The Best of Hair Talk #3: Making Your Own Scrunchies

Introduction

After a request by many Hair Talk visitors, we have created a Hair Talk Archives for the 7,000+ messages that have been posted on Hair Talk since the beginning.

There are many threads that I personally enjoyed so much that I copied them into my personal directories. However, there are a few that I wish to share with everyone.

One of the threads was started by RunningWild and resulted in a special recipe for making scrunchies at home. Laura Jane graciously provided the recipe.

I had emailed Laura Jane for permission to post her recipe and she agreed. However, the messages got temporarily mislaid along with the archives and I never got the scrunchie formula posted.

I have finally retrieved the messages and the great scrunchie recipe is included below.

Enjoy!

Hair Talk Discussion Board Archives

Elastic braid-end ties

Posted By: RunningWild Friday, 18 September 1998, at 7:54 a.m.

I don't know what they're called, but I use these small, about 1 1/2 inch diameter small elastic, connected with a metal crimp ties on the ends of my braid and bigger ones for pony tails.

Is there any reason not to use these? Are the metal parts damaging? I ask because I read (some time back) that some hair holder items can be damaging, but can't remember the info.

Suddenly, since lurking here awhile, I'm more interested in hair upkeep. It's magic.

RunningWild

Hair Talk Discussion Board Archive

Re: Scrunchies; making your own

Posted By: RunningWild Friday, 18 September 1998, at 3:59 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Elastic braid-end ties (Laura Jane)

Laura Jane

Thanks for the info; I suspected the crimps once I thought of them. I'll look for non-metal connectors now.

Another question, tho.' How about making your own scrunchies. It looks as though it'd be pretty simple and I have some great materials I can't bear to just get rid of. Has anyone got experience making them? Hello to all you tightwads out there!

Thanks RunningWild

Directions for making scrunchies

Posted By: Laura Jane Friday, 18 September 1998, at 9:52 p.m.

Another question, tho.' How about making your own scrunchies. It looks as though it'd be pretty simple and I have some great materials I can't bear to just get rid of. Has anyone got experience making them? Hello to all you tighwads out there!

In Response To: Re: Scrunchies; making your own (RunningWild)

I've made tons of my own scrunchies - I love doing them! It's a real savings if you get together with friends to buy materials, too - you can get tiny remnants of gorgeous fabrics for really low prices, and make a scrunchie for each of you.

The way I do them is this:

(I use a sewing machine, but they can be done by hand. With a sewing machine, you can make them very quickly - if you set up assembly-line style and do each step on all of them before the next step on any of them, it goes even faster, although I'd recommend making them one by one to start with until you're sure you've got the hang of it.)

I take the fabric I want and cut it into a rectangle about 3.5 inches by about 1 foot. (You can make them larger or smaller, depending on the finished product you want, of course - this is just a suggestion for a starting point.)

I fold it in half the long way, "right" sides together, and sew a seam a little bit in from the edge to make a long tube, which is inside-out.

Then I sew again a little closer to the edge to strengthen the seam - one problem I've had with some commercial scrunchies is that the seams often come out.

I turn the resulting tube of cloth right side out. I thread the elastic through it and tie the ends together with a good, strong knot, usually a square knot. (If you like, you can reinforce the knot with super glue at this point.)

Now I have a tube of cloth with the ends open, threaded like a bead on a closed circle of elastic. I bring the ends of the fabric together so it looks like a scrunchie, tuck the ragged edges in so it looks pretty when it's done (and so the fabric doesn't unravel), and then sew one straight seam right through all the layers of cloth and the elastic. (Do not try to sew right over the knot; it won't work, and will probably break the needle on your sewing machine. That can be dangerous, because pieces can fly up and hit you in the face.)

It helps to get really stretchy elastic. Depending on the stretch factor, you may need to adjust the proportions of the elastic length to the fabric length.

A little experimentation can give you wonderful results, too - I've made scrunchies big enough to act as stretchy headbands, and tiny ones for little braids and ponytails. You can add beads to them, or use fabric paints.

One more thing that comes to mind - if you have fine hair, as I do, velvet and velour are absolutely wonderful materials to work with!

They provide a lovely contrast with the texture of the hair, and they have a little extra cling when compared with smoother materials, so they don't slide down as easily.

Good luck!

Laura Jane [email protected]

Hair Talk Discussion Board Archive

Re: Elastic braid-end ties

Posted By: Karen Shelton Friday, 18 September 1998, at 11:29 p.m.

In Response To: Elastic braid-end ties (RunningWild)

Hi,

The little metal crimps will pull my hair every time. I have tried to use them off and on and usually see some of my hair when I remove them. They also tend to get caught in my hair which is a big ouch.

I like Laura Jane's scrunchie recipe.

Also, did you know that knee high hose can be cut up and used as an instant soft scrunchie? I used to buy the kiddie knee highs for really cheap and just cut them off below the elastic part and pop the "newly made" elastic scrunchie into my hair.

I would buy them in colors and black and they worked great.

I do not consider the metal crimp ties to be "hair friendly". Glad you are becoming more "hair conscious". That made my day.

Have a great weekend.

Karen

Hair Talk Discussion Board Archive

Re: Scrunchies; making your own

Posted By: Diane Friday, 18 September 1998, at 8:45 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Scrunchies; making your own (RunningWild)

Okay I like to sew! The idea is that your elastic is a shorter than the piece of material. It takes practice. Use different length of fabric and check it out. It fun because I tend to make some dresses and it nice to have a matching scrunchie. I found that the ones that we buy in the stores are very boring and many times not worth the price.

Diane

Hair Talk Discussion Board Archive

Re: Scrunchies; making your own

Posted By: RunningWild Sunday, 20 September 1998, at 6:23 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Scrunchies; making your own (Diane)

To Karen, Laura Jane and all those who would have replied if K & LJ had not been so thorough:

THANKS!

I think I could have thought through the scrunchie thing if we weren't doing a tear-off and re-roof just now. Whew! Thanks!

Two items:

You can get beautiful and/or funky "fat quarters" meant for quilters, but available to everyone at fabric stores that cater to quilters. Up to now I've bought them for their patterns. Now I can make up cool new scrunchies

I'm in the habit of checking out Goodwill's men's shirts section because of the pretty shirts there. I take off the sleeves, use that material for arm binding on the now-sleeveless shirt, and usually have material left over -- for a matching scrunchie! I'll be so color-coordinated people will run screaming!

T*h*a*n*k*s a*g*a*i*n RunningWild

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