30 pm
This pattern really inspired me…thank you.
I’m having a SUPER hard time finding the proper loop to insert the hook when turning. The chain twos that act as a faux half double crochet don’t look the same, so I’m having a problem determining with consistency what loop to push through at the end. It’s making my work look very uneven and unprofessional, and I hate it! :) Any tips? Also, (I think the problem is related)….I’m working on a scarf that is 30 stitches wide, and I find I lose a stitch as I go along. I’ve been careful to count as I go up, but I just lose a stitch. I’ve gotten about 10 rows up, and have been whittled down to 27, so I unravel and start anew..but the same problem I described above persists.
Like I said above, I’m working a scarf that is 30 stitches across, so my scarf looks the opposite of yours…whereas your ribs run the length of the scarf, mine run the width.
Thanks!
Comment by Kurt — October 7, 2011 @ 2:58 am
Oh no, I’m sorry you’re having trouble! The last stitch of the row is easy to miss. You don’t need to crochet around any of the chains at the end. Just crochet in every hdc across, including the first and the last. The last one is one that I miss sometimes too, the loop you need likes to tuck underneath the edge and hide. I usually kinda stretch the end of the row with my fingers so that I can properly see the loop to make the last stitch. Maybe try with a small swatch only 10 stitches across until you get the hang of it, so that you don’t have to keep un-doing your scarf. By the way, you only need to chain one between rows for this stitch, not 2, it keeps it looking a little neater. And if you turn the piece in the same direction after every row, it also helps keep a consistent and clean look.
Comment by Jenn — October 7, 2011 @ 8:37 am
Hmmm…..I’m a little confused!
Thanks for the advice about the chain-1 at the end, btw! So, I don’t hdc in that at all? won’t that make my piece smaller and smaller as I go up? Or does that mean if I want a 30 chain length scarf, I have to make it 32? Hmmmm…….
:)
Comment by Kurt — October 8, 2011 @ 1:22 am
No, your piece won’t get smaller. If you think about the math it makes sense. Say you have 30 hdc across, and a chain on each end of the row. Every time you crochet a row, you will make 30 hdc, and a chain on each end. As long as you keep crocheting in each of the 30 hdc across, it won’t shrink. Sometimes, patterns will have you skip the first stitch of the row, and that’s why you have to crochet in the end chain. But in this case, you never skip a stitch, so you should not crochet in any of the chains.
Make sense? If not, let me know if you need more help :)
Comment by Jenn — October 11, 2011 @ 12:20 am
..grazie ho imparato un nuovo punto ….♥♥♥ patrizia luciano
Comment by patrizia luciano — October 18, 2011 @ 7:42 pm
Fantastic! So beautiful and cushiony- very different – does the pattern have a name? I’d lost it for a few months and just found your link again tonight- no one else has ever come up with this variation, congrats :) I’ve been obsessing over the “edge” stitches, but I’m assured the end product is so gorgeous that nobody would notice those stitches anyway :) This is my new favorite stitch, it stands out from the crowd — maybe that’s what you should call it – OHDC – like Outstanding Half Double Crochet (HD like high def) Thanks a million.:)
Comment by Gina — October 22, 2011 @ 1:56 am
hehe, it probably has a name, but I didn’t make it up, I actually found it in my grandma’s old crochet books, it was originally for an afghan pattern, but I decided to try it for a scarf, and it worked great! Glad you like it too :)
Comment by Jenn — October 22, 2011 @ 10:57 am
I’ve been using this pattern to make scarves for Operation Gratitude. They send boxes to military overseas filled with all kinds of stuff, including hand knit/crocheted scarves. I’ve made over 100 last year by Christmas and 77 this year so far. I’ve been collecting yarn stashes from friends and even put out a successful request on Facebook. So some of the yarn is not the best quality, but I’ve found that using a crochet hook 4 or 5 times larger than recommended on the yarn (ie., size 4 weight yarn I use K hook) makes a loose knit and, therefore, softer, while still being warm. Plus, it crochets up so fast I can do 2 scarves in an evening. I actually made a scarf while waiting for my aunt at her doctor’s appt. I usually make a chain of 140 sts, then hd on back of ch for 12 to 15 rows depending on fluff of the yarn. It usually measures 5 to 6 ins. wide and 50 +ins. long, the required size (no fringe).
