Sewing: Learn How to Make Hair Scrunchies

Hand made fabric ponytail holders, otherwise known as hair scrunchies, are a simple fashion accessory and are easy to make.  It’s easy to learn how to make hair scrunchies, the perfect frugal hair accessory to match any outfit! Just follow our step by step instructions and you can make your own hair scrunchies for less than $1.

With either a needle and thread or a sewing machine, some elastic and the fabric of your choice, you can make your own scrunchies to add to your wardrobe or even sell at your local flea market or craft fair.

What are Scrunchies?

Worn by young girls, teenagers and women alike, scrunchies are strips of elastic covered by tousled pieces of fabric. They provide a fashionable alternative to traditional elastic ponytail holders and can even be used to twist hair into a stylish bun.

Selling in department stores for as much as $5 per piece, homemade scrunchie materials will cost you under a dollar per piece and can be customized to match your wardrobe. Holiday themed scrunchies are always a hit for younger kids and make great gifts.

Supplies Needed to Make Scrunchies

You will need to purchase:

• One 10 inch by 5 inch piece of fabric
• 6 inches of narrow elastic for each scrunchie you wish to make
• Needle
• Thread
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Straight pins (optional)
• Iron (for pressing seams)

How to Make Hair Scrunchies

1.  Cut out a rectangle of fabric, about 7” long (longer or shorter for bigger or smaller scrunchies) and about 3” wide.

2.  Cut a piece of elastic about 2” shorter than your fabric length.

3.  Begin by folding the fabric carefully in half with the good sides of the fabric meeting together. It is best to attach the sides with pins to allow for neat, even sewing. Based on your personal preference, you can use either a sewing machine or a simple needle and thread to stitch the fabric together lengthwise.

4.  You will now have an open-ended tube of fabric. Using an iron to ensure accuracy, press the seams of the fabric open. This is done to reduce bunching of the fabric and helps to smoothen the appearance of the scrunchie.

5.  When finished ironing, turn the fabric right side out.

6.  On both sides of the tube you will need to turn the fabric inside about ½ of an inch.

7.  Place the elastic inside of the fabric tube. Knot the ends of the elastic and stitch together the fabric at each end. Now the elastic will be attached in a circle.

8.  For the final step, stitch together both ends of the fabric tube and your hair scrunchie is complete.

Now That You Know the Basics…

Scrunchies can be tossed into the washing machine along with the rest of your everyday laundry. Scrunchies are versatile and can be as casual or as dressy as you like, depending on the type of fabric you choose. Denim and cotton are sturdy fabrics good for everyday scrunchies while silk and satin work well with dressier outfits. Taffeta and organza are lightweight and work best with thinner hair.  Enjoy sewing your new frugal hair scrunchies!

Next, read more in our Learn How to Sew series: Learn How to Sew a Button, Learn How to Cut Out a Pattern, and Learn How to Patch Jeans.

Get more Frugal Friday at Life As Mom.  Photo by Flickr’s we_heart_heartbreakers.

The first step in do-it-yourself (DIY) clothing repairs begins with learning how to sew a button.  Today we’ll teach you how to sew on a button with our easy step by step instructions.

Sewing: How to Sew a Button

The supplies are minimal; all you will need is the button, some thread, a needle and a pair of scissors.

1.  To begin, locate the area on the clothing where the button will be placed. If replacing a lost button on a shirt, chances are that you will still be able to see the holes from the previous button.

2.  After cutting about 24 inches of thread, insert into the eye of the sewing needle. You will need to double the thread and then tie it into a knot at the end. This will prevent the thread from slipping through the eye.

3.  Locate the area on the fabric where the button will be placed and insert the needle under the fabric.

4.  Carefully grab hold of the protruding needle on the front side of the fabric. While securing the button with one hand, use the other hand to direct the needle through one of the holes in the button. Pull the needle and thread up and through the button hole.

5.  Make a small stitch and insert the needle through another hole in the button.

6.  While still holding the button with one hand, take the hand that was holding the needle and reach underneath the fabric, gently gripping the protruding needle on the underside of the fabric.

7.  Direct the needle and thread back down through the second hole.

8.  Slide a pin between the button and the top stitch that you made on the top of the button. Pull thread tight to secure the pin.

Continue to repeat steps above, guiding the needle and thread through the button holes until there are a minimum of three stitches in each hole. On the final stitch, slide the needle out and underneath the button, but avoid piercing the fabric. End with a double knot on the backside of the material. Cut off any excess thread and remove the pin from the fabric.

