How to make a scrunchie

1. Materials & tools

Materials (one scrunchie)

• Fabric (cotton, satin or other soft fabric) — about 12 × 55 cm (5 × 22 in)
• Elastic (about 6 mm / 1/4 in wide) — about 20 cm (8 in)

Tools

• Sewing machine (or needle and thread)
• Fabric marker or pencil
• Ruler and scissors
• Iron
• Pins or clips

2. Make the pattern (auto-generated in Katagami)

With the Katagami pattern tool, you just enter the finished size and it drafts a seam-allowance-included pattern, tiled to print at actual size on Letter or A4.

1. Open the tool
   Open the pattern tool and choose “Accessories” → “Scrunchie” from the tabs at the top.
2. Enter the size
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3. Set the seam allowance
   Use the slider at the bottom (beginners: 1.0–1.5 cm / about 3/8–5/8 in).
4. Print
   Press “Print (actual size)”, then in the print dialog set Scale = 100% and turn “Fit to page” OFF. Check the 50 mm calibration box on the first guide sheet with a ruler.

3. Cutting the fabric

1. Trace the pattern
   Trace the cut line onto the wrong side of the fabric. A soft fabric with a little drape gathers best.
2. Cut
   Cut 1 long strip.
3. (Optional) press
   Press the strip so it's easier to fold accurately.

4. Sewing

4-1. Sew the tube

1. Fold the strip in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew the long edge to make a tube. Leave the short ends open.
2. Turn the tube right side out (a safety pin or turning tool helps). Press lightly.

4-2. Thread the elastic

1. Attach a safety pin to one end of the elastic and feed it all the way through the tube.
2. Overlap the two ends of the elastic and sew them together securely; let the elastic disappear into the tube.

4-3. Close the tube

1. Tuck one raw short end inside the other, fold the seam allowance under, and slip-stitch (or topstitch) the opening closed, distributing the gathers evenly.

5. Tips & variations

• More volume: increase the width; fuller gathers: increase the length.
• No-show seam: a hand slip-stitch closes the opening invisibly; a machine topstitch is faster.
• Velvet or satin makes a dressier scrunchie; quilting cotton is the easiest to handle.