Comment by Jackie G. — October 26, 2011 @ 3:40 am
Hi Jenn,
Lovely scarf,been looking for a pattern like this for a while. I have a stash of bulky yarn, so can i use a 5.5 hook with it ?
Another query, is it possible to make a buttonhole in this pattern ? Could you please guide me if so? Would really appreciate any help!!
Thank you and warm regards,
Ramya
Comment by ramya — October 29, 2011 @ 9:22 pm
I’m sure you could make a button hole, but I haven’t don’t that before, so you’ll have to do a little research and trial-and-error to figure it out. The hook size depends on both the yarn and your crochet style, and also your personal preference. I like fairly tight stitches, and for this particular stitch, I use a smaller hook than I normally would. Make a small sampler using this stitch, and the yarn and hook you want to use. Maybe 15 stitches across, and 10 rows. That should give you an idea of whether the hook is the right size. Don’t be afraid to experiment :) It takes some extra time, but the result is almost always better if you experiment a little first to find out exactly what you want to do.
Comment by Jenn — October 30, 2011 @ 7:39 pm
What brilliant timing…was just about to start a new blanket…am going to try this tomorrow…thank you for this tutorial…warm wishes from south africa
Comment by Jennifer — November 1, 2011 @ 8:06 pm
[...] Scarf mozzas Ribbed ScarfJenn [...]
Pingback by Scarves For The Guy In Your Life… | Tangled Happy — November 8, 2011 @ 1:35 pm
Hunh. Brilliant. Off to try this now – thank you!!! :)
Comment by Shani — November 8, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
First of all this is just a gorgeous pattern, thanks for sharing! I see how what you need to do is hdc into the extra loop created by the last row’s hdc, but what I don’t understand is how this makes the pattern look any different than if you’d just hdc into the back loop? I only ask that because I accidentally did my hdc in the back loop and it so far, the scarf looks almost exactly still like your samples, no?
Comment by Denelle Swaim — November 9, 2011 @ 1:22 am
This is a great stitch! I have just tried it and it is really easy and the effect is great. Thanks so much for sharing this with us all.
Caz from Never Knew
Comment by Caz from Never Knew — November 9, 2011 @ 6:40 am
What a great pattern! Thank you for sharing it. I’ve already started a scarf and can’t wait until I get a few more rows done to see how it looks.
Comment by Gleda — November 9, 2011 @ 11:59 am
Vielen Dank for sharing this pattern! I love it. I used it to make the cuffs on a pair of gloves I crochet.
Comment by Daniboy — November 9, 2011 @ 1:37 pm
crocheting in the back look can create a similar ribbed effect. I’ve seen people make ribbed scarves by crocheting in the back loop using sc instead of hdc. But I love the clean knitted look created by using the extra loop created by a hdc. I haven’t tried back loop hdc, you got me curious, that would probably be interesting too :)
Comment by Jenn — November 10, 2011 @ 4:39 pm
I found this post last night, bought yarn today, and am 4 rows into it already! I’m making a scarf for my dad’s birthday early next month. It looks wonderful; I’m sure he will love it. Thanks so much! All your comments have been useful as well. Best of luck..
Comment by Valerie — November 15, 2011 @ 1:24 am
This is fantastic! I’m making my sister a few scarves for Christmas, and she really likes them to be “un-holey”. I also refer to myself as having the heart of a knitter but the patience of a crocheter, so your post is perfect! I’ve been really getting into the Tunisian crochet, but I still end-up making a really chunky scarf in between because I want to get something done. I am so trying this!
