Scrunchie Pattern Maker
A scrunchie is a fabric tube gathered over a loop of elastic. Set the finished width, the length of the elastic loop and how full the gathers are, and the tube is sized to match.
It is a good use for small pieces of silk, satin, velvet or knit.
Make this pattern in your size →When to choose this one
Choose the scrunchie for a gathered tube over a loop of elastic, in a width and fullness you set, from big and soft to small and neat. It is a good use for small pieces of silk, satin, velvet or knit.
For something that sits across the head rather than holding a ponytail, use the headband.
What you can change
Size
- Finished width: 1.5–12 cm (⅝–4¾″). Of the tube or band, lying flat.
Sizes are typed in centimetres, millimetres or inches. The starting size is Finished width 4 cm (1⅝″).
Options
- Make: scrunchie or headband
- Measurements and counts: Elastic loop, Fullness, Elastic width
Starting points
These are sizes and settings to begin from, and every one stays fully editable. Type your own measurements, or start from the nearest one.
| Starting point | Finished size, cm | Same starting point in round inches |
|---|---|---|
| Scrunchie | 4 cm wide · 20 cm elastic | 1½″ wide · 8″ elastic |
| Big scrunchie | 7 cm wide · 20 cm elastic | 2¾″ wide · 8″ elastic |
The scrunchie or headband pattern has 5 starting points in all; the other 3 are in the maker.
Cutting list
At the starting size (Finished width 4 cm (1⅝″)) the pattern has these pieces. Fabric sizes include seam allowance, interfacing is cut to the stitching line, and pieces cut on the fold are shown opened out. Each size is the width and height of the piece as cut.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut | Size to cut | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrunchie tube | Main fabric | 1 | 52 × 10 cm (≈20½ × ≈3⅞″) | Rectangle: cut by measurement or from the print |
You will also need: Elastic; Thread. The cover page and materials list give the amounts for your size.
The maker’s fabric estimate at this size: Main fabric about 0.2 m of 112 cm fabric.
How it goes together
These are the maker’s own instructions at the starting size. They change with the options you pick, and the PDF carries the full set with the cover, cutting list and materials list.
- Fold the tube in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew the long edge at 1 cm, leaving 4 cm unsewn at each end. Turn it right side out.
- Thread the elastic through the tube with a safety pin, gathering the fabric, until both ends come out. Overlap the elastic ends by 2 cm and zigzag them together firmly.
- Bring the tube's ends together, right sides facing, and sew them at 1 cm through the unsewn ends of the long seam. Tuck the seam inside, fold the last raw edges in, and close the small gap by hand or with an edgestitch.
- Ease the gathers evenly round the elastic.
Fabric suggestions
Outer: Scrunchies: cotton lawn, silk, satin, velvet or a soft knit. Headbands: cotton jersey, viscose knit or a soft woven.
Lining: None: the tubes are folded double.
Interfacing, padding or other layers: None. Keep it soft so it gathers and grips.
How each fabric family suits it
- Stable woven: great choice. Gathers evenly; cut on the bias for a softer twist.
- Heavy or stiff: possible, with care. Too bulky to gather or knot; use it only for a wide plain band.
- Stretchy knit: great choice. Comfortable on the head and needs no finishing; use a stretch stitch for the tube seam.
- Slippery or fine: works well. Silk and satin are kind to hair. Pin closely; they slide while sewing the tube.
The maker’s advice adjusts to the fabric family you pick in the Fabric tab.
Printing it
At the starting size the printed pieces take 2 A4 pages, taped together using the page labels, alignment marks and page map. For a print shop, choose a sheet from A0 to a 36″ roll: the pieces are packed onto as few sheets as they will fit on, and if one is too big for the sheet the maker says so. Every piece here is a rectangle or a strip, so the cutting list above is enough and you can skip printing. How printing, tiling and the test square work.
Frequently asked questions
What size can I make?
The scrunchie pattern takes finished width from 1.5–12 cm (⅝–4¾″). It starts at Finished width 4 cm (1⅝″), and you can work in centimetres, millimetres or inches. This page starts from Scrunchie and Big scrunchie. Every starting point stays fully editable.
Which fabric suits the scrunchie pattern?
Scrunchies: cotton lawn, silk, satin, velvet or a soft knit. Headbands: cotton jersey, viscose knit or a soft woven. In the maker’s fabric advice, stable woven and stretchy knit are a great choice; slippery or fine works well; heavy or stiff is possible with care.