Just like the good ol’ fanny pack, scrunchies are having a comeback! Our nostalgia for the ’90s is in full swing thanks to these brightly colored scrunchies that are doubling as fashion statements. Using less than a fat quarter of fabric, this is the perfect DIY project to help you make a dent in your fabric stash, just in time for the gift-giving season.
Choosing the Right Fabric and Design for Your Scrunchie
Before we start making scrunchies, let’s talk about choosing the right fabric and design. You’ll be pleased to learn that a majority of Spoonflower’s woven fabrics are suitable for a scrunchie, so if you’ve been hanging onto your fabric scraps, this is the project for you! We tested this tutorial using Celosia Velvet™, Petal Signature Cotton™ and Organic Cotton Sateen. Our favorite fabric to use for scrunchies? Hands down, Celosia Velvet! The plush, fabric with a gorgeous sheen was just the ticket for a sophisticated scrunchie.
Speaking of designs, when searching the Marketplace for scrunchie designs, think small. We recommend adding the term ditzy or small-scale to your keyword search to help find designs that are small enough for your 17″ x 3″ scrunchie pattern piece. Take a look at our scrunchie-approved collection to get a head start!
Pro tip: Use the Fill-A-Yard® cheater quilt template to order multiple scrunchie designs on one yard of fabric!
DIY Scrunchie Materials
- 17″ x 3″ piece of fabric—we’re using Ashley Dots by shelbyallison on Celosia Velvet
- ¼” wide elastic, 7″ long
- Safety pin or loop turner
- Sewing machine
- Embroidery needle and thread
- Iron
- Cutting shears or rotary blade
- Pins or clips
- Seam gauge
How to Make a Scrunchie
1. Cut out a 17” x 3” rectangle from your fabric.
2. Fold one short end of the fabric strip in ½” from the edge, wrong sides touching. Press ends with an iron or your finger. Fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise with right sides facing and pin in place. Stitch the length of fabric using a ⅜” seam allowance.
3. Attach the safety pin or loop turner to one end of the fabric tube and turn right side out. Lay the seam in the middle and press in place.
4. Attach the safety pin to one end of the elastic and thread it through one of the open ends of the fabric tube until you come out the other end. Make sure to hold on to both ends of your elastic at all times!
5. Pull the elastic taut and overlap the two ends. Secure the elastic ends by stitching in place.
6. Take the unfinished end of the fabric tube and insert it into the opening on the finished end about ½” deep, making sure the middle seams are aligned. Pin or clip in place.
7. Handstitch the fabric ends to secure the scrunchie. Now your scrunchie is complete and ready for wearing!
See how the Spoonflower community is making scrunchies
and then be sure to tag @spoonflower on Instagram so we can see your version!
Great scrunchie instructions !
Thank you! We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed the tutorial.
Best,
Amy
Spoonflower
Aloha all y’all…
very intriguing tutorial… I love it… intriguing that you had no method to actually demonstrate the use of a scrunchie… so you put them to use as their second most popular use… catapulting them off a thumb… (wink)
I might begin to make them myself… my hair is a bit longer than the last time you saw me… (grin)
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Good job with the demonstration…
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Until that time. . .
Want to make scrunching for 6 yr old what are the dimensions.
Thanks
Hi Marilyn,
While we haven’t tested it out, we think the size of this scrunchie would work great for a child!
Excellent tutorial. I’ve seen many on this topic, but this is, by far, the clearest, simplest method and demonstration. Thank you very much for sharing. I’m inspired to make a big pile of scrunchies for everyone in need!
Thank you so much..
I know this is a basic tutorial, but for those just beginning to sew, this is so easy to follow and is a great way to save money and use up fabric.
Thanks so much for a fun and educational tutorial!
This is a great how-to! I’ve been trying to find a straight-forward instructional and I think this is the one! But could the final stitch to hide the raw edge be machine sewn rather than hand-sewn?
– K
Hi Krys,
We’re so glad you enjoyed the scrunchie tutorial! When we tested the tutorial, we initially stitched the final step with our sewing machine but found that the scrunchie ended up having a flat section where you stitched. We preferred a uniformed look that is created when you hand-stitch the final step, but it’s really up to your personal preference! If you look closely at this image, you’ll notice the yellow and white scrunchie was stitched with a machine and lays flat. I hope that helps, but if you have any more questions don’t hesitate to ask!