Comment by Kelly — November 17, 2011 @ 3:07 am
Great stictch! I tried to make a swatch but it just wasn’t working out. When I went back to your site, I saw what I needed to do. The purple color you put on the photo was a great help! Thanks for sharing. I am going to use it for a basic sweater.
Comment by Debbie — November 18, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
How do I know how much yarn to get to make a 6 to 7 ft scarf? I want to make sure I have enough before I start.
Comment by Kay — November 27, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
For a 6 ft scarf like the one pictured, I use slightly over 200 grams. 300 grams should be a good amount, in case you want a longer and/or wider scarf than mine.
Comment by Jenn — November 28, 2011 @ 3:51 am
I did not notice the number of chain stitch to make to begin the project. Or hook size. What do you suggest?
I am anxious to get started. Thanks!
Comment by Joyce — November 30, 2011 @ 12:37 pm
It depends on the yarn weight, the type of fiber, how long and wide you want your scarf, and personal preference. You really just need to experiment. Try making a swatch of 10 rows 20 stitches across. Try different hook sizes and once you get it how you like it, measure it to see how wide it is, and use that to calculate how many chains you should use for your scarf. Takes a bit of time, but it’s worth it, your scarf will turn out just right.
Comment by Jenn — December 1, 2011 @ 5:11 am
I made this scarf with Patons Classic and it turned out just beautiful. I thought while I was working it that it felt kind of stiff but I was pleasantly surprised by how it blocked up really fluid and soft. Long fringe looks very nice on it!
Comment by kristinc — December 3, 2011 @ 10:42 pm
Thanks for posting this pattern — I’m halfway through making a scarf in sapphire blue and it looks great! Your instructions were very easy to follow, much appreciated from a crochet beginner.
Comment by Jordan — December 4, 2011 @ 11:21 pm
I just started on this and it’s wonderful! So nice and soft and not stiff at all.
Comment by Felicia @ Chef Roommate — December 6, 2011 @ 2:39 am
This may be a silly question, but I’m new to crocheting… Do you stitch the scarf pictured above lengthwise or width wise? I am going to attempt to make a scarf for my boyfriend in black and I think this stitch will look very nice. I want the ribbed effect to show up lengthwise on the scarf and not widthwise so I wasn’t sure. Thanks!
Comment by Karisa — December 9, 2011 @ 1:55 pm
Lengthwise. People usually think to crochet a scarf width-wise, and are surprised to see that I do them length-wise. But I’ve always thought a scarf crocheted lengthwise looks so much better!
By the way, for the first row, crochet in the bottom loop of each chain stitch, not the top as you probably normally would. You can just turn the chain over to easily crochet in that bottom loop. The first row will look better that way. If that doesnt make sense, just ignore it. Just an extra tip :)
Comment by Jenn — December 9, 2011 @ 6:04 pm
Thanks! That does make sense… i’ll def try it!
Comment by Karisa — December 10, 2011 @ 12:01 am
I started this scarf today and really like it. Could you explain how you do the blocking of the scarf when finished? Thanks!
Comment by Sandy — December 10, 2011 @ 11:12 pm
Can a man wear it? is it suitable for men?
Comment by faten — December 11, 2011 @ 10:34 am
Hi Jenn,
I was looking for a crochet scarf pattern for a male friend, but could not find anything That I liked until I came across your pattern, it was just what I was looking for. It was very easy to make, it looked fab and I know he is going to love it. I will be using this pattern a lot. Thank you
Comment by Merl — December 11, 2011 @ 11:25 pm
Just soak it, use a towel to take out excess moisture, and lay it out flat on some plastic bags, or another non-absorbent surface, and let it dry. Very easy!
Comment by Jenn — December 12, 2011 @ 5:13 pm
The scarf is great for men, in fact, I think I’ve sold more scarves for men than women in my Etsy shop.
