Jumbo Alpaca Crochet Scarf

***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on LoveCrochet HERE! This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step tutorial and is a total of 4 pages including the cover page! This pattern is also available in the “Crochet Cowls & Scarves PATTERN BUNDLE” which includes over 20 beautiful designs at a discounted price – check out the bundle HERE! You can also purchase a kit HERE on the Lion Brand Yarn website!

On our recent trip to New York City for the Lion Brand Blogger Bash (read all about this amazing experience with my recap HERE), I picked up this incredible new yarn called “Jumbo Alpaca Blend” in “Light Grey”. This special yarn is a part of the LB Collection, a luxury line of yarns at more affordable prices that are only available online and at the Lion Brand Yarn Studio and Outlet. The LB Collection has yarns such as superwash merinos, silk, merino yak alpaca, and many other beautiful luxurious fibers.

Jumbo Alpaca Blend is 43% baby alpaca, 43% fine merino wool and 14% polyamide. This is a wonderful blend as it is very warm, lightweight, and not the least bit itchy or scratchy, and the polyamide gives the yarn durability and strength. Each skein contains 62 yards/250 grams and it is classified as a jumbo (level 7) yarn. This unique yarn is a wonderful addition to the jumbo yarns currently available on the market as the extreme knitting and crocheting trend is going strong and still very popular! I was so excited to work with this Jumbo Alpaca Blend as I knew any project using this yarn would be very quick, and the construction of this yarn is very unique as one strand actually resembles a row of crochet stitches! With its extreme warmth and softness, I knew immediately that I wanted to design a scarf with this yarn and have it wrapped around my neck!

I wound the Jumbo Alpaca Blend yarn into a ball and pulled out my 40 mm crochet hook, the largest hook in my collection! Since I wanted to crochet a piece with this jumbo yarn, I knew I wanted to use a very large hook to create looser stitches with greater drape. To start off, I worked a series of 19 chain stitches.

After working the first row of half double crochets, I then turned my work and then began working half double crochets in the third loops for the second row. Half double crochets are special stitches since they have back loops, front loops, and third loops! The third loops are indicated in the picture below (behind the front and back loops- they are visible in the front when you have turned your work).

After the second row is completed, it is now time to work half double crochets in the back loops as shown below.

You alternate between working rows of half double crochets in the third loops only and half double crochets in the back loops only. I love the resultant design that is created, and I have used this pattern for the ribbing of my Cabled Legwarmers/Boot Cuffs and Granite Cardigan! In the picture below, you can see the two different sides that are created- I love the “V’s” or stockinette look of the front side, and I’m so glad that we can create a similar elegant stockinette look with crochet!

I had so much fun whipping up this scarf as there is something so satisfying about such oversized and luscious stitches! This soft jumbo yarn was such a pleasure to work with as it could be easily frogged (as I was figuring out how many stitches to start with) and did not fuzz up or break! It is a very durable and hardy yarn, and that polyamide greatly helps!

After five rows, the crocheting was complete! This project is wonderful for instant gratification since you can complete it within one sitting. Working with jumbo yarn and such a large hook makes the project absolutely fly by! Don’t those stitches look so squishy, loose and soft?

Since this yarn has natural animal fibers in it, you can actually weave the ends in and felt them to the rest of the scarf so that you do not have to worry about the ends popping out with tugging and repeated wears. Hiding such large ends would otherwise be troublesome! I weaved in the ends between the stitches and agitated the fibers together with my felting needle tool ontop of my dense foam mat. You can check out my tutorial and video HERE to read more about felting ends together.

Next, I added a large wooden button to the scarf- I picked up this button on our travels to Halifax, Nova Scotia! You can use any large statement button, and I’ve suggested some in the materials section below. I positioned it on the second row from the top and between the third and fourth stitches from the right (I sewed it onto the V-part). I used worsted weight yarn to sew on the button and made sure to leave enough slack so that the button could be looped through the other side of crochet stitches when worn.

