How to Crochet a Scarf for Total Beginners – Learn to Crochet in 2020!

Maybe you had a loved one teach you years ago, maybe you knit and want to take the plunge into crochet, or maybe you’ve never owned a ball of yarn in your life! Either way, 2020 is the year YOU learn to crochet, baby! And this chunky infinity scarf is the perfect beginner project. It uses Thick & Quick yarn and the equally thick and quick half double crochet stitch for speedy and motivating progress that will keep you crocheting until you’ve made something you can truly be proud of.

long pink garter stitch scarf free knitting pattern

Fortunately for you visual learners, I have a video tutorial to get you started with making a slip knot, chaining and how to do the half double crochet stitch. You can find the video HERE:

There is also a downloadable Free PDF for this pattern available HERE

Now let’s get into the written tutorial.

For this pattern, you’ll need to pick up at least 200 yards (180 meters) of size 6 “Super Bulky” weight yarn like Lionbrand Thick & Quick or Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Super Chunky and a size 9mm crochet hook.

To begin, make a slip knot

How to make a slip knot

Place the slip knot on your hook and use your hook to pull a loop through the slip knot to chain 1 and make a total of 95 chains for this pattern (remember, the loop on your hook doesn’t count as a chain).

Once you’ve crocheted your 95 chains, join in the round by slip stitching your last chain to your first chain. To do this, insert your hook into your first chain (making sure your chain isn’t twisted) and pull a loop through the first chain and through the loop on your hook.

Now you can make your first half double crochet stitch. Wrap your yarn over your hook, insert your hook into the chain you just worked into, and pull up a loop.

Then wrap your yarn again and pull through all three loops on your hook.

Repeat into the next chain. Yarn over hook, insert hook to pull up a loop, yarn over hook and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.

Make 1 half double crochet into each chain.

To complete the round, slip stitch into the first stitch of the round.

Row 2: Make 1hdc (half double crochet) in each stitch. Slip stitch to first stitch of the round to complete the round

Row 3: Make 1hdc in the back loop of the stitch (rather than under both loops of the stitch) for each stitch of the round. Slip stitch into the first stitch to complete the round.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 until you have a total of 8 rows (including row 1) and end after a “row 2” row.

Cut your yarn and leave a short tail to weave in. Pull the tail through the last loop on your hook to fasten off.

Weave your ends into your project. The video tutorial I mentioned is a great resource on how to weave in ends. It’s something that really needs to be shown rather than explained.

That’s it! Even as a total beginner, you can create this truly impressive piece. Now all you have to do is strut your warm neck around town and watch people’s jaws hit the floor when you tell them you made it yourself!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and pattern and that you’re totally hooked (heh) on yarn now! Subscribe to my e-mail newsletter for updates on new beginner patterns and feel free to share your projects on Instagram or Ravelry so I can see them too!