Craft: Crochet Beaded Hair Scrunchies

Materials

• 2 types of beads* (one opaque and one clear in 2 different sizes from 4mm to 12mm)
• some lace or baby weight yarn or crochet cotton**
• one elastic hair band with no metal (thick or thin)
• a crochet hook (aluminum size E or the largest in stainless hooks)
• "big-eye" beading needle.

** Yarn: The yarn should be thin enough to go through the beads but not fray and it works best if it's not fuzzy. Knit-cro-sheen (for lace and doilies) works wonderfully, but if you can find a shiny rayon blend in lace weight you've got it made! his yarn or fiber needs to be strong enough to take the beads rubbing back and forth across it without catching on the beads and snagging, so a dense weave yarn or thread works best.<

Beading Instructions

• Step 1: Open the "Big Eye" beading needle in the center and thread it with your thin crochet cotton or lace weight yarn.

• Step 2: Thread your beads on to the yarn in sets in this pattern: 2 of the larger beads (Bead type "A") then 3 of the smaller beads (Bead type "B") then repeat. 2 of type A, then 3 of type B until you have 11 sets of each type alternating or 22 sets total.

Crochet Instructions

Note: If your beads are tiny, you can do 2 single crochets between each set of beads instead of 3, with buttons you need 3 sc

• Step 1: Take the round hair elastic and start by crocheting 3 single crochets around it. (You do this by putting your hook in front then down inside the ring of elastic then through the center to grab the yarn with your hook and bringing it back up and around the front to the top of the elastic then letting this loop slide on to your hook then finishing your single crochet stitch by grabbing the yarn and pulling through both loops)

• Step 2: Slide the first of the 3 smaller beads up to where you're working and crochet a slip stitch over it. Do the next 2 beads in the set of 3 the same way (slide up a bead then slip stitch over it). Make a cluster of these beads by doing a single crochet in the top of the last single crochet stitch (this brings the beads back towards the elastic in a loop of 3 beads).

• Step 3: Do 3 single crochets around the hair elastic.

• Step 4: Repeat step 2 but this time slide down the 2 larger beads and do a slip stitch over each. One, then the other, then do a single crochet in the top of the last single crochet forming a loop of these 2 beads back down to the hair elastic.

• Step 5: Do 3 single crochets around the hair elastic.

  Start with step 1 again and continue this same pattern around the elastic hair band until you have used up all 22 sets of beads.

To Finish: Pull the beginning piece of yarn (from where you first started) through the ending loop of yarn then tie 3 square knots to finish, then thread the yarn-thread back into your work and tie these ends again for extra security. Finish by dabbing the knots with clear nail polish for even more security. Lastly, gently pull on the elastic to stretch it and the beads will arrange themselves into an even pattern.

A Warning: Don't pull to tightly on the knots when tying or you may break your thread as I have done on several occasions.

Any questions? Send a note to "Cyinda" here on ThriftyFun and I'd be happy to answer. I've designed many patterns myself but this is the first time I've taken the time to actually write one down. Let me know how your Beaded Scrunchie turned out and please let me know if I've made myself perfectly clear and if I could make any changes. If you like this easy beaded scrunchie and I'll take the time to write up more of my original crochet patterns (from beginner to advanced).

By Cyinda from near Seattle

Editor's Note: To contact Cyinda (or any ThriftyFun member), just click on her name above and then go to "Send a Message".