Comment by Jenn — December 12, 2011 @ 5:14 pm
I need more scarves’ pattern for men …can u send me a link for your
patterns
Comment by faten — December 12, 2011 @ 7:11 pm
THANKS FOR YOUR ANSWER AND EFFORT
Comment by faten — December 12, 2011 @ 7:12 pm
[...] Crochet Ribbed Scarf. It’s like knitting, only better! | Jenn Ozkan. Filed under: yarn Leave a comment Comments (0) Trackbacks (0) ( subscribe to comments on this post ) [...]
Pingback by Crochet Ribbed Scarf. It’s like knitting, only better! | Jenn Ozkan « claudettejm — December 12, 2011 @ 8:29 pm
Thank you so much for sharing this! I absoulutely love it! I had been trawling the internet for a decent crochet scarf pattern for ages and then hit upon this one. I have made one for a friend and am now making one for my dad for Christmas – it is such a neat and tidy stitch and grows quickly which is fab! Maybe I will get round to making one for myself before the British winter ends ;-)
Comment by Louise L — December 13, 2011 @ 8:44 pm
I have been trying to crochet the ribbed scarf and have been having some difficulty. I am not sure if after you make the initial chain if you do the first half double crochet in the 2s or not. Can you assist me here, please. Do you actually have a pattern to follow, as I seemed to do best with one.
Thank you
Comment by Johanna Smith — December 21, 2011 @ 8:19 pm
Hi Johanna.
No, I don’t have a pattern. Just the stitch tutorial you see here. For the first row, you half double crochet across. It looks best if you crochet in the front loop of the chain, instead of the back loop as I think most people normally would do. Either way, you just half double crochet across–very simple, nothing special. Does that answer your question?
Comment by Jenn — December 21, 2011 @ 9:21 pm
Do you half double crochet in the 3rd ch from the hook. When. you start a new row do you crochet in the Second Chain?
Thank you
Comment by Johanna Smith — December 22, 2011 @ 4:38 am
I crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook.
When starting a new row, crochet in the first stitch, and each stitch across. Then chain one, turn, and repeat—crochet in every stitch across, don’t skip any, and don’t crochet in the end chains.
Comment by Jenn — December 22, 2011 @ 5:03 am
I appreciated your help on this. I have been practicing for several days and for whatever the reason the ends have not been coming out. I crochet as if I were working the half double but in the area inwhich you pointed out on the blog and that part appears to be find. I am not sure why I am having such an issue, but I will keep trying.
I have been practicing on a chain of 30 and from the chain I have been placing my first hdc in the 3rd chain. If I am not mistaken you do the normal hdc on the chain – chain one etc……..
Well, I will keep trying and hopefully I will have good news and master this work of art you created. Thanks so much for your help and Happy Holidays
Comment by Johanna Smith — December 22, 2011 @ 8:37 pm
There are no chains throughout, only one chain at the end of each row. For the first row, you hdc in the 2nd or 3rd chain from the hook, and in each chain across. Does that help?
Comment by Jenn — December 23, 2011 @ 7:17 am
I fell in love with your double crochet to look like knit! Thank you for the very easy to follow tutorial and photos. I started immediately. Going to sew my two ends together to make it an infinity scarf.
Comment by Amy — December 24, 2011 @ 5:49 am
Do you do every row, other than the first, in the other stitch? Mine is not turning out like the picture. In your picture there appears to be a row between the ribbing. On mine there is ribbing but no rows in between.
Comment by Debby — January 4, 2012 @ 7:19 pm
Every row uses the same stitch. For each row, the front will be the rib, and the back will be the non-rib. So by turning the piece after each row, you will automatically get the ribbed effect.
Comment by Jenn — January 4, 2012 @ 9:01 pm
Hello again! When I first started out I chained 18
7; t hen hdc in the second ch them hdc in every ch. Chi one turn
Then hdc in the 1st stitch extra loop.
Comment by Johanna Smith — January 5, 2012 @ 1:58 am
Made a scarf using this stitch. It turned out great, not only is it an easy and quick stitch, but it looks clean and neat. Thanks for the suggestion.
