These crochet scarf patterns for kids are a great way to encourage them to bundle up in the cold. If you can choose colors and styles of scarves that they like, they’ll be a lot more likely to wear them.
These 26 free and easy crochet scarf patterns for kids are sure to delight you as you make them and your kids when they wear them.
Why Crochet a Scarf for Kids?
Crocheting a scarf for kids is a wonderful way to show them love and care. It provides a practical item for them to use in colder weather, and it can also be customized to suit the child's personal style, making it a unique and special item just for them. With so many fun and free patterns available, there's no reason not to crochet a scarf for the kids in your life!
If you’re worried about the tails of a scarf being a safety hazard for little kids, these scarves can be turned into infinity scarves by sewing the short ends together.
What Size Should a Child’s Scarf Be?
The width and length of a child's scarf measures can vary based on personal preference, but a common guideline is to make it between 4-6 inches (or 10 to 15 centimeters) wide and 36-60 inches (91-152 centimeters) long. This allows the scarf to be wrapped comfortably around the neck, with enough length to tuck in or tie, while still being proportional to the child's size.
If you have the child you want to stitch a scarf for handy (or can ask their parent), a good rule of thumb is to make a scarf as long as the child is tall. That way you can use an adult-sized pattern and just make it shorter (and possibly narrower) if you don’t find a child’s crochet scarf pattern you like, or you want to make a matching set for the whole family.
Materials You Need to Have to Crochet a Scarf for Children
One of the most important considerations when crocheting a scarf for a child is yarn choice. You’ll want to balance softness and easy care with the availability of colors the child likes.
It can take a little time to find the perfect yarn for a child’s scarf, but each pattern below has a recommended yarn, which is a great place to start.
While gauge isn’t critical for scarf projects, be aware that if your gauge is off significantly, your scarf may end up much larger or smaller than intended, and you might need more yarn than the pattern calls for.
Once you’ve found the yarn you want to use, you’ll also need a crochet hook in the size called for in the pattern or that allows you to get the correct gauge. Sometimes scarf crochet patterns will use a larger hook than the yarn would typically call for to give the project more drape.
In addition to these essentials, you’ll also need:
- scissors for trimming yarn ends
- yarn needle or tapestry needle for weaving in ends
- a stitch marker if you like one for marking the end of the row
- pompoms or a pom-pom maker if you want to add that embellishment to your scarf
The great thing about scarves is that you can use any stitch pattern you like, so they’re fun projects to use to learn different stitches. Our Ultimate Crochet Stitch Library has 45 different stitches for you to try if you want to experiment with different stitches on your kid’s crochet scarf!
Check out the 24 free crochet scarf patterns for children below to get your creative juices flowing and find the perfect project for your little one.
Colorful Crochet Scarves for Children
Add a splash of color to any children's wardrobe! These free crochet patterns offer a variety of vibrant and eye-catching patterns, making them a great way to use your kiddo’s favorite colors in their scarf.
Sweet Shop Scarf
Designer: Fiber Flux
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Chic Sheep
This pretty pattern uses star stitch, and while it might be on the large side for little kids, you can make it with any odd number of stitches and to any length you like. This is a perfect one for using up odd balls from other projects, or sticking with your child’s favorite colors.
Stay Gold Scarf
Designer: Sweet Potato Crochet Creations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
This pretty pattern uses post stitches, puff stitches, and other basic stitches for a fun and easy pattern that’s quick to make. It comes in kids and adult sizes and is a great way to use up leftovers from other projects.
Scrapadelic Scarf
Designer: Crochet in Colors
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Here’s another great project for using yarn leftovers, or make a rainbow or stripes, use your child’s school colors, or whatever color scheme you like. Worked from a long side in single crochet and half double crochet, just make the chain (and the fringe) shorter to make this for a younger child.
Through the Window Scarf
Designer: EyeLoveKnots
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand LB Collection Merino Yak Alpaca
This free crochet pattern looks dramatic, but it’s actually easy to make in single crochet, chains, and double crochet stitches. It uses a mosaic crochet technique and is available in four sizes, for toddlers, bigger kids, and small and large adults.
Curly Shirley Scarf
Designer: Bee Jam, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
The Curly Shirley Scarf is a short scarf with a slit in it so that one end can tuck into the other, ensuring it stays in place. The curlicue fringe is super cute and fun to make, and you can stitch the scarf in stripes or use a multicolor or solid color yarn.
Color Block Rainbow Scarf
Designer: Sarah Ruane
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK
This simple scarf is worked in the round, mostly in back loop only single crochet, making a long tube that’s closed at the ends and embellished with pom poms. This simple free scarf pattern gives instructions for a child size and an adult size, but it’s easy to alter and you can change colors as often as you like.
Rainbow Scarf
Designer: Laughing Purple Goldfish
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK
Here’s another version of the sideways stitched, striped scarf for kids, this time using single crochet. If you leave the ends to make fringe you don’t even have to weave in ends on this project!
Rainbow Scarf with Clouds
Designer: Tiny Moon
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
Add even more fun to your horizontal rainbow scarf (this one is worked in half double crochet) by adding clouds to the short ends. This quick embellishment is so cute and one your kids are sure to love.
School Colors Scarf
Designer: Lion Brand
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease
This simple scarf is worked in double crochet with stripes for school colors (or any other colors you want). The pattern can work as a kid-sized project or a short scarf for an adult, or make it longer in the same color pattern for a taller person.
Lauren's Scarf and Hat
Designer: Fur Babies Mama
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice
The granny squares that make up the body of this scarf are about 3 inches square, so if you’re making this one for a child you can make a single row of squares, or use a heavier weight yarn if you want to project to be a bit wider. The rainbow border adds an inch on each side.
