Pompom Scarf in Caron Simply Soft Collection - Downloadable PDF

Pompom Scarf in Caron Simply Soft Collection – Crochet Pattern by Darlene Dale

This free downloadable PDF crochet pattern by designer Darlene Dale guides crafters through creating a cheerful, colorful scarf finished with playful handmade pompoms. Published as part of the Caron Simply Soft Collection, this beginner-friendly project is an excellent introduction to shaping techniques in crochet, producing a long, elegant scarf with gently pointed ends and a festive pompom embellishment. The finished scarf measures approximately 5½ inches wide by 61 inches long (14 x 155 cm), making it a generously sized accessory suitable for all seasons.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces a single flat scarf worked entirely in single crochet. The scarf features tapered, pointed ends created through deliberate increase and decrease rows, giving it a distinctive diamond-like silhouette rather than the standard rectangular shape. Once the body is complete, eight pompoms — two each in four contrasting colors — are made separately and sewn randomly near one end of the scarf, adding a fun, dimensional decorative touch.

Techniques Used

• Foundation chain and turning chain: The scarf begins with a simple chain-2 foundation, establishing the base for all subsequent rows.
• Increasing: The pointed tip at the start is shaped by working 2 single crochets into each stitch or into the first and last stitches of a row, gradually widening the fabric from 2 stitches up to 22 stitches over the first 11 rows.
• Even single crochet rows: Once the full width of 22 stitches is reached, the body of the scarf is worked in straight, even rows of single crochet until the piece measures approximately 56 inches, forming the long central section.
• Decreasing with sc2tog: The second pointed end is shaped using sc2tog (single crochet two together), a basic decrease technique where a loop is drawn up in each of two consecutive stitches and all loops are worked off the hook together. This mirrors the increase section, tapering the scarf back down to a single stitch.
• Pompom making: Eight 2-inch pompoms are created using a pompom maker, then sewn onto the scarf near one end. This technique adds texture and color contrast without any additional crochet complexity.
• Finishing: Ends are woven in and the scarf is lightly blocked to even out the stitches and define the pointed tips cleanly.

Stitches Used

• Chain (ch): Used for the foundation and as a turning chain at the start of each row.
• Single crochet (sc): The sole stitch used throughout the entire scarf body, making this pattern highly accessible for beginners who are just learning to crochet.
• Single crochet two together (sc2tog): A simple decrease stitch used to shape the second tapered end of the scarf.

Materials and Yarn

The pattern calls for Caron Simply Soft yarn in a worsted weight, with each skein containing 288 meters (315 yards) per 170g ball. Five colors are used across the scarf and pompoms:

• Color A – Strawberry (0015): 2 skeins, used for the entire scarf body
• Color B – Melon (0016): 1 skein, used for 2 pompoms
• Color C: 1 skein, used for 2 pompoms
• Color D – Pistachio (0003): 1 skein, used for 2 pompoms
• Color E: 1 skein, used for 2 pompoms

A pompom maker sized to produce 2-inch pompoms is also required for the finishing embellishments. No specific hook size is listed in the pattern text, but the stated gauge of 16 stitches and 17 rows to 4 inches in single crochet is the key reference for selecting the appropriate crochet hook. Achieving this gauge ensures the scarf reaches its intended finished dimensions