Sew a fabric scrunchie
The fabric tube supplies the gathers; the elastic inside determines how tightly the scrunchie holds.
Judge fabric and elastic separately
Cut a strip of lightweight woven fabric 10 × 50 cm, about 4 × 19¾ inches. This creates a medium-size fabric covering. Heavy cloth becomes bulky where its ends overlap. Slippery fabrics can drape well but shift during stitching, so lightweight cotton is easier to manage for a first version.
Start with roughly 20 to 24 cm of narrow sewing elastic, including the overlap needed for joining. The useful length depends on its stretch, the amount of hair, and how many times you intend to wrap it. Compare it with a hair tie that already feels comfortable. One supposedly universal measurement is less useful than a trial before closing the tube.
Adjust fullness separately from grip
With the same elastic length, a longer fabric strip creates more gathers. It makes the scrunchie fuller without making its grip tighter. A wider strip changes the visible width of the tube instead. Alter only one measurement in a second sample so you can judge its effect.
A directional print will partly disappear into folds. Large lettering becomes difficult to read, while a small repeat or solid color generally suits the gathered shape. If joining scraps, keep extra crosswise seams flat and away from the final closure, where several layers already overlap.
Sew an open-ended fabric tube
Fold the strip lengthwise with right sides together. Turn one short end inward by 1 cm and hold that fold in place. Sew the long open edge with a 1 cm allowance, leaving both short ends open. Turn the tube with a suitable turning tool or a closed safety pin securely attached to one end.
Press only as the fabric permits. Rotate the long seam toward the eventual inside if you prefer. Check that the seam is complete before threading the elastic. A small missed section becomes harder to locate and close neatly once the fabric is gathered around it.
Try the fit before making the join permanent
Feed the elastic through the tube, clipping its trailing end so it cannot disappear inside. Hold the ends together temporarily and check the fit without taking exposed pins near your head. Shorten only after deciding that the stretch feels comfortable. Overlap the elastic ends by approximately 2 cm and stitch them together with a seam suitable for that elastic.
Distribute the gathers and tuck the raw fabric end into the turned-under end. Close this overlap with small hand stitches, keeping the elastic free rather than sewing through it at one fixed point. Stretch the finished scrunchie gently several times and inspect both joins. If the fabric becomes taut before the elastic has stretched enough, the tube is too short. A longer fabric strip solves that issue more effectively than making a tighter knot or join inside.
