THE BONNIE SCARF
Your step-by-step guide to making your masterpiece
Hey there, stitch superstar! You’ve just unlocked the secret sauce to making your very crochet scarf, and we’re excited to be stitching it out with you.
This guide will be your BFF through the entire journey. Whether you’re brand new to crochet or just here for a refresh, we’ll take you from “how do I hold this hook?” to “look what I made!” — one cosy row at a time.
Heads up! You'll need the physical pattern that came with your kit as well as this online guide. The pattern contains the specifics, this guide gives you the extra layer of detail.
INCLUDED IN YOUR KIT
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (Or CLOSE ENOUGH!)
Before we dive into the good stuff, let’s warm up those hands and your hook. Think of this like stretching before a workout, except comfier, cuter, and way more fun.
Grab some of the yarn from your kit (just a little, you’ve got enough to spare!), and get familiar with the motions. Try out the stitches you’ll be using in this pattern. This is your time to mess it up, try again, and feel things out — no pressure, no judgement, just you and your new fave hobby.
Bonus: Practising now = fewer headaches later (trust us on this one).
For this practise session we recommend you crochet a flat square - it's the best way to learn the stitches and once you've got that mastered you can move into the pattern and lean the magic ring.
Slip Knot
AKA how to attach your yarn to your hook!
Chain
The foundation chain is the starting point for most crochet projects.
Double Crochet Stitch
AKA the main event, you'll work in crochet stitch to complete your project.
Fasten Off
AKA securing your work at the end of your project.
Repeat after me:
“I solemnly swear to crochet bravely, unpick calmly, and pretend I meant to do that.
I accept that chaos is part of the craft, and possibly part of my personality.
I will finish what I start… eventually.”
TEST YOUR GAUGE
Once you’re feeling comfy with the stitches, it’s time to check your gauge. We know, we know - it sounds technical, but it’s really just about making sure your tension matches the pattern.
Why? Because different stitchers = different stitch tightness. And we want your finished masterpiece to be the size and shape it was intended to be!
So grab your measuring tape, crochet up a little swatch, and let’s make sure you’re on track before the main event begins.
Chain 14 stitches, then do 5 rows of double crochet. Then, looking at the swatch, measure a 10x10cm square and count your stitches and rows within that space to make sure you're crocheting at the correct tension.
If you've got more stitches or rows than the instructions say you should have, your work is a little too tight, and if you've got less your work is too loose. Adjust your tension by holding the yarn a little more tightly/ loosely as you crochet.
THE BONNIE SCARF
If done correctly,your 10x10cm swatch should be 8 stitches wide and 4 rows high when made in double crochet on a 10mm hook.
Our scarf is made in double crochet stitch. We start by chaining the length of the scarf and then we build out the width of the scarf in rows. We’ll work only into the back loop (or bar) of our stitches which will give us a ribbed effect.
Using your 10mm hook chain on your foundation chain of 130 stitches.
💭 Try to make your chain stitches as evenly sized as possible. Don't pull the loops too tight because you'll struggle to work into these loops in your first row. On the other hand, if you make your loops too loose, your project will look a little messy.
Once you've chained, you'll move onto the first row of double crochet stitches.
In this first row you're working into the chain so you'll insert your hook into one of the bars of your chain stitch.
To start insert your hook into the 4th chain from the hook and do a double crochet stitch. Skipping the first 3 chains gives you the height you need to complete the first row. Then do a double crochet into every chain until the end of the row. You'll have 127 stitches after you've completed this row.
Chain 3 to make your turning chain and then turn your work.
For row 2 and all future rows, you'll need to make sure that you're putting your hook into the back loop of your stitches. Doing this gives your finished scarf a rib-like effect.
Insert your hook under the back bar of your first stitch and do a half double crochet. Continue for all stitches in this row.
💭 We've included handy circles in our patterns to keep track of your rows - you can tick them off as you go.
You'll continue working in double crochet for a total of 7 rows.
Fasten off and then use your darning needle to weave in any loose ends from where a new ball was joined or where you encountered a knot in the yarn.
To fasten off, cut the yarn leaving a 10–15cm tail, yarn over and pull the tail completely through the final loop, then gently tighten to secure.
BLOCKING (Optional)
The final step in finishing a piece is to block it. This step is optional and not all beginner crocheters will block their work but it can improve the overall shape and finish of your piece.
Blocking is a process where you wet your piece to set the finished size and even out the stitches.
Soak your piece in cool water. You only need to let your piece sit in the water for a few minutes and make sure the full piece is completely wet.
Remove your piece from the water and dry it off by rolling it in a towel. You want to get us much of the moisture out of it as possible at this point but be gentle! You don't want to stretch the piece.
Transfer your damp piece to a flat surface to block it on. If you've got a blocking mat - great! otherwise a towel will work. The surface needs to be somewhere where your work can lie flat and can stay there until it fully dries so that the shape sets properly. Make sure it's not a surface that can be easily damaged by having something wet sitting on it!
Arrange your piece so the right side is facing up and the shape is as you'd like it. If you've got a measuring tape you can measure and adjust the piece so it's the correct size.
Allow the work to air dry - this can take a few days. You can also use a hair dryer to speed up the process, just use a light heat and don't concentrate the air in one spot.