Your button is now attached and your article of clothing is ready to wear. Now that you have successfully learned how to sew a button, you are well on your way to creating fashionable and inexpensive home-made clothing (or at least making sewing repairs by yourself!).

Vintage buttons photo by queen puff puff.

Learning how to sew

Tips for Cutting Out Patterns

When creating sewing projects, learning how to cut out a pattern is a crucial first step. By starting out with a properly cut pattern and fabric you will help to ensure that the sewing process runs smoothly.

When cutting, be sure to use paper scissors for the pattern and cloth scissors for the fabric. This will prevent dulling of the blades.

If you do not have a large, flat work surface such a dining room table, it is a good idea to invest in a folding cardboard mat that can be placed on the floor. Some people elect to use these mats in combination with a large table because of the grid measurements that are printed on them.

When purchasing your fabric, be sure to follow the chart on the pattern envelope and buy enough fabric for all of the included pattern pieces. It is generally a good idea to wash and iron the fabric prior to beginning. 

How to Cut Out a Pattern- Step by Step

1.  Begin by unfolding the pattern sheets and placing them on the work surface. With your hands, flatten out the pattern and smooth out any wrinkles in the sheets.

2.  It is best to gently iron the pattern pieces on a very low, cool setting to further diminish wrinkles.

3.  There is usually more than one cutting line to allow for various sizing. Choose the line that accommodates your desired size and be sure to follow that line throughout the cutting.

4.  Place the pre-washed fabric on your work surface.

5.  Following the pattern directions, fold the fabric in half with the right sides together.

6.  Lay the pattern pieces onto the fabric according to the directions in the layout guide and pin in place with straight pins. If pattern pieces are required to be placed on the fold, ensure that the grain line of each piece is evenly lined up with the grain line of the fabric. Lay out and pin the larger pattern pieces to the fabric first, then follow with the smaller pieces.

(Pattern complexity varies, and multifaceted patterns may require you to cut several pieces and refold the fabric, or to cut some pieces of the pattern multiple times. When cutting the pieces, remember to get as close to the edge of the pattern as possible.)

7.  Depending on your individual preference, you may choose to remove the pins or leave them in place until you are ready to use them. Using dressmakers chalk, duplicate any markings found on the pattern pieces onto the fabric, including dots that serve to mark the placement of any zippers or pockets.

Your patterns are now cut out and in place and you are ready to begin sewing!  If you missed the first article in the series Homemakers: Learn How to Sew, you can read it now:  How to Patch Jeans.

This article is linked to Homemaker Mondays.  Vintage pattern photos by Laineys Repertoire.

With the state of the economy today, most parents are not in the financial position to replace their children’s well-fitting pair of jeans just because of a hole in the knee or in the back pocket. Learning how to patch jeans is a cost effective alternative to replacing worn out threads.

All you will need is:

• A needle and thread
• Sewing scissors or pinking shears
• Permanent fabric glue
• A piece of material to use for the patch. (You can use a piece of denim material from an old pair of pants or you may purchase a swatch or ready-made patch at a fabric store.)

You’ll want to begin by first mending the hole with a needle and thread. After you decide what shape you want the patch to be (square, star, heart, etc.) trace and cut out the patch from the denim fabric with either fabric scissors or pinking shears. Sewing scissors will ensure an even cut while pinking shears will create a zigzag design around the edges of the patch (a popular choice for trendy little girls).

You will need to decide on look of the finished edge. To create an imperfect look, leave the edges of the patch untouched, which will result in a frayed effect. If you opt for clean seams, turn over the edges two times.

Using a cotton swab, apply fabric glue to the backside of the denim patch. Be sure to apply evenly in the center and around all of the edges. Adhere the patch to the jeans and allow the glue to dry.

It is a good idea to reinforce the patch by adding stitching along the edges. This can be done by hand with a needle and thread or with a sewing machine set on a tight zigzag setting.

Even if there is there are no holes in your children’s clothes, learning how to patch jeans can be a creative way to embellish clothing with the latest trends. By patching your daughter’s jeans with a different color denim and embellishing with various diamonds and rubies, you can recreate the style found in expensive department stores with minimal effort and little cost.

Iron-on superhero transfers can be found in most fabric stores and are a big hit with little boys. After ironing the transfer onto a different shade of denim, apply the patch as directed above. Learning how to patch jeans will save you money while making your children happy!

For more Works for Me Wednesday, visit We are That Family.  Photo by Niklas Hellerstedt.