DIY Seamless Scrunchie with Free Pattern & Video Tutorial

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**2022 UPDATE: I no longer recommend this blog post for making seamless scrunchies. I bought and deconstructed 13 scrunchies from stores to see how professional scrunchies are made. I created a new tutorial that reveals their methods for making seamless, professional-quality scrunchies. So I recommend reading that instead 🙂

Every few years, my family round up all their unwanted clothes for the bin. I hate the waste, so I like to see what I can refashion into something new.

I found this old plaid button-down shirt from our last clearout. It’s made from soft cotton flannel, so I decided to DIY it into seamless scrunchies and a baby dress.

In today’s post, I’m talking about how I made the scrunchies.

This is a great way to upcycle old clothing, especially for teens who want to “thrift flip” their own trendy scrunchies.

Pin this image to bookmark the post for later 🙂

close up of a plaid shirt scrunchie — I topstitched the gap closed – it’s barely noticeable.

plaid flannel mens shirt cut up and refashioned into scrunchies

Sewing tutorial:

This method is a less fiddly way of sewing a “seamless scrunchie”. However, there’s a lot of topstitching at the end.

I’m on the lookout for an even better method, so I’ll update this post when I find it. My plan is to take apart professionally made scrunchies to see how the pros do it!

In the meantime, here’s how I made seamless scrunchies:

Cut fabric & elastic

free scrunchie sewing pattern — I didn’t have enough fabric to cut the whole length, which is fine.

I’m using my free scrunchie pattern, which you can download from my resource library.

Cut a rectangle of fabric. The measurements are 21 1/2″ x 3″.
Cut 8″ of elastic. I’m using 1/4″ braided elastic.

Fold & sew

Fold the rectangle in half.
Sew along the raw edge, leaving a 2″ gap at the start and end. Use a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Turn inside out & iron

Attach a safety pin to one end and turn the tube inside out.
Iron the scrunchie flat.

Sew into tube

Pin the open ends together, with the good sides facing each other.
Sew the ends together with a 1/4″ seam allowance.

Insert elastic

Insert elastic through the gap. Tie the ends of the elastic.
Try on the scrunchie and make sure it’s tight enough. I like it to hold my hair firmly with 2 wraps.

Close the gap

Close the gap with topstitching.

Optional: make a bow

Cut out 1 scrunchie bow piece. I’m using my free pattern available for email subscribers.
Fold it in half.
Sew along the raw edge, leaving a 1.5″ gap in the middle. Use a 2/8″ seam allowance.
Cut notches around the curve and cut the seam allowance down, except the seam allowance in the middle.
Turn the bow inside out. Poke the corners out.
Topstitch the gap in the middle.
Tie the bow onto the scrunchie. The end!