How to Add Fringe to a Scarf

Have you ever wanted to embellish a yarn scarf that you just made?  Perhaps you knitted a pretty lace scarf or crocheted a long open-weave scarf and want to give it a modern Boho fringe look.  I am going to show you how simple it is to add fringe to a scarf using long pieces of yarn.  Once you try it, you will want to add fringe to all your yarn projects!   

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Add Fringe to a Yarn Scarf

Why put fringe on a scarf?

No matter your skill level, from beginner to advanced, one of the most popular yarn projects to make is a long scarf.  A scarf is just one of those projects that is easy to pick up and quick enough to finish.  The stitches are usually repetitive and the finished piece is certainly functional.

But once you have mastered the art of making a simple scarf, you may want to jazz it up with fringe.  There is something about the flowy element of cascading yarn at the ends of your scarf that is very appealing.  Fringe gives your scarf interest, texture, and style.  Fringe can coordinate with both a traditional and Bohemian look.  It just depends on the yarn and scarf style. 

How do you put fringe on a scarf?

The steps to add fringe to a short end of a scarf are very easy.  You only need extra yarn and a crochet hook.  It is easy to use the same yarn that was used on your knit or crochet scarf, especially since it will match exactly and immediately blend in.  However, feel free to use yarn in a contrasting color or texture to provide interest.

Adding fringe is a great opportunity to experiment!

In the example below, I added several sections of fringe to the short ends of my GRAY LACE KNITTED SCARF.  My knitted scarf is actually not too long, so I wanted to add drama and length with long fringe.

Simply follow my steps below to learn how to make and add fringe that is about 6-7”.  Feel free to cut your yarn pieces longer or shorter, depending on your preference. 

The supplies I used to make fringe are:

• Size 4 (medium) cotton yarn
• Size J crochet hook

How to add fringe to a scarf:

Follow these 6 easy steps to make add one set of fringe to your scarf:

1. Begin by cutting 3 pieces of yarn, 16” long each.  I used size 4 yarn, so 3 pieces is a good amount for one set of fringe. The thicker your yarn, the less pieces you need (and the converse is true). Fold the group of 3 pieces of yarn in half.

2. Insert a crochet hook at the bottom center of a short edge of your scarf, from the back (wrong side) to the front (right side):

3. Use the hook to grasp the folded center of the group of yarn:

4. Pull the yarn through the scarf from front to back:

5. Gather the ends of the yarn and pull them through the loop: 

6. Gently tug down with the ends of the yarn to tighten the tassel to the scarf:

Repeat the above 6 steps to make 9 sets of fringe per scarf edge.  I chose 9 sets for my 6″ wide scarf, but you can feel free to make more or less, depending on the width of your scarf and how much fringe you want to squeeze in. Just plan on making an odd number of sets.

Attach two sets to each corner, then space out the rest evenly. You want to continue adding fringe centered between two pieces already attached:

 Lastly, trim the fringe ends to even them out:

How long should fringe be on a scarf?

The length of your fringe will depend on your preferences and the type of scarf. 

It may be best to use a shorter length on thicker, chunkier yarn scarves, perhaps between 3-5 inches. 

Lace and open-weave type of knitted or crochet scarves look best with very long fringe, as it would compliment the open and airy look. Here you can make the fringe 7-10″ long. 

(Interested in this lace scarf pattern? The knit pattern is part of a SCARF AND HEADBAND BUNDLE available in my ETSY SHOP. You can also find the coordinating KNIT HEADBAND PATTERN free on the blog.)

The good news is that you get to decide how long you want your fringe.  If you are unsure, better to make longer fringe first. You could always trim it if you decide you would prefer a shorter length.

So tell me, how would YOU embellish a knitted scarf or crochet piece with fringe?  I would love to hear about your ideas and projects.  Plus, fringe need not be relegated to scarves only – they look gorgeous on long crochet cover-ups, purses, and shawls. 

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