How to Cut a Long Crochet Scarf to Size

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Things You'll Need

  • Baby or fingering yarn

  • Crochet hook, Size D, E or F

  • Tapestry needle

  • or

  • Sewing machine

  • Scissors

Crochet stitches interlock so you need to secure them before cutting.

If you have a crocheted scarf that's longer than you like, you have a few options to deal with the extra length. You can wrap it around your neck a second--or third--time to take up the extra slack. You could wear it pulled up over your head like a cowl, or tuck the ends inside your coat so that they don't show. Of course, none of those options really shorten the scarf. Cutting a crocheted item is tricky because the stitches interlock. You can cut a crocheted scarf to the right size, though, as long as you take a few precautions first.

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The Crochet Method

Step 1

Fold the scarf at the point where you want to cut it, matching rows of stitches to each other. Hold the scarf with the folded edge of at the top.

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Step 2

Insert the crochet hook through both layers of the scarf at the folded edge in between the first and second stitch at one end of the top row. Wrap the yarn around the end of the hook and pull it back through the scarf.

Step 3

Wrap the yarn around the hook from back to front and pull it through the loop on your hook. That makes one single crochet through the scarf.

Step 4

Make one single crochet in between each of the remaining stitches in the row, pulling the stitches tightly. At the end of the row, cut the yarn and pull the end through the last loop on the hook. Pull the yarn tightly to end off.

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Step 5

Unfold the scarf. Cut through the stitches of the row below the single crochet row you just made.

Step 6

Thread the tapestry needle with fingering yarn. Run the yarn through one or two stitches at the cut edge to secure it. Whip stitch over the row of single crochet stitches to further stabilize the cut edge and keep the yarn from unraveling.

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Sewing Machine Method

Step 1

Set your sewing machine to use a close zigzag stitch following manufacturer directions.

Step 2

Line up the needle with the bottom of a row of stitches where you want to cut the scarf.

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Step 3

Sew a line of zigzag stitches over the bottom of the row of crochet stitches, pulling the scarf gently before and after the needle to keep the yarn from catching over the presser foot.

Step 4

Cut just below the zigzag stitches, being careful not to cut the thread.

Step 5

Add fringe to the end of the scarf to hide the stitches if desired.

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