Comment by Zoe — January 11, 2012 @ 2:03 am
Hi Jenn,
I have been crocheting since I was a very small girl. Let me just say that has been a long time. I love to crochet mainly in the winter months and am always looking for new patterns. This one is very interesting. I have started my scarf today. Will let you know how it comes out. Thanks for the new ideas.
grannyg
Comment by grannyg — January 15, 2012 @ 4:36 am
[...] up is this totally out-of-control monstrosity, using a technique I learned from Jenn Ozkan’s blog. It looked so much nicer when she did it, but I’m still happy with my work because I think [...]
Pingback by Cheap yarn is warm, and crochet is fast, and now I have scarves. « the small life of blankies — January 15, 2012 @ 7:48 pm
I love this pattern! I made an infinity scarf and used a P (11.50mm) hook. The scarf came out super soft and loose, which is exactly how i wanted it. Thanks for the pattern :)
Comment by Anonymous — January 19, 2012 @ 1:13 am
I tried this pattern, and not only is it quick and easy, it’s also gorgeous! I only had a few yards of scrap yarn, so still haven’t done a full a project with this stitch. I can’t wait!
Comment by Shay Emmons — January 20, 2012 @ 2:56 pm
thanks for this website. I stumbled upon it 4 days ago and just finished my scarf using you instructions! it is lovely and can’t wait to wear it :)
Comment by Monica — January 23, 2012 @ 4:27 am
I found this pattern yesterday, and whipped up a scarf in no time. I was looking for a pattern to match the headband w/flower I made, but the cable stitch was too dense. This was the perfect pattern. I added a scalloped edging on the perimeter to add a little feminine flare. Thank-You!
Comment by Melinda — January 29, 2012 @ 8:08 pm
hi! ive decided to make this and before i star just want to confirm if ’8ply’ yarn is appropriate? and how many balls of yarn i would need to get. thanx!
Comment by rebecca — February 4, 2012 @ 11:04 am
[...] it girly. I think I succeeded. If you can call this a pattern, I got it from Jenn Ozkan’s blog. It is really just a stitch, a modified half double crochet. The whole scarf is just done in the [...]
Pingback by Man Scarf | Corky's Corner — February 4, 2012 @ 9:24 pm
AWESOME!!! I’m always looking for knit-look as I don’t like to knit much anymore, and I LOVE that you shared it for free. You just made the crochet world more beautiful, so thank you sincerely!
Comment by CassieCrochets — February 6, 2012 @ 7:58 pm
how much yarn do you need to create this project?
Comment by Isabel F. — February 7, 2012 @ 8:13 pm
It depends how big you want the scarf to be, but 300 grams might be about right.
Comment by Jenn — February 10, 2012 @ 7:20 pm
Thnks for the pattern its so clean and lovely…u helped a great deal •
Comment by bee bee — February 13, 2012 @ 3:48 pm
this appears like adding slip stitch in knitting :)
Beautiful. Thx anyway.
Comment by dian — February 18, 2012 @ 5:05 pm
Have you ever made this ribbed scarf with the soft “chunky thread”? Just wondered how it would look?
Comment by Mary — February 19, 2012 @ 5:04 pm
I have just finished making this scarf and love it but can you tell me how you end the last row whether you put a chain on the last row or just exactly how you finish it off just don’t know how to get it to look like the first row when starting.
Comment by Pat — March 2, 2012 @ 4:14 am
Just finish making this scarf and love it but need to know how you do the last row to get it to look like the first row.
Comment by Pat — March 2, 2012 @ 4:16 am
I half double crochet the last row. You can do the last row a bit tighter than the others, and it should have a nice finished look.
Comment by Jenn — March 3, 2012 @ 7:07 pm
I am a bit confused, in one of your replays you state you should crochet in the bottom loop, but in another reply, you say to crochet in the front loop instead of the back loop. I probably didn’t read this right, but I have read it several times and don’t know what to do.
Thanks.
Comment by Judy — March 4, 2012 @ 4:41 pm
Sorry to confuse you! I’m not sure which comments you’re referring to, but for the 1st row, it’ll look best if you crochet in the bottom loop of your chain, instead of the top loop which you probably normally would. For the rest of the rows, you should half double crochet in the extra front loop, and not the back loop. Hope that helps clear things up :)
Comment by Jenn — March 6, 2012 @ 8:12 am
I must be missing some of your instructions. After I make my row of chains do I just turn the row & start the half double croceht in the first chain stitch? Then at the end of every row do I chain any stitches & turn & what stitch do I start the next row in?
Comment by Janice — March 9, 2012 @ 4:15 am
Hi Janice, everything is half double crochet. But instead of half double crocheting where you normally would, you half double crochet in the extra loop i highlight in the instructions. At the end of each row, you just chain 1 and turn. The tutorial is really for the ribbed stitch, and not an entire pattern, which is why the instructions might feel a bit incomplete.
Comment by Jenn — March 11, 2012 @ 7:34 am
I like the effect of this half double crochet with this scarf as well, I have made a scarf single crochet-in the back loops only, I believe they call this bosnian crochet. I am interested in using the half double crochet version to make a scarf for my daughter. Thanks for sharing….Elizabeth
Comment by Elizabeth — March 12, 2012 @ 12:17 am
Found this scarf through Tipnut, and as a beginner crocheter I had some difficulties the first time through the HDC (I made a randomly beautiful curled scarf :), but after stepping away from it to work on double stitch the instructions about the ‘extra loop’ became much clearer. It came out so nice I’m actually thinking of gifting it, thanks!
Comment by Jill — March 12, 2012 @ 11:37 pm
I am an experience crocheter, and wanted to drop a line or two to say that this is one of the best tutorials I’ve seen… so easy to follow along. Thank you for sharing!
Comment by Simply Lisa Lisa — March 18, 2012 @ 12:54 am
Hi,
I don’t understand the stitch. Could you show the dummy method please.
Thank you.
Comment by Doris — March 25, 2012 @ 4:02 am
Hi! I am late to the party, hee, but wanted to tell you I stumbled onto your tutorial a few weeks ago and was so excited to see this! I have been learning to crochet the past year and am loving it and decided to branch out and try knitting. It’s not going as well! I wanted to make knit scarves for gifts but my tension and gauge still aren’t up to gift giving yet so when I saw this pattern I was so excited! For some reason I am getting the hang of crochet better and quicker than knitting. I finally got to start this scarf last night and woo hoo – it is so much fun – this is turning out great! I read through your comments section too and that was very helpful for me. I don’t always understand instructions very easily (its me not the patterns!) but just like you said – keep with it and the ribs show up – love how it looks knitted!!!! I am so excited to have this coming out! Can’t wait to make more for gifts! I will finally be ready for the holidays early this year with fun gifts – thank you so much for posting this and sharing!!! Love it! Hugs to you!
Comment by Bari Jo — March 30, 2012 @ 7:28 pm
Hi! I was perusing sites to find a nice stitch for a scarf and I came across yours. It looks so lovely that I decided to use it. After my first row of double half crochet stitch, I began the next row of double half crochet but going under the loop as you instructed above. What I began to notice was that as I was going along stitching, I was leaving behind a crazy coil. Even when I was stretching what I had stitched to make it look straight, it coul not get straight and looked ruffled on the very first stitches that I has begun with. Is this what it’s suppose to look like or did I do something wrong?
Comment by Natalia T — April 1, 2012 @ 1:39 pm
It sounds like the starting chain is what’s ruffling, is that right? If so, try crocheting into the bottom loop of the chain all the way across, instead of the top loop. And also don’t chain too loosely. It’s hard to explain what I’m saying without pictures, but hopefully that can help.
Comment by Jenn — April 3, 2012 @ 12:53 am
Hi, i haven’t been crotcheting for too long, but i was just wondering… How long di it take you to make this scarf?
Thanks for the great pattern! :)
Comment by Tess — April 9, 2012 @ 7:24 am
and does it matter how tight you make the stitches? can you do them tight and the scarf still turn out flimsy like the photo shows?
sorry for all the questions! thanks again. :)
Comment by Tess — April 9, 2012 @ 7:35 am
i’m sorry but i don’t completely understand the stitch… do you just do 1 row of chain (to the legnth you wish) and then you hdc 2 rows on top of that and then anoter chain??
and also i don’t understand how you have said that you get the loop under the one you usually do? could you please explain that a bit further for me.”Thankyou so much for a beautiful stitch, i am very excited to see how it turns out! thanks.
Comment by Jo — April 9, 2012 @ 8:20 am
Hi Tess,
I crochet the stitches with a smaller hook than I would for normal crocheting. What I love about this stitch is how it can achieve a neat knit look while still having nice drape. A lot of crochet stitches are stiff and bulky, but this ones thin and drapy, perfect for scarves :)
I crochet pretty fast and the scarves I’ve been making aren’t too long, so it takes me maybe 3 hours to make a scarf like pictured.
Comment by Jenn — April 13, 2012 @ 2:20 am
Hi Jo,
You chain the first row to the desired length (though the length usually changes after you’ve crocheted a few rows, so be aware of that)
After that, you hdc one row, then hdc every additional row, except you hdc through the ‘extra loop’. I’ve highlighted the extra loop in purple in one of the pictures, hopefully you can figure it out, good luck!
Comment by Jenn — April 13, 2012 @ 2:23 am
EXACTLY what I was looking for…can’t wait to get started. I am almost ready to launch my blog and would love to provide a link to this tutorial.
Comment by Patty — April 13, 2012 @ 7:51 pm
Looks great – really enjoy making this one. I started with 161 chains for my scarf, next time will go for more like 200. Thanks so much for sharing this technique!!
Comment by Patty — April 14, 2012 @ 3:13 am
Thank you Jenn for that bright idea i really2x like it.
That crochet pattern fits for my beanie. Thanks a lot. Godbless and take care..
Hope that you’ll discover more crochet patterns.. ^_^
::Philippines::
Comment by Nelf — April 23, 2012 @ 7:27 am
Hi, I like the design…I just dont get the number 2 instruction. what gap and extra loop? :> Thanks!
Comment by Lyan — April 30, 2012 @ 10:34 am
The pictures in step 2 are to clarify what I mean by the gap and extra loop. The ‘gap’ is just where you normally insert the hook. Gap may have been a bad choice of word. The extra loop is highlighted in purple in one of the pictures. Hope that helps!
Comment by Jenn — April 30, 2012 @ 7:28 pm
Thanks for the beautiful pattern. You make it so easy. I am an avid crocheter and plan to make this for my granddaughter with a few small changes. I was wondering if you had ever used a chain less foundation with this pattern. It would give the bottom row a much more stretchy edge. I am going to try it this way. I think if this method is used the beginning row and the ending row would look more alike. I plan to use an acrylic yarn and therefore no blocking will be necessary. Very washable for a seven year old. Maybe a hat to match. Will be easy with this pattern and a pom pom at top. Thank you so much for making this so easy with your great directions.
Comment by Pat Van Dyne — May 6, 2012 @ 5:28 pm
Pat, I’ve never seen the chainless foundation before, googled it, and that is perfect!! Thank you so much for the idea! I have fought so much trying to find the happy medium between tight neat chains, and loose ones that have some stretch, and this seems to be the answer to give me both—a very neat finish, AND comfortable stretch. I can’t wait to try this!! And when I start updating my blog and more regularly, this will definitely make its way into one of my posts, such a fantastic technique!
Comment by Jenn — May 6, 2012 @ 7:53 pm