DIY Scrunchies - A Girl and a Kiwi

Have you noticed the scrunchie trend? It’s back, and I’m here for it. So, I splurged on an olive green Lululemon scrunchie, and I don’t regret it. I wear it all the time, on my wrist, in my hair, throw it in my purse… I dig it. I love that scrunchies are easy on your hair – they don’t pull or get caught. And I love that they add a pop of color to a pony tail, while making the pony tail look all floofy! I was looking at my scunchie one day and I thought to myself, you know, I could probably make this. I turned it around in my hands a few times and I thought, I could definitely make this. And now you can make DIY scrunchies too!

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Here’s what you need:

a sewing machine or needle/thread.
elastic
scissors
fabric
ruler
sewing pins
pen with snug fitting cap

Alright, so first I cut my strips of fabric 16×3.5 inches. It wasn’t an exact measurement. I chose to make a medium sized scrunchies. The thicker your strips of fabric are though, the thicker your scrunchie will be.

Related: DIY Fleece Blanket with Braided Edges

So after you cut your strips, fold them in half long ways, so the “right side” of the fabric is facing in, and the wrong side is facing out. Pin shut.

Along the long, rough edge, sew it closed but leaving the two short ends open. Remove the pins.

I think you could hand stitch this if you had some patience and were able to get your stitches close together, but not sure. Obviously a sewing machine is easier and faster.

Okay! Now, turn the tube of fabric right side out.

I made 20 scrunchies as favors for my sister’s bachelorette party. I was sitting on the couch, turning 20 skinny tubes of fabric right side out and it was taking forever! James said, “There’s got to be a better way to do that. Give me one.” Within 30-seconds he had the tube flipped right side out – peace of cake. Here’s how he did it.

Take a pen with a cap that fits snugly on the pen. Slip the end of the fabric between the pen cap and pen.

Gently push the fabric up around the pen cap. Once you have a couple inches moved up around the pen cap, you’ll be able to move the rest of the fabric up and over the pen cap.

Wa-la!

Related: DIY Floral Wreath

Alright, now time for the elastic. I cut elastic strips about 8.5inches. I basically just based it off of some of my other hair ties. And FYI I am able to wrap the scrunchie around my ponytail twice.

Using that pen again, slip the elastic between the pen and cap. Insert the pen end-first into the fabric tube, and hold on to the end of the elastic.

Grab the elastic end. At this point, you should have both ends of the elastic in your hand. Remove the pen. Tie a knot in the elastic.

Time to close it up! Fold in each end of the tube, so you’ll have nice clean edges. Insert one end into the other.

I realized after I had done this, that I probably only needed to fold one end, and then insert the raw end into the folded end. But either way, I folded both ends.

My sewing machine is basic, and it can’t sew through folded ends plus a big knot of elastic. Gently massage the knot out of the way, so it’s not lined up with seam or gets in the way of the sewing machine foot.

Once the knot is moved to the side, sew it closed! Just make sure each side of the seam is lined up with each other, so you’re sewing both sides of the seam evenly shut.

And now you have cute DIY scrunchies! I loved this project, and I can’t wait to make more DIY scrunchies for different seasons. It’s also a perfect project for scrap pieces of fabric. And they make a perfect gift or party favor!

Related: DIY Christmas Stockings

I had a lot of fun making these, too. And I get compliments on them all the time! If you are interested in just buying a scrunchie, I sell them in cute patterns and colors for $3 each! You can message me on my Facebook Page A Girl and A Kiwi, or DM me on my instagram @brooke_hami for more details!

Sew On,