Today I’m showing you how to make DIY scrunchies with hair ties (also known as ponytail holders). This tutorial includes an optional “bunny ear” bow too. Download my free sewing pattern here.
I’ve researched a LOT of scrunchie tutorials, but there aren’t many methods for hair tie scrunchies. So I sat down and brainstormed my own way. I definitely think this is the easiest.
You only need to do 2 lines of stitching. That’s it! (Yes, really).
You don’t need to turn anything inside out. You don’t need to close a hole at the end. I’m excited to share this!
This method will also work with elastic bands (although I recommend hair ties because they’re less likely to snap). If you don’t have a sewing machine, you can use hand sewing or a hot glue gun for a no-sew method. The steps are still the same.
Note: I recommend this method for easy-to-sew fabrics like cotton or linen. It involves topstitching, so it doesn’t suit silk. For trickier materials, use this seamless scrunchie method instead for a neat finish.
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Contents list:
- Video sewing tutorial of the whole method.
- What materials you’ll need.
- Free PDF sewing pattern download.
- Step-by-step photo tutorial.
- Share photos of your scrunchies here!
Video sewing tutorial
What materials you need for hair tie scrunchies
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- A hair tie (Amazon link). These are also known as ponytail holders.
- Cotton fabric. 1/2 yard or metre is plenty. Other fabric types are OK too, as long as they’re easy to topstitch. For example, silk is not ideal. Check out fabric.com (USA) and Minerva Crafts (UK) for cute fabric. They have some of the biggest fabric ranges on the web!
- An iron.
- Matching thread. I use ‘sew-all’ polyester thread by Gutermann (Amazon link). It’s strong and lint-free.
- Fabric scissors to cut the fabric. I use and recommend the soft-grip ones from Fiskars (Amazon link). Or use a rotary cutter and mat. I use a Fiskars rotary cutter (Amazon).
- The right sewing machine needles. For light to medium weight non-stretch fabric, you’ll need a universal needle in size 80/12 (Amazon link).
- Measuring tape (Amazon) to measure the right length of fabric. Or just use a normal straight ruler.
Free PDF scrunchie sewing pattern
I like using a template because I don’t have to mark the fabric and my cutting is straighter.
You can download the template I used from my resource library.
Otherwise, the scrunchie measurement is 21 1/2″ (width) x 3″ (height). I also experimented with 5″ height for a really big scrunchie.
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How to make a scrunchie with hair ties (step-by-step):
This is the easiest way to do it; it only involves 2 lines of stitching!
Cut out your scrunchie (pdf pattern here).
The measurements are: 21 1/2″ x 3″ (54.5cm x 7.5cm).
For a big scrunchie, try a height of 4″ or 5″ / 10cm or 13cm.
Fold in the top edge by 1/2″ / 1.3cm.
Note: the raw edges should be facing the “ugly” side of the fabric, not the “nice” side.
Iron the fold in place.
Fold in the bottom edge by 1/2″ / 1.3cm.
Iron the fold in place.
Place the short ends together. Unfold the edges, pin, and sew the short sides with a 1/4″ / 0.6cm seam allowance. Your fabric will now be a tube.
Note: before sewing, make sure the “nice” sides of the fabric are facing each other.
Carefully bunch the tube together. Make sure the tube doesn’t twist.
Place your hair tie over it, roughly in the middle.
Match up the folded edges, so the hair tie is inside the fabric. Use pins to hold the fabric in place.
Here’s what it looks like with pins all the way around. The hair tie is hidden inside the scrunchie.
Sew around the edge, all the way around.
Note: don’t forget to backstitch at the beginning and end so your stitching doesn’t unravel.
Congratulations, you’re done! Here’s what the finished scrunchie will look like.
How to make bunny ear bows for a scrunchie (step-by-step):
Cut out your scrunchie bow (pdf pattern here).
It’s 11 6/8″ (30cm) wide, 2 6/8″ (7cm) tall in the middle, and almost 4″ (10cm) tall at the highest point.
Fold the bow in half. Sew along the open edge, leaving a 1″ gap in the middle (where the straight part is). Sew with a 1/4″ (0.6cm) seam allowance.
Trim the seam allowance down, except for the unsewn part in the middle.
Turn the bow inside out using the hole in the middle. Use a blunt pencil to push the corners out properly.
Sew the gap closed. This stitching will be hidden when we tie the bow onto the scrunchie.
Tie the bow onto the scrunchie and knot it once.
Tweak the bow so it looks nice. Make sure the “ears” are even on both sides.
You’re done! Here’s what the scrunchies will look like with bunny ear bows.
Share photos of your scrunchies here!
I’m excited to see how your scrunchies turn out.
Post a photo to this pin so I can see it.
Leave a message in the Pinterest comments too. I’d love to know what fabric you used and how you found this method. I appreciate all feedback (good and bad) so I can keep improving this scrunchie tutorial. Thank you! Sara 🙂
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