I have heard that scrunchies are back in fashion – is that right? In my world they were never out of fashion – I love scrunchies! I have long hair which breaks easily, and there’s no better accessory to quickly tie everything up. I had some left over scraps from my recent makes so I decided to use them up.
There are a million YouTube videos on how to make scrunchies and they really aren’t complicated, but there is one method that I particularly like (the one I’m about the describe to you). I learned it from a YouTube video which unfortunately I can’t find anymore – which gives me even more reason to tell you about it.
The fabric:
I made these entirely out of fabric scraps from my recent garments:
- a green cotton poplin (my curlew dress)
- a printed white cotton with a pretty sewing-themed pattern (used for my ironing board cover and baker street bag)
- a red polyester silky fabric (used for my night dress)
The pattern:
As the video is no longer on YouTube, here is a little how-to guide.
- Cut out a rectangular piece of fabric, 4 inches wide and about 40 inches long. If you don’t have enough fabric for the length, don’t fret – I made one with just 25 inches and it was fine. The more fabric, the more fluffy your scrunchie. Also, for my printed white scrunchie I didn’t have enough fabric but I sewed small pieces together in a patchwork to make the right size (see photo below) and the seams don’t show when the scrunchie is all made up.
- Sew the short ends of the rectangle together (right sides together)
- Flatten your loop of fabric out, right sides together. In the centre of one of the long sides, fold the upper piece of fabric to the middle, then do the same on the other long side. Now when you fold everything in half, you can stitch the edges of the lower piece of fabric together without stitching the upper piece. Holding those edges together, place on your sewing machine (no need to pin) and start sewing along the long edge (see photo below).
- Now this stage is where the magic happens and is why I love this pattern! After a while, you’ll get close to the end. Pause sewing and pull on the inside folded fabric while holding the outer piece in place, this then frees up the next piece of fabric for you to sew. This is hard to describe – if you’re unsure, see the video below.
- When you have sewed the whole loop and are as close as you can get to your start point, finish off. Pull out the fabric so it is right-side out.
- Cut a piece of elastic (about 20 cm long), thread throught the fabric loop and tie together. Sew gap closed (I did this by machine, but you’ll get a better finish hand-sewing.
The challenges:
None at all – making scrunchies is super-easy. When you get the hang of it you can make one in 10 minutes.
The final result:
I think this is a great way to use up fabric scraps, especially if you’re like me and can never find a hair tie when you need one. Mine always get lost in pockets/bags/drawers, so having plenty of spares is always helpful. Plus, I can now match my scrunchies with my garments!
The sewing resolution 