How to Make a Scrunchie with Step by Step Photos

Everyone’s favorite 90’s hair accessory is back! Learn how to make a scrunchie with step by step photos and easy to follow instructions. You’ll want one in every color!

A scrunchie is a tube of fabric sewn into a circle with elastic through the center that holds hair in a ponytail. Sounds simple, right? It’s the perfect beginner sewing project for teens and tweens.

Supplies for Making a Scrunchie

Choose a fabric that won’t slip on your hair. Cotton or a cotton/polyester blend are good choices. Fabric quarters, also known as fat quarters, are an affordable option.

You can create several scrunchies per quarter, and they come in a myriad of colors and prints. Small prints work best since the finished scrunchie is too small to showcase a large print.

Grab some elastic too. Then you will just need your basic sewing supplies: Fabric shears; Straight pins; Safety pin; iron and ironing board; and thread, of course.

How to Make a Scrunchie

Begin by ironing your fabric. This ensures accurate measuring and cutting.

Measure and cut a strip of fabric 3.5″ x 22″ for girls. You can go up to 4″ or 4.5″ for teens and adults to make a fuller, wider scrunchie.

Next fold the fabric strip in half lengthwise with right sides together. Place pins in the center to hold.

Sew along the raw, long edge of the fabric with 1/4″ seam allowance. Do not sew the short ends.

Pin a safety pin to one end of the fabric tube you created.

Then insert the safety pin into the inside of the tube.

Gently work the safety pin down the length of the tube, and pull it out the other end.

Unclip the safety pin.

Now the tube should be right side out.

Next cut the elastic to 8.5″.

Pin a safety pin to one of the elastic. Insert the safety pin into the fabric tube, and gently work the elastic down into the tube. Stop with 1/4″ of elastic sticking out of end where you started.

Sew across the end with the elastic sticking out.

Backstitch several times across the end to ensure the fabric won’t detach as you pull it around your ponytail.

Scrunching the fabric as you go, pull the elastic end with the safety pin out of the fabric casing.

Overlap the elastic on top of the other end that you sewed shut, creating the circle shape of the scrunchie. Stitch the elastic on top of the opposite, sewn end backstitching several times again to secure.

Now fold down the edge of the open fabric casing about 1/8″.

Insert the end that was sewn into the folded end. Make sure it is covering the elastic and stitching.

Top stitch close the edge of the folded end, about 1/16″ if possible.

You made a scrunchie! Wear it as is or continue for instructions to add a bow.

How to Add a Bow to Your Scrunchie

For the bow, cut your fabric to 3″ x 8″. Use the same fabric to match your scrunchie to change it up with a coordinating color.

Now fold the right sides of the fabric together lengthwise, and place one pin in the center to hold. Measure and mark 1.5″ from each end on the raw edge of the fabric.

Use your rotary cutter or scissors, cut from the corner of the folded edge at a diagonal to he mark you made on the raw edge.

Sew from one point along the raw edge with 1/4″ seam allowance to the other point. Leave a 2″ opening in the center for turning.

Pull the fabric through the opening. Use a chopstick or turning tool to push out the corners at both points.

Fold the raw edges down into the opening. Top stitch around the perimeter with coordinating thread (You will be able to see it.).

Tie the strip with a single knot around the scrunchie.

Tip: Tie the bow around the seam on the scrunchie to hide it!

Don’t forget to pin this project for later, and check out some more fun sewing tutorials below.

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