This free striped scarf crochet pattern uses a Herringbone stitch to create a woven look.  Crochet your own scarf today with this FREE Crochet Pattern for Beginners + Video Tutorial.

Scarves are one of the easiest crochet projects to make, but simple projects don’t have to be boring!  With a simple variation on the regular half-double crochet stitch and a few stripes, you can make this cozy, woven-look Herringbone Scarf.

All you need is some worsted weight yarn in three colors and your basic crochet tools.  The Herringbone Scarf can be the perfect winter accessory for both men and women.  I chose a neutral color palette so my scarf can coordinate with any outfit, but you can use any colors you like.

How to Choose Yarn for the Herringbone Scarf

For this project, you’ll need three colors of #4 Medium / Worsted Weight yarn.  I chose to use Furls Wander, a soft, smooth, easy-care yarn.  I used Snow for my Color A, Mist for Color B, and Cobblestone for Color C.

When selecting the yarn you want to use for this pattern, make sure the yarn label says it is #4 Medium Weight.  Then, purchase enough skeins of the yarn you want to use so that you have at least the total number of yards required in the pattern in each color.  Feel free to use any brand of yarn you like, as long as it is #4 Worsted Weight and soft enough to be against the skin.

Can I crochet this if I am a beginner?

The project level for this knitted sweater pattern is labeled “Basic”.  However, the stitches used are variations of the basic crochet stitches.  You’ll need to be comfortable with the basic crochet stitches, and able to crochet a rectangle.  The special stitches used are detailed in the video tutorial, and are approachable for beginners.

You will also need to be comfortable reading a simple written pattern.  (See this article by the Craft Yarn Council to learn more about how to read a crochet pattern.)

Pin the image below to save this project for later!

Ready to get started?  Let’s crochet the Herringbone Scarf!

Herringbone Scarf Crochet Pattern

by Yay For Yarn

Project Level: Basic

Finished Size: 9” (23 cm) wide by 60” (152.5 cm) long, not including fringe

You Will Need:

• – Approx. 205 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn in Color A
•  – Approx. 165 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn in Color B
• – Approx. 96 yards #4 Worsted Weight yarn in Color C
  (I used Furls Wander in Snow (Color A), Mist (Color B), and Cobblestone (Color C), 100% Acrylic, 3.5oz / 100g, 120yds / 109m per skein, 2 skeins Color A, 2 skeins Color B, 1 skein Color C)
• – US Size J (6.0 mm) crochet hook (or size needed to obtain gauge)
• – Scissors
• – Ruler or Measuring Tape

Gauge: 20 sts and 16 rows = 6” / 15.5cm in Herringbone Half-Double Crochet

Abbreviations:

beg: beginning
ea: each
nxt: next
st(s): stitch(es)
ch: chain
CA: Color A
CB: Color B
CC: Color C
*Fsc: foundation single crochet
*Herr-hdc: herringbone half-double crochet

*This is a special stitch. See instructions below to learn how to work this stitch.

Special Stitches

Foundation Single Crochet: (video tutorial here)
To begin, chain 2. Insert hook into the 2nd chain from the hook. Yarn over, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through one loop on hook (one chain made). Yarn over, pull through both remaining loops on hook.
For all following stitches: Turn work upside-down so the bottom (foundation) edge is facing you. On the bottom of the previous stitch, there is what looks like the top of a normal crochet stitch (the chain from the previous stitch). Insert hook into both strands of that “stitch”. Yarn over, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through one loop on hook (chain made). Yarn over, pull through both remaining loops on hook.

Herringbone Half-Double Crochet:
Yarn over, insert hook into specified stitch. Yarn over, pull up a loop, pull first loop on hook through second loop on hook. Yarn over, pull through both remaining loops on hook.

Herringbone Scarf Instructions

Begin with CA yarn.
Row 1: Ch 2, fsc in 2nd ch from hook. Work 199 more fsc.
OR
Row 1: Ch 201, sc in 2nd ch from hook and in ea ch st across.

Herringbone Row: Ch 2, turn. Herr-hdc in same st and in ea st across.

We will now begin working our stripes. Each time you change colors, leave a tail at least 6” long of the old yarn, and leave a tail at least 6” long of your new yarn before beginning the row. We will include these yarn tails in our fringe later, so we won’t have to weave them in.
Change to CC and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CA and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CC and work 2 Herringbone Rows.
Change to CB and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CA and work 4 Herringbone Rows.
Change to CC and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CA and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CB and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CA and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CB and work 2 Herringbone Rows.
Change to CC and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CB and work 4 Herringbone Rows.
Change to CA and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CB and work 1 Herringbone Row.
Change to CA and work 1 Herringbone Row.

You should now have a total of 25 Rows. Tie off CA, leaving a tail at least 6” long. Do NOT weave in ends. 🙂

Finishing

To Block: (video tutorial here)
For natural fibers, pin project out on foam blocking mats. Spray with water until fully saturated, allow to dry.
OR
For acrylic fibers, pin project out on an ironing board or several layers of towels. Hold a steaming iron 2-3” over the surface of the fabric, making sure all of the fabric is penetrated by the steam. Allow to cool / dry.

Fringe

With your ruler or measuring tape, cut 12” lengths of yarn. You’ll need 40 lengths of CA, 36 lengths of CB, and 20 lengths of CC. Attach them as fringe to the ends of the scarf, matching the fringe to the color of each row as follows: With the right side of the scarf facing up, insert your crochet hook into the end of a row on the edge of the scarf, making sure the hook is inserted from back to front.

Fold two lengths of yarn in half, and grab the folded part with the hook. Pull the folded “loop” of the yarn through the edge of the scarf, then grab the “tails” of the length of yarn and pull them all the way through the folded loop. (If there is a yarn tail at the end of the row you are working with, pull the yarn tail from the scarf through as well.) Tug gently to tighten.

Repeat those steps until you have added two strands of fringe to each end of each row of the scarf.

Once you have attached all the fringe, I recommend steaming your fringe to make it lay very straight. This will help remove any kinks or bends that may be in your fringe. I like to hold a steaming iron 2-3” above the surface of the fringe, and then comb through the fringe with my fingers to straighten the yarn. If you do not want to steam your fringe, you can also wet it, straighten it, and lay it out to dry on your blocking mats or a towel.

Then, we trim the fringe. Trim it straight across with your scissors, so that the ends of the fringe hang straight and even.

Enjoy your finished Herringbone Scarf!

This pattern is intended for your personal use only. You may not share it, copy it, sell it, give it away, or mass-produce the finished product. However, you may sell the finished items on a small scale, as long as you convey in your item description that you used a Yay For Yarn pattern.
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