Hello, and welcome to another free sewing tutorial! Or, more accurately: tutorials. Scrunchies are a perfect fairycore accessory because they add a touch of whimsy even if you’re just using one to put your hair (that desperately needs a wash) up in a ponytail. And, scrunchies just get better and better because they’re also a great project for sewing beginners. This blog post will be the ultimate beginners guide to sewing fairycore scrunchies: from an easy simple scrunchie to a ruffle scrunchie.
How to Sew a Simple Scrunchie
What you will need to sew a ruffle scrunchie:
- 1cm/0.4 inch wide elastic (about 20cm/7.9 inches per scrunchie)
- Fabric cut into a rectangle of 100cm by 20cm/39.4 by 7.9 inches per scrunchie
- Thread matching your fabric
- Sewing machine
- Hand sewing needle
- Fabric/thread scissors
- 2 safety pins
Instructions on how to sew a simple scrunchie
As the title above suggests, this is the easiest way to sew a scrunchie so it’s the perfect place for a beginner to start.
Step 1
Fold your fabric in half lengthways and sew right sides together with 1cm/0.4 inch seam allowance.
Step 2
Turn out your fabric tube so the right side of the fabric is on the outside. Then start sewing the ends of the tube together with 1cm/0.4 inch seam allowance. You will probably only be able to sew it closed about halfway but that’s okay because we need a space to insert the elastic.
Step 3
Use 1 of the safety pins to insert the elastic into the fabric tube, and use the other safety pin to attach the elastic to the outside of the tube so that you don’t lose it. Pull the elastic through the whole fabric tube, gathering it as you go, until you bring the elastic out on the other side. Then you can sew the elastic into a loop using a sewing machine or by hand, whichever you prefer.
Step 4
Personally I prefer to hand sew the fabric tube closed because then the stitches will be almost completely hidden away. In the video below I used white thread so you can easily see how I am sewing the simple scrunchie closed.
How to Sew a Ruffle Scrunchie
What you will need to sew a ruffle scrunchie:
- 1cm/0.4 inch wide elastic (about 20cm/7.9 inches per scrunchie)
- Fabric cut into 2 long rectangles: one of 150cm by 5cm/59.1 by 2 inches and one of 150cm by 8cm/59.1 by 3.2 inches
- Thread matching your fabric
- Sewing machine
- Fabric/thread scissors
- 2 safety pins
Instructions on how to sew a ruffle scrunchie
Step 1
Since my fabric for the ruffle scrunchie is slippery and frays easily I’m going to sew a French seam. If your fabric is less slippery you can just do a regular seam (sew right sides together with 1cm/0.4 seam allowance) and skip to Step 3.
So this is how you sew a French seam: sew the wrong sides of each long rectangle together with o.5cm/0.2 inch seam allowance. Trim off the excess/frayed pieces if you need to.
Step 2
Iron/press so the fabric of each rectangle (now a loop) is right sides together, and sew with about 1cm/0.4 inch seam allowance.
Step 3
Now, I didn’t have to sew a hem since I cheated and used the selvage of the fabric as my hem but most of you may not have this option. So for a hem I would recommend folding your fabric over as little as possible, and sewing that down. Then fold it over again (this will hide all the frayed edges) and sew it down again. I have included 2 images below from other sewing tutorials to help you.
Step 4
When you sew the 2 wide loops together you’ll need to have the RIGHT side of the thinner loop against the WRONG side of the wider loop. Sew along the raw edges of both the loops with about 1cm/0.4 inch seam allowance. And trim off the excess fabric/frayed edges.
Step 5
Iron/press so that the seam you’ve just sewn is hidden away and you have the right side of the thinner loop over the wider loop. Then sew just over 1cm/0.4 inches away from the seam. This creates a channel where you can insert the elastic. Just remember to not close the channel completely so you can still insert the elastic.
Step 6
Use the safety pins to insert the elastic into the channel, making sure that the elastic doesn’t get twisted around. Then sew the ends of the elastic together to form a loop.
Step 7
Then sew the channel for the elastic closed and your ruffle scrunchie is complete!
More Free Fairycore Sewing Tutorials
I have a free sewing tutorial for a simple slip dress with adjustable tie straps, made with the same fabric as my simple half circle skirt. I plan to wear this slip dress under the skirt to create another fairycore outfit.
If you are looking for another fairycore skirt here is my tiered maxi skirt pattern that also has an elastic waistband and pockets. Otherwise, if you are looking for something a bit different there’s another one of my free sewing patterns, a maxi dress with French seams, pockets, as well as elasticated straps and a waistband. So far I have one tutorial for a more formal fairycore dress which is the red satin slip dress with organza ruffles (and pockets of course!).
And if skirts or dresses are too feminine for you, there’s always my simple shorts with pockets tutorial, or the patchwork pants tutorial, and the free pattern for summery trousers with ribbon side ties!
DIY not AI
If you are sick and tired of being bamboozled by those too perfect AI images and want some inspiration from actual human beings, my Pinterest board, DIY NOT AI, awaits. This is the link, AKA magical portal, that will take you there. DIY NOT AI is also a group board that is OPEN TO CONTRIBUTORS!!! Whether you’re a crocheter, seamstress, knitter, or any other kind of DIY/handicraft creator this is The Place for you to promote your work to people who appreciate REAL quality over quantity. So what are you waiting for? Shoot me a dm on Pinterest to be added!
And that’s all for today folks! If you have any questions please comment below and I, or perhaps a kind internet stranger, will assist you.
Lots of love & light,
Maria