If you would like to use a 25 mm crochet hook, I tried to work up a quick swatch to show you what the stitches would look like. As you can see below, the stitches are denser and less loose with less drape. I tried to approximate how many stitches you would need to get a finished scarf of similar dimensions- see the pattern below!

I filmed some videos of me working half double crochets in the third loops and back loops, and it’s neat seeing such a jumbo hook and jumbo yarn in action! Check it out below!

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Here is the free pattern for my “Jumbo Alpaca Crochet Scarf“:

***You can purchase an INEXPENSIVE AD-FREE PDF of this pattern on Etsy HERE and on Craftsy HERE! This beautifully formatted PDF includes the step-by-step tutorial and is a total of 4 pages including the cover page! You can also purchase a kit HERE on the Lion Brand Yarn website!

Materials:

LB Collection Jump Alpaca Blend in “Light Grey” (level 7 Jumbo yarn) – 1 skein required (62 yards/250 grams)
40 mm crochet hook (could also use 25 mm crochet hook for a denser scarf- see modifications below)
Large button (mine was 1.75″ in diameter) – see HERE, HERE, and HERE
Worsted weight yarn to sew button on
Yarn needle
Felting needle tool and dense foam felting pad (optional)

Gauge: 2.5 sts and 2 rows = 4″

Using 40 mm hook,

Chain 19

R1: Hdc 1 in second chain from hook and in each chain across (18 hdc).

R2: Chain 1, turn. Hdc in third loops across (18 hdc).

R3: Chain 1, turn. Hdc in back loops across (18 hdc).

R4: Repeat R2

R5: Repeat R3

With right side facing you, place button along second row from the top between 3rd and 4th stitch from the right edge (I sewed mine onto the “V”). Using worsted weight yarn, sew button in place, leaving enough slack so that the button can be pulled through the crochet stitches.

Felt ends to rest of scarf and wear your luxurious new alpaca scarf!

Finished Dimensions: 30″ x 10.5″ (unstretched)

***MODIFICATIONS WITH 25 MM HOOK (note that the scarf will be denser and not as airy with less drape):

Gauge: 3 sts and 3 rows = 4″

Using 25 mm hook,

Chain 26

R1: Hdc 1 in second chain from hook and in each chain across (25 hdc).

R2: Chain 1, turn. Hdc in third loops across (25 hdc).

R3: Chain 1, turn. Hdc in back loops across (25 hdc).

R4: Repeat R2

R5: Repeat R3

R6: Repeat R2

You should be able to complete somewhere between 5 and 6 rows. With right side facing you, place button along third row from the top between 5th and 6th stitch from the right edge. Using worsted weight yarn, sew button in place, leaving enough slack so that the button can be pulled through the crochet stitches.

Finished Dimensions: approximately 30″ x 10.5″

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This Jumbo Alpaca Crochet Scarf is an absolute dream to wear as it feels as though you are being enveloped in a large fluffy cloud! When my face gets cold, I can bury it within this snuggly scarf and cover my ears as well!

I love what a bold statement this chic scarf makes. It is both functional and stylish, and below I am rocking my favourite colour combination: pink and grey!

The loose stitches allow the button to be pulled through various points along the scarf depending on how you want to wear it and how tight you want the scarf around your neck.

With its fold-over style, I think the pointed V shape created at the front is so modern and bold! I love being able to put the scarf on in this manner as it means that I do not need to pull it over my head as sometimes repeatedly doing so can create a lot of static (people in cold climates, you know what I mean!)!

I hope you enjoyed seeing the making of this quick and simple statement scarf! Jumbo yarns are a lot of fun to work with, and this alpaca blend is amazing- it comes in six different colours (check them all out HERE)! You can purchase a kit to make this scarf on the Lion Brand Yarn site HERE, and if you will be visiting the New York or New Jersey area, I highly recommend you visit the Lion Brand Yarn Studio and Outlet so you can see the LB Collection in person! Stay warm and rock all your amazing handmade wearables, everyone!