How to Make a Patchwork Scrunchie out of Scrap Fabric

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As a 90’s baby, scrunchies have a special place in my heart. They’re the perfect casual hair accessory and they look great on your wrist. I love how they can be mixed and matched to go with any outfit. They’re so cute! Scrunchies have been my go-to hair accessory for a few years now and I love how popular they have gotten.

I’m always looking for new project ideas to help me use up my quilt scraps. I’ve wanted to learn how to make scrunchies for a while now and I knew this project would be perfect for scraps. This project is super customizable and will really allow for your creativity to shine as you piece together coordinating fabrics from your stash.

Today’s tutorial will show you how to use your fabric scraps to create a DIY patchwork scrunchie.

Supplies

(12) 2.5” x 4.5” Rectangles of Cotton Fabric
Coordinating Thread (I love using Dove Aurifil because it blends into almost any fabric!)
8” of ½” Wide Elastic
Safety Pin
Straight Pins
Rotary Cutter
Rotary Mat
Scissors
Sewing Machine
Iron
Ironing Board

How to Make a DIY Patchwork Scrunchie

Step 1: Choose your fabrics. Today’s tutorial will use four different fabrics but you can use anywhere from 2 – 12 different fabrics in your scrunchie.

HELPFUL TIP: If you need help coordinating your fabric scraps, try sorting them into piles of similar colors, fabrics from the same fabric line, or warm and cool colors.

Step 2: Trim your fabric into 2.5” x 4.5” rectangles. Cut 3 rectangles out of each fabric. You will have 12 rectangles in total.

Step 3: Layout your fabric into two rows of six fabrics. You can customize where the fabrics are placed. If you want your scrunchie to look like mine, follow the chart above. Each number correlates to a fabric.

Step 4: Sew the top rectangles of fabric to the bottom rectangles. Use a ¼” seam allowance to sew your fabric together with the right sides facing each other. The right side of your fabric is the “pretty” side of the fabric that you want on the outside of your scrunchie. Press your seams open to help reduce bulk.

Step 5: Sew your six columns of fabric together into a row using ¼” seam allowance. Press your seams open to help reduce bulk.

Step 6: Now you have a long rectangle of fabric. Fold the rectangle lengthwise with the right sides of the fabric together. Pin the fabric together at the seam intersections to help keep them lined up.

Step 7: Sew the edges of the fabric together using a ¼” seam allowance. Your fabric will look like an inside-out tube when you are done.

Step 8: Flip your tube right side out. You can make this process a little easier by attaching a safety pin to one end of the fabric and feeding it through the tube.

Step 9: Attach a safety pin to one end of your strip of elastic and feed it through the tube of fabric. Make sure the elastic is not twisted.

Step 10: Overlap both ends of the elastic and use a zigzag stitch to sew the ends together. Sew back and forth a few times until it is secure using the backstitch function on your machine. This part won’t look pretty but that’s okay because it will be hidden in your scrunchie!

Step 11: Fold the end of the fabric on one side of your scrunchie inside of itself about ¼”. Insert the other end of the fabric into the tube.

Step 12: Sew the fabric ends closed. Trim the threads.

HELPFUL TIP: If you want your elastic to be able to move freely, you can hand stitch the seam closed. Machine-stitching the seam will lock the elastic in place.

Now you have a finished scrappy scrunchie! Scrunchies make great gifts and you can easily knock out several of them in a couple of hours. I love adding scrunchies to birthday gifts, bachelorette party goodie bags, and graduation gifts, just to give you a few ideas! 

These quick scrunchies do super well at craft markets, so if you need to add a few more small items to your table, make these! The scrappy style is sure to grab attention from customers.

I hope today’s tutorial gave you some inspiration to make your own scrappy scrunchies! If you make your own, tag me on Instagram @haileystitches so I can see your take on this scrap-busting project!

xo, Hailey