Crochet Carnation Flower Hair Tie Pattern: A Beginner-Friendly Floral Scrunchie You’ll Love Making

If you’ve been looking for a crochet project that’s quick, beautiful, and genuinely useful, this carnation flower hair tie pattern is exactly what you need. Whether you’re just starting out with a hook or you’ve been crocheting for years and want something satisfying to make between bigger projects, this floral scrunchie crochet pattern delivers on every front. The finished result looks like a lush, layered carnation perched on a simple hair tie, and it takes just a couple of hours from start to finish.

In this post, you’ll find everything you need to make your own crochet carnation hair tie: a full written pattern, step-by-step guidance, yarn and materials suggestions, tips for beginners, and ideas for customizing your finished piece. There’s also a downloadable PDF version of the pattern at the end if you prefer to print and take it to your crafting spot.

Let’s get into it.

Why Crochet a Carnation Hair Tie?

Carnations have always been one of the most beloved flowers in the world, and it’s not hard to see why. Their ruffled, layered petals have a fullness and texture that translates beautifully into crochet. Unlike a simple daisy or rose, a crochet carnation has real dimension. The petals are worked in a way that creates a natural-looking ruffle and when you attach it to a hair tie, you get a wearable accessory that genuinely looks handcrafted in the best possible sense.

Crochet hair accessories have had a massive resurgence in recent years, and floral scrunchies in particular are everywhere on social media. The charm of making your own is that you can match them perfectly to outfits, make them as gifts, or sell them at craft fairs and on platforms like Etsy. A carnation flower hair tie is the kind of thing people notice and immediately ask where you got it.

Beyond the aesthetic appeal, this is a practical beginner crochet flower project because it only uses basic stitches. If you can chain, slip stitch, and make a single crochet and a double crochet, you have everything you need. There’s no complicated colorwork, no intricate stitch pattern to memorize, and no frustrating seams to sew. The whole thing works up in one continuous piece, which is one of the reasons it’s such a satisfying pattern to complete.

Materials You’ll Need

Before you start, gather these materials so everything is within reach.

Yarn: You’ll want a smooth DK weight or worsted weight yarn in one or two colors. Carnations naturally come in a huge range of colors, so this is where you can have fun. Classic pink, deep red, soft white, and lavender all look stunning. If you want to give your carnation a slightly more realistic look, try using two slightly different shades of the same color for the petals. One skein of yarn is more than enough for several flowers.

Hook: A 3.5mm or 4mm crochet hook works well with DK weight yarn. If you’re using worsted weight, go up to a 4.5mm or 5mm hook. The exact hook size matters less here than it does in a garment project, so use whatever feels comfortable in your hand.

Hair Ties: Plain elastic hair ties work best. You want ones that are sturdy and not too thin. Regular black or brown elastic works fine if you’re making these to wear casually, but if you’re gifting them or selling them, consider using hair ties in a color that complements your yarn.

Yarn Needle: You’ll need this to weave in your ends once the flower is finished. A blunt tapestry needle or any yarn needle will do.

Scissors: Any pair of sharp scissors.

That’s it. No stitch markers, no special notions, no complicated tools. This is the kind of project you can throw in a bag and work on anywhere.

Pattern Notes and Abbreviations

Before diving in, here are the abbreviations used throughout this crochet carnation flower hair tie pattern.

ch — chain
sl st — slip stitch
sc — single crochet
hdc — half double crochet
dc — double crochet
tr — treble crochet
sp — space
rep — repeat
st — stitch
rnd — round

This pattern is written in US crochet terminology. If you’re used to UK terms, know that a US double crochet is a UK treble crochet, and a US single crochet is a UK double crochet.

The flower is worked in rounds from the center outward. The hair tie is incorporated as you go, so there’s no need to sew the flower onto the elastic separately.

Gauge: Gauge is not critical for this pattern. The flower will measure approximately 3 to 4 inches across depending on your yarn weight and hook size. Thicker yarn and a larger hook will give you a bigger, bolder carnation; thinner yarn and a smaller hook will give you a daintier flower.

Skill Level: Beginner to Easy. If you’ve ever made a basic granny square or completed any beginner crochet project, you can do this.

The Crochet Carnation Flower Hair Tie Pattern

Setting Up

Start with a slip knot and your hook. Leave a tail of about 6 inches so you have something to weave in once the project is done.

Foundation Ring

Round 1: Ch 4, join with a sl st to form a ring. (Alternatively, you can use a magic ring if you’re comfortable with that technique.)

Ch 1, work 8 sc into the ring. Join with a sl st to the first sc. (8 sc)

This is your center foundation. It will be hidden once the petals are layered over it, so don’t worry if it looks simple right now.

First Layer of Petals

Round 2: Ch 1. (Sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) all into the first stitch. Sl st into the next stitch. Rep (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) into next stitch, sl st into next stitch around. (4 petals)

These are your innermost petals. They’re small and sit close to the center of the flower. In a real carnation, these are the petals that are just beginning to open.

Second Layer of Petals

Round 3: Working behind the first layer of petals (insert your hook from the back), sl st into the base of each sl st from Round 2. Once you’ve worked around, you’ll have a new round to build the second layer on.

Ch 1. (Sc, hdc, 2 dc, hdc, sc) into next stitch, sl st into the following stitch. Rep around. (4 petals, slightly larger)

If you’re new to working behind a previous round of petals, don’t worry — it’s simpler than it sounds. You’re essentially bypassing the petals you’ve already made and anchoring into the round below them to build the next layer. This is what creates the dimensional, layered look of the carnation.

Third Layer of Petals

Round 4: Again, working behind the second layer of petals, sl st into the base of each sl st from Round 3.

