The Dragon Tail Skinny Scarf is the perfect accessory for both function and a pop of color. Quickly made with only a half cake of Lion Brand Mandala yarn, you’ll have enough for yourself and a gift as well.
“Dragon Tail Skinny Scarf” free crochet pattern by Kim Guzman, © Nov. 2024. All rights reserved.
Technique: Regular Crochet
Skill Level: Intermediate.
Crochet Pattern At A Glance
Dragon Tail Scarf Free Crochet Pattern
Designer: Kim Guzman © 2022-24. All rights reserved.Rate the Pattern
Yarn
- Lion Brand “Mandala”, size 3 weight, 100% acrylic, 590 yds/540m per 5.3 oz/150g per skein: 1 cake or approximately 295 yards of colorway: Sandman
Other Materials
- Suggested Crochet Hook Size H-8 (5mm) or hook needed to meet gauge
- Yarn Needle for weaving ends
- Stitch Marker, optional
Instructions
- Begin with a starting chain for the first row of single crochet, or use foundation single crochet.
- Work rows 2-23 for the 2-row repeat.
- Work row 24 to prepare for the Spike Edging.
- Work the Spike Edging Triangles across. Fasten off.
Full Free Crochet Pattern Below
This is a free crochet pattern and the written instructions are below. If you prefer a printable download, a PDF is also available for purchase.
My Crochet Pattern Notes
This skinny scarf crochet design is made lengthwise so, as you would imagine, the beginning row is quite long. But, it’s only single crochet so you can use a foundation single crochet, if you prefer.
The entire scarf is made in single crochet and the angle is made by introducing short rows. This simply means that you don’t work all the way to the end of the row, so the row is “short”. This results in a sort of stair step and the final row works all the way across, making a flat surface for the triangles which represent the spikes of the dragon’s tail.
I used the Lion Brand Mandala cake as the colors came out of the skein. I didn’t do any color planning or cutting. What you see is what you get. If I were to make a second one from the same skein, it would look completely different because the colors will be from the opposite end of the cake.
How To Wear A Skinny Scarf
This is a novelty scarf and doesn’t have the same shape as a regular rectangle scarf. It is an extreme right angle triangle.
My preferred way to wear this scarf is to wrap the bulk of it around the neck with the skinny tail hanging down.
A lot of skinny scarves are worn with two ends hanging down and the wrap higher up on the neck. This doesn’t work as well with this one because of the sharp angle created by the short rows. It produces an extreme angle with one side much wider than the obvious “end of the tail”.
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Finished Size
6″ at highest point, 71″ long.
Changing The Size Of The Scarf
You can easily increase the length of the scarf by adding multiples of 12 to the beginning stitch count. Each multiple will add about 3.5 inches or so to the length but it will add very little to the 6″ height. The height is really only going to change if you decrease the angle by skipping less than 12 each time.
Other Materials
Suggested Crochet Hook Size H-8 (5mm) or hook needed to meet gauge.
Yarn Needle for weaving ends.
Stitch Marker, optional.
Gauge
15 sc for 16 rows measures approximately 4″ square. Working at a different tension may require additional materials but will still make a lovely finished project.
Step By Step Tutorial
Making the triangle Spikes takes a little bit of practice so I’ve made a lengthy photo tutorial to assist you. Images are read left-to-right, top-to-bottom.
Step 1: Ch 3 [img 1], sk first ch, sc in each of next 2 ch [img 2], sk 1 sc at last row of scarf, sl st in next sc at last row of scarf [img 3], turn [img 4]. You don’t need to turn the entire scarf; just turn the Spike so you can continue stitching.
Step 2: Sc in back loop only of next sc, 2 sc in last sc of Spike [img 1], turn [img 2]: 3 sc.
Step 3: 2 sc in first sc, sc in back loop only of next 2 sc [img 3], sk 1 sc at last row of scarf, sl st in next sc at last row of scarf [img 4]: 4 sc.
Yarn
Lion Brand “Mandala”, size 3 weight, 100% acrylic, 590 yds/540m per 5.3 oz/150g per skein: 1 cake or approximately 295 yards of colorway: Sandman.
“Mandala” is classified as a DK weight (size 3) yarn and is currently available in 27 colorways.
Mandala is a readily-available yarn and is available in different yarn weights. There is more than one variety so be sure to get one marked as size 3.
Abbreviations
This crochet pattern is written in US crochet terminology.
ch=chain; rep=repeat; sc= single crochet; sk=skip; sl=slip; st=stitch.
All numbers after the colon at the end of an instruction are stitch counts. Use the stitch count to check your work.
Free Crochet Pattern Instructions
Row 1: Ch 277, sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch, turn: 276 sc. (Alternatively, work 276 foundation single crochet.)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc up to last 12 sc, turn, leaving remaining sc unworked: 264 sc.
Note: You can use an optional stitch marker at the end of the rows on the short end to help you stop when you’re supposed to stop.
Row 3: Sl st in first sc and next 11 sc, sc in each remaining sc, turn: 252 sc.
Rows 4-23: Rep rows 2-3. On final row, 12 sc.
Row 24: Ch 1, sc in each st across, stepping down like stairs across to the end, do not fasten off: 276 sc.
Spike Edging
See photo tutorial above, if desired.
Step 1: Ch 3, sk first ch, sc in each of next 2 ch, sk 1 sc at last row of scarf, sl st in next sc at last row of scarf, turn. You don’t need to turn the entire scarf; just turn the Spike so you can continue stitching.
Step 2: Sc in back loop only of next sc, 2 sc in last sc of Spike, turn: 3 sc.
Step 3: 2 sc in first sc, sc in back loop only of next 2 sc, sk 1 sc at last row of scarf, sl st in next sc at last row of scarf: 4 sc.
Repeat Steps 1-3 until the Edging is worked across the last row of scarf. If there are one or two stitches remaining, adjust the last spike to slip stitch as needed to be placed in the last single crochet. Fasten off.
Finishing
Weave in all ends securely.
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