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How to sew a scrunchie

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how to sew a scrunchie

For day 11 of 12 Days of (upcycled) Christmas tutorials, I’m sharing how to sew a scrunchie! I made all 4 of mine from faded leggings or shirts but you could sew this same tutorial with quilting cotton, regular knit, or even velvet. Scrunchies are back in style, and still as functional as they used to be. My 3 year old has deemed them to be hers so she can wear them as bracelets, so it is a good thing that they are easy to sew since I’ll be making more of them later!

kid sized scrunchie diy

She inherited my fine hair, so I made sure to add a second size perfect for little kids. Isn’t her “whale spout” cute?

Sewing scrunchies takes me way back; I think they might have been the only present I made mostly by myself as a kid and felt really good about! I’m excited to try using them now. again.

If you like this project, you need to check out these posts too

women's leggings into scrunchie

These leggings are so fun but the crotch is seriously pilly and developing holes. I rescued them from the goodwill outlet bins and put them to good use as an upcycle project!

what to make with old leggings

The really nice part about this is, you can angle where you’re cutting to just hit the clean parts where there isn’t as much wear!

upcycled scrunchies (2)

Here you can see both sizes and all the garments they came from. I think it took longer to write this blog post and edit the pictures than actually going to visit anything!

what to sew old leggings into

If we weren’t so attached to them, they’d totally be giftable. Would you wear a scrunchie? Would your kids?

Pin this tutorial for how to turn a t shirt into a pillow with this link or collage image:

See how easy it is to sew a scrunchie with this beginner sewing tutorial! It shows you how to upcycle leggings into scrunchies but any knit fabric will do, two different size measurement included for both kids and adults. #sewing #scrunchie #crafts

Supplies

  • 1/2 yard of elastic; mini scrunchies take 1/8″ wide elastic and regular ones take 1/4″ wide elastic
  • Iron
  • Bodkin
  • 1/4 yard of fabric
  • Hemostats or tube turner

Steps

Step 1-Cut a piece of fabric 2.75″ w X 21″ (2.5″ wide X 15″ long)  for the smaller size. Use your iron to press a hem on one short side.

Step 2- Fold the rectangle in half, length wise.

Step 3- Sew down the long, open end with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 4- Gently turn your tube right side out! I ue homstats to grab one end and gently pull it through.

Step 5- Cut 1 piece of elastic for each scrunchie; roughly 8.5″ long (5″ long for the mini). Use your bodkin to thread it through, holding on to the very end before shuffling the fabric out of your way.

Step 6- Overlap the elastic by 1/2″ and sew several times back and forth to secure.

step 7- Push the end of the raw tube into the folded over tube, rearrange to fit, and then sew over this seam to finish the scrunchie.

handmade scrunchie diy

You’re done! Pull up your hair or your kid’s hair in style.

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Rachel Kennedy

Friday 15th of April 2022

I love this idea! Currently, I've been turning my kids favorite leggings into headbands when they outgrow them or rip them up. This is another great way to use them! Thank you!

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Tuesday 4th of July 2023

great idea, I've done that too, I ought to write a tutorial!

Ulrica

Tuesday 31st of March 2020

Some days ago my granddaughter(she is 11) had a Angel's day so I wanted to buy some scrunchies , so I go to shop but all shops were closed so I went back home and sew some scrunchies she was excited .

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Sunday 19th of April 2020

Your lucky granddaughter!

Mitzi

Monday 18th of March 2019

Those are so cute! Did you use a stretch stitch when sewing the knot headbands? I want to make some with my scraps. Thank you!

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Tuesday 19th of March 2019

I think using a stretch stitch is the safest bet but with a project like these scrunchies, the elastic does most of the stretching so I don't think it is necessary :)

Juana

Tuesday 18th of December 2018

Estupendo

Helene

Tuesday 11th of December 2018

Can you use those thick elastic ponytail holders instead? I was told that regular elastic doesn't hold up as great. I know it will be harder to wrap the fabric around it unless if those ponytail holders are sold by yard.

Stephanie - Swoodson Says

Sunday 11th of August 2019

Hi Helen! Sorry this got bumped to spam :( Just replying now... I haven't seen elastic like that sold by the yard and I'd think cutting it and sewing it back together to thread it through would be tricky. Wish I had an easy fix for you, I have no trouble with regular elastic holding up though!

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