Easy Crochet Scarf Pattern: Alternating Single and Double Crochet

This easy crochet scarf pattern alternates single and double crochet to create a softly textured fabric with just one repeated row. The source sample uses a variegated yarn, letting the color changes do the decorating while the stitch pattern stays simple. A 20-stitch width makes the edges easy to count, and the long rectangle needs no sewing or shaping.

Project at a glance

Detail	Project information
Skill level	Beginner
Finished size	Approximately 6½ × 60 in / 16.5 × 152 cm
Technique	Crochet; US stitch terms in this article unless a source image is labeled otherwise
Construction	Follow the project stages below

Materials and tools

• 2 skeins Red Heart Super Saver in Painted Desert 303, medium-weight yarn
• 6 mm crochet hook
• Yarn needle, scissors and two edge markers

Stitches and pattern notes

ch = chain; sl st = slip stitch; sc = single crochet; hdc = half double crochet; dc = double crochet; tr = treble crochet; st = stitch; sp = space; RS/WS = right/wrong side. A bracket followed by × 3 means repeat the entire bracket three times.

Gauge: 12 stitches and 12 rows per 4 in / 10 cm in the pattern. Ch 1 at the start of a row does not count. Each completed row contains 10 sc and 10 dc. Work into both loops unless you deliberately choose another texture; this is not a back-loop ribbed scarf.

Start with a loose foundation

Chain 21. Keep the chains relaxed enough for a 6 mm hook to enter comfortably. If your foundation habitually pulls tight, make it with a slightly larger hook, then return to the pattern hook for the working rows. Count the chains before beginning: the chain nearest the hook becomes the turning height, leaving 20 chains to work.

Row-by-row scarf instructions

Step	Instructions	Checkpoint
Row 1	Sc in the second chain from the hook. Dc in the next chain. Continue alternating sc and dc across, finishing with dc in the last chain. Turn.	20 stitches: 10 sc + 10 dc
Row 2	Ch 1, sc in the first stitch. Alternate dc in the next stitch and sc in the following stitch across, ending with dc in the last stitch. Turn.	20 stitches
Rows 3–144	Repeat Row 2. Check the width at regular intervals and finish after the source row count or the desired measured length.	144 rows in the source

Keep the edges straight

After turning, the first working stitch sits directly below the turning chain. Place the first sc there rather than skipping it. The last dc goes into the final actual stitch of the previous row, not into the ch 1. Move an edge marker into that last stitch after every row while you are learning the texture.

The alternating heights settle into a textured surface because the new sc works into the previous row’s dc and the new dc into the previous sc. You still begin every row with sc and end every row with dc. Do not start the next row with dc simply because the previous row ended with one.

Measure and finish

Lay the scarf on a flat surface and measure it without stretching. The source gives 144 rows and an approximate 60-inch length; your own row gauge determines how those match. For a specific length, prioritize the measured fabric and keep the same 20 stitches throughout. Fasten off, pull the end through the final loop and weave the tail back through several nearby stitches. Repeat for the starting tail and any yarn joins.

There is no separate border or fringe in the source instructions. If you add either, treat it as a customization and reserve extra yarn. A firm sc border can change the drape, so try a short section first and make sure it lies flat.

Tips for a clean finish

• Count every few rows until you can recognize the two stitch heights.
• Join a new skein at an edge for simpler weaving, leaving enough tail to secure it.
• Use the finished measurements and gauge together when choosing a replacement yarn.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make it wider?

Use an even number of working stitches so every row can start with sc and end with dc. Add one extra foundation chain for the turning height.

Is the repeated row always the same?

Yes. Ch 1, start with sc, alternate sc and dc across, and finish with dc. That single repeat creates the texture.

More scarf and shawl ideas

Explore the Scarves & Shawls collection for more neckwear projects. Compare the yarn weight, width and construction before choosing your next pattern: an airy lace wrap and a dense winter scarf need different fabrics even when they use similar stitches.

Pattern source and credit

Based on [BONUS 1] Crochet Guide.pdf, Printed pages 26-27; PDF pages 28-29. Source project J27.0002-2C, supplied in the Crochet Guide. Photographs show the original source samples; construction checklists are editorial illustrations. The article reorganizes the source and adds practical explanations. Source ambiguities are identified where relevant; this is a document-based adaptation, not a claim of physical testing.

Open the original pattern in Drive to compare the instructions, source photographs and original layout.