Rainbow Scarf for Maia
Designer: The Green Dragonfly
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK
This half double crochet striped pattern worked from a long side was made to match a pair of fingerless mitts, which would make a great option for a little one in your life. Use school colors or leftover yarn from other projects if you don’t want to make a rainbow.
Red Heart Planned Pooling Pompom Scarf
Designer: Marly Bird for Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Pooling
This moss stitch scarf is worked in such a way that the colors pool in an argyle design, making the project look a lot more complicated than it is. Once you get the hang of the technique it’s really easy!
Textured Scarf Patterns for Kids
Create unique and stylish looks for your little ones with these scarves with tons of texture. With easy-to-follow instructions, these patterns are perfect for both beginners and experienced crocheters.
Diagonal Ripple Scarf
Designer: A Crocheted Simplicity
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver Ombre
This corner to corner project has a completely different look from standard C2C designs thanks to the ripple pattern and the ombre yarn used. This free crochet pattern is perfect for advanced beginner to intermediate stitchers.
Scrappy Block Scarf
Designer: Sunflower Cottage Crochet
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
This Scrappy Block Scarf is an easy and fun way to use up your leftover yarn. As long as you use the same weight of yarn throughout, and have at least 20 yards of any given color, you can make this scarf. The designer made hers a loop but you can leave the ends hanging if you’d rather.
Winter Wear Scarf
Designer: Marilyn Coleman and Gayle Bunn for Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
Keep your little ones snug and stylish with this handmade crochet hat, scarf and mittens set. Make your gift extra special by customizing it with their favorite colors! The scarf comes in one size, while the hat and mittens have three sizes for kids ages 4-14.
Red Heart School Stripes Scarf
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
This pattern only requires you to know the basics of crochet, so it's perfect for beginners. It’s worked in three colors in single and double crochet, so you can make it whatever width you’d like.
Kelsey Scarf Kids Crochet Scarf
Designer: Crochet Dreamz
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
The Kelsey crochet scarf pattern for kids is a beautiful, textured accessory that looks much more intricate than it actually is! The pattern is simply a 1-row repeat, and it includes sizes for all ages from kids to adults.
Fun and Playful Crochet Scarf Patterns for Your Child
Crochet scarves are the perfect way to add a bit of fun to your child's wardrobe! With these playful crochet scarf patterns, you can create fashionable and unique accessories for your little one.
Cuddly Cat Crochet Scoodie with Pockets
Designer: Moogly Blog
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Caron Simply Soft
The Cuddly Cat pattern includes paw prints on the integrated pockets and a hood with cat ears stitched on. This is the purr-fect pocket scarf project to keep your little one warm!
Monster Keyhole Scarf
Designer: Melissa Campbell, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
This cheerful and easy scarf is perfect for little ones who love monsters. The keyhole slit is in the monster’s mouth, which is an adorable touch.
Bernat Give a Hoot! Scarf
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Bernat Super Value
Keep your little one snuggly and warm this winter with this adorable, owl-accented crochet scarf! This cheerful accessory is sure to bring a smile to your kid's face every time they bundle up for chilly days!
Sushi Scarf
Designer: Malon’s Craft Blog
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart With Love
Older kids who might be more adventurous eaters are sure to love this scarf that rolls up to look like a sushi roll! The pattern includes a video tutorial if you need extra help.
Pompom Scarf
Designer: Darlene Dale, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Caron Simply Soft
This simple single crochet scarf can be made in any size you want. Go wild decorating it with pompoms made from all the yarn you have left over from other projects.
Short and Simple Heart Scarf
Designer: Crochet Spot
Yarn weight: (3) DK
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton DK
Let your teen wear their heart on their scarf with this pretty pattern. It’s designed to be short but you can make it longer for extra warmth if you like.
Red Heart Crochet Puppet Scarf
Designer: Yarnspirations
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Red Heart Super Saver
The scarf is designed to be both functional and fun. With puppet mittens attached at each end, it not only keeps your child warm, but offers an opportunity to express their creative side as well.
Boaboa Scarf
Designer: Sophie GELFI Designs, via Ravelry
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Mandala Ombre
This crochet scarf pattern is great for all levels of crocheters! It also allows for a lot of creativity, since you can use any fancy or colorful yarn, alone or in combinations. Plus, you can whip up this scarf in less than 3 hours, so it's a great project for when you need a quick and easy make!
My Butterfly Scarf
Designer: Knit and Crochet Ever After
Yarn weight: (4) Worsted
Suggested yarn: Lion Brand Landscapes
This butterfly scarf is the perfect way to keep your child warm and add a bit of fun to their wardrobe! The pattern includes a video tutorial that shows you how to work the butterflies.
Want to Make More Fun Projects with Rectangles?
All of the free crochet scarf patterns for kids in this post are rectangles, but there’s so much more you can do with this simple shape than making scarves!
Our Crochet Anything with Rectangles workshop includes 24 different projects made with rectangles, including bags, blankets, sweaters, hats, and more. These quick and easy projects are a great way to expand your crochet knowledge and the kinds of projects you make.
Are You a Beginner Who Needs Help with Crochet Basics?
When you first learn to crochet, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by how much there is to learn. How do you hold your yarn and hook? What’s the best yarn to use? How do you make all those stitches? How can you finish projects so they look like the photos you see online?
If you have questions about crochet techniques, our Crochet Fundamentals workshop has the answer. This collection of videos will teach you all you need to know quickly so you can stitch any project you want with confidence.
Leave a Reply