Growing up, I loved a good scrunchy. There are lots of tutorials out there for making scrunchies, but my hair is thick and unruly, so I don't actually like the scrunchies that use tied elastic. They don't keep my hair up because the elastic doesn't get tight enough. I thought there must be a way to make a scrunchy using a hair elastic that you buy at the store. If that sounds familiar, this is the tutorial for you. You can do it by hand or on a sewing machine.

Supplies

Hair elastics (lots of them)

Fabric in all your favorite colors (fat quarter work great for these)

Something to cut with.

Something to sew with.

Step 1: Gather Materials.

You will need:

1 Hair elastic. It doesn't matter what color since it will be totally covered.

1 Scrap of fabric at least 3 1/2" x 18".

Several sewing clips or straight pins.

Scissors that can cut fabric or a rotary cutter, mat and cutting ruler.

Step 2: Cut Fabric.

Cut fabric 3 1/2" x 18" for a smaller scrunchy or 5 1/2" x 20" for a larger scrunchy.

These dimensions are not set in stone, but much shorter and you can't use the scrunchy.

I stretched my elastic as long as it could go and measured it. After measuring several I found that most of the brands I have are roughly 16" fully extended, so I add a couple inches and that was what I went with. If your elastic is a lot bigger or a lot smaller, adjust your length accordingly.

Tip: If you are cutting your fabric with scissors, draw your dimensions with a ruler and pen (sharpie or ball point pen) and cut along the line.

Step 3: Pinning

Fold the short end of the fabric over by about 1/4" (See picture 1) This doesn't have to be exact, it just needs to be folded over. Secure with clips or a pin.

Fold the fabric strip right sides together the long way around the elastic (See picture 2). Think hotdog style fold. The long edge of the fabric will be lined up with the other long edge of the fabric. Secure with clips or pins.

Notice that I only lined up about 6" of the fabric. You can do the entire length of the fabric at this time, but I found it was easier to work in sections.

Step 4: Sew.

Sew the entire length of the fabric with a quarter inch seam allowance.

If you don't have a sewing machine, this step can be easily done by hand. You need to sew about 1/4" from the edge of the fabric all the way to the end of the strip.

At the end of this step you will have an inside out tube with the elastic inside of it.

If making on a sewing machine, make sure to back stitch both ends securely.

If sewing by hand, make sure to knot each end securely.

Step 5: Turn Tube Right Side Out.

This step is fun.

Carefully fold one end of the tube back on itself by about 1 - 2 inches (See picture 1).

Then put your finger in the tube and pull the inside fabric through the tube (See picture 2).

I find this is a bit easier if my finger is a little wet. I lick my finger, but if you don't want to do that, get a moist paper towel or wash rag and lightly wet your finger that way.

Do this until the tube is turned completely right side out.

Notice the seam is along the outside of the scrunchy. You can rotate the tube and make the seam along the elastic, but it really isn't worth the work.

Step 6: Finishing Up.

Insert unfinished end into the end you originally folded over.

Stitch along the finished edge until you get to the elastic, back stitch both ends (See picture 4).

If you are sewing by hand knot both ends. Hide the thread by taking a stitch into the middle of the tube between the two pieces of fabric and snipping the thread close to the fabric.

Notice I didn't stitch across the elastic. (See picture 4).

I think they look great not ironed, but I tend to iron my finished projects. So you can iron the fabric around the seam.