Ch 1. (Sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) into next stitch, sl st into the following stitch. Rep around. (4 petals, larger still)

By this point, your flower is starting to look distinctly carnation-like. The petals are fanning outward and layering over each other, creating that characteristic ruffled fullness.

Fourth Layer of Petals (Outermost)

Round 5: Working behind the third layer, sl st into the base of each sl st from Round 4.

Ch 1. (Sc, hdc, dc, tr, dc, hdc, sc) into next stitch, sl st into the following stitch. Rep around. (4 petals, tallest and widest)

The treble crochet in the center of each petal creates a taller, more open petal that flares outward beautifully. This outermost layer is what gives the crochet carnation its signature look.

Fasten off and leave a long tail for weaving in.

Attaching the Hair Tie

Now that your flower is complete, it’s time to attach it to the hair tie. There are two methods depending on your preference.

Method One (Worked In): If you’d like to incorporate the hair tie as you crochet, you can do so during Round 5. After completing the last round of petals, simply hold the hair tie against the back of the flower and work a round of slip stitches around it, catching the elastic as you go. This secures the elastic firmly and invisibly inside the flower’s base.

Method Two (Sewn On): Thread your yarn needle with the tail you left at the end of the pattern. Use a whip stitch or a series of loops to wrap the yarn around the hair tie several times, pulling it snug against the back of the flower. Stitch through the base of the flower a few times to anchor it firmly. This method gives you a little more control over positioning.

Either method works well. Method One is faster and gives a slightly cleaner finish; Method Two is easier if you’re new to crocheting around elastic.

Weave in all ends securely. Give the flower a gentle tug in all directions to make sure everything is fastened down.

Customization Ideas

One of the best things about this crochet carnation flower hair tie pattern is how easy it is to adapt. Here are some ideas to make each one feel unique.

Color Combinations: Try making the inner petals one shade and the outer petals a slightly darker or lighter version of the same color. This mimics the natural gradient you see in real carnations. Alternatively, contrast colors like cream and burgundy or lavender and white look stunning together.

Size Variations: Want a smaller, more delicate flower for a child’s hair tie? Use fingering weight or sport weight yarn with a 2.5mm or 3mm hook. For a bold, statement piece, try chunky yarn with a 6mm or larger hook.

Yarn Texture: Smooth yarn gives the cleanest, most defined petals. But if you want a softer, more romantic look, try a light mohair blend. Just keep in mind that fuzzy yarns can make it harder to see your stitches, so they’re better suited to crafters who’ve made this pattern at least once before.

Multiple Flowers: Make two or three carnations in graduating sizes and stack them on the same hair tie for an over-the-top, luxurious look. This works especially well in complementary colors.

Adding Leaves: If you want to add a small leaf or two to your carnation hair tie, work a simple leaf shape separately (chain 8, sc in second chain from hook, hdc, dc, hdc, sc, sl st, then work back along the other side of the chain) and attach it behind the flower before securing the elastic. A pop of green adds a lovely finishing touch.

Tips for Beginners

If this is one of your first crochet flower patterns, a few practical tips will make the process go smoothly.

Working behind previous rounds is the trickiest part of this pattern for most beginners. The key is to turn the flower slightly so you can clearly see the bases of the slip stitches from the prior round. Use your hook to find those stitches before you start pulling yarn through. Good lighting makes a real difference here.

Keep your tension consistent but not too tight. The petals need a little flexibility to ruffle naturally. If your petals are coming out stiff or flat, try going up half a hook size.

If your flower curls in on itself rather than lying somewhat flat, your tension is probably too tight. Relax your grip and let the yarn flow a little more freely through your fingers.

Don’t stress about the back of the flower looking perfect. The back will be hidden against the hair tie, and even experienced crocheters find that the backs of 3D crochet flowers look a little messy.

Finally, practice the petal motif on its own before starting the full pattern. Make the foundation ring and work just Round 2 to get a feel for the (sc, hdc, dc, hdc, sc) petal shape. Once that motion feels natural, the rest of the pattern will fall into place quickly.

Gift and Business Ideas

Handmade hair accessories make genuinely wonderful gifts. A set of three crochet carnation hair ties in someone’s favorite colors, tucked into a small organza bag or kraft paper box, is a thoughtful and personal present that costs very little to make but looks like you put real care into it.

If you’re interested in selling your crochet work, floral hair ties are a smart place to start. They’re small, lightweight to ship, quick to make once you have the pattern memorized, and appeal to a wide range of buyers. Listing them as a set (for example, three matching or complementary colored carnation scrunchies) often gets more engagement than selling them individually.

You can also offer custom color orders, which is easy with this pattern since the flower itself doesn’t change — only the yarn color does.

About the PDF Pattern

If you’d like a printer-friendly version of this crochet carnation flower hair tie pattern to keep in your project folder or take with you to your favorite crafting spot, the PDF download includes the full written pattern, a materials list, all abbreviations, and a quick reference section for the stitch counts in each round. Having a physical copy makes it easy to mark your place and keep track of which round you’re on without having to scroll back through a screen.

The PDF is formatted to print cleanly on standard letter or A4 paper and is designed to be easy to read at a glance.

A Final Note

There’s something genuinely lovely about wearing something you made with your own hands. A crochet carnation hair tie is a small thing, but it’s a beautiful small thing — the kind of accessory that catches the light, holds its shape through a whole day of wear, and earns you compliments from strangers who can’t quite believe you made it yourself.

Whether you’re making these for yourself, for friends, as gifts, or as the start of a handmade business, this beginner flower hair accessory pattern gives you everything you need to create something beautiful. Work through it once and you’ll have it memorized. Work through it a dozen times and you’ll have a collection worth envying.

Happy crocheting.