I don’t know quite how to say this but, people, I just changed the game. Ok, maybe I didn’t, for all I know someone else has been doing this for years but obviously they’ve been hoarding this secret. So now that I’ve discovered it, I’M GOING TO SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE!!!!
For years I’ve been avoiding projects with tubes (like scrunchies) that I would have to turn right side out, especially when they had finished points (like bows) because they are just take sooooo loooong to flip (if you know, you KNOW). I always dreamed there could be a better way.
Originally I hadn’t planned on doing a Scrunchie tutorial for Seams Right, I didn’t know if I was really a scrunchie person and it seems like one of those projects where if you’ve read one scrunchie tutorial, you’ve read them all (I’m exaggerating here for effect). BUT then my friend put one in her little girl’s hair that is my daughter’s age and it was so. stinking. cute. So I had to make one. I read about a thousand tutorials, looking for general measurements and some kind of trick to turning. ANYTHING to make that better.
Some used a safety pin, some a pencil (both methods have been my go to for years), some used another gadget specifically made for turning (but honestly that’s another tool that will get lost & forgotten & never used again).
But then I saw one that had something a little different, it sparked something and that got me thinking (I would link it & thank the person but I looked at so many I haven’t been able to find it again). And thinking. And experimenting. And thinking. Until EUREKA! I had it! This is literally a game changer. No longer will straps & bows & tubes & ties hold us back! Be free sewing friends! Quickly painlessly turn those tubes inside out! It might take a second to get where I’m going but experiment with me and your life will be changed for the better.
Plus it's a sustainable use of scraps so added bonus
REQUIREMENTS
⅛ Yard or a Fat quarter
7” of ¼” wide Elastic
Safety Pin
Matching thread
PREPARATION
Cut Scrunchie Fabric 3 ½” x 18”
Cut Tie 3 ½” x 8 (optional)
Keep your long scraps (¼”-½” wide)
(For Smaller Pony Tails & Wrists
Cut Scrunchie Fabric 3" x 15"
Cut Tie Fabric 3" x 7" (optional)
6" of 1/4" wide Elastic)
CONSTRUCTION
***I’ve split up these steps for the scrunchie portion and the tie portion so you know which piece I’m talking about and if you don’t want to do a tie you know what steps to skip.***
SCRUNCHIE
1. When you straighten off your fabric in your first cut you always have this little edge that becomes a long skinny scrap right? Don’t throw it away. KEEP IT FOR THIS PROJECT. Its the secret ingredient to this one. (¼”-½” wide is best)
2. Once you’ve cut your pieces lay that long ¼” ish wide piece of scrap lengthwise, close to the center.
3. Place your elastic ½” in from one of the short edges on the long scrap and pin in place. (The rest of the elastic length will be hanging outside of the fabric like shown in the picture) I know it looks weird but TRUST ME.
4. Fold in half with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER and pin to secure. The short edge without the elastic will be your opening. Fold this edge back on itself ¼” and secure.
5. Sew at ¼” seam allowance across the long edge and down the elastic short edge. Backstitch over the elastic a time or two.
6. Put a safety pin at the end of your elastic. (A SUPER important step I always seem to forget.)
7. Using the long scrap inside the tube, gently (so you don’t break your scrap) pull to gather down the scrunchie and turn it inside itself. Once that little corner of the right side of the fabric sneaks out trim the scrap (not the elastic) and pull the other end of your scrap. It comes right out as if it never existed at all! Magic right?!?! Finish pulling it right side out.
8. Press (Iron) that tube flat with the seam on the edge. Some of you will want to skip this step like “I don’t iron, its fine...” Its fine but it ain’t great. Key to making your projects look professional even as a beginner: IRONING. Sorry, but it’s true.
9. Use the safety pin on your elastic inside your scrunchie to stretch it down to the open end. Pin in place.
Do your best to maneuver the finished end of your scrunchie into the open end (overlapping ¼”-½” and pin in place. If your elastic sticks out a little that’s ok, you can trim it once it’s securely stitched.)
10. Secure in place by stitching at about ⅛” (I suggest running over your pins because even I miss catching the underside. It’s easier to readjust or just stitch again without repinning this way. We’ll all just pray your needle doesn’t break)
SCRUNCHIE DONE