Crochet: How to Make a Scarf Chain

Make a scarf chain to begin crocheting a scarf.

Crocheting a scarf may be one of the simplest crochet projects and is an ideal project for a novice crocheter to tackle. When you crochet a scarf, one of the first things you must do is determine how long you wish to make the scarf. Once you know the length, make a scarf chain to begin the crochet stitches of the scarf.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Worsted weight or sports weight yarn
• Crochet hook (H for worsted weight yarn and F for sports weight yarn)

Instructions

1. Loop the tape measure loosely around your neck and arrange the tape measure in a way you would commonly loop a scarf. As you manipulate the tape measure, determine how long you wish to make the scarf by noting the point on the tape measure. Remember this length because you will need to make a crochet chain this length.

2. Pull approximately 1 foot of yarn out of the yarn skein to begin the scarf.

3. Make a loose slipknot about 3 inches from the end of the yarn and place the slipknot around the crochet hook.

4. Hook the yarn coming off the slipknot (not the yarn tail) with the hook of the crochet hook and pull it directly through the slipknot to create one chain stitch.

5. Repeat step 4 to continue making chain stitches. Make as many chain stitches as necessary to make a chain as long as the length you measured in step 1. This will be the foundation of your scarf and you will crochet the first row of crochet stitches into the loops of this chain.

6. Stop crocheting when the chain is long enough. Start the first crochet stitch of the first row by reversing your direction and beginning to work back across the chain. Generally, you make the first stitch of the first row in the second chain from the crochet hook.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your chain gauge even throughout the entire length so your scarf stitches will be even.

• Do not make your chain loops so tight that you will be unable to insert the crochet hook into them as you stitch the first row of crochet stitches.

References

• Crochet Guild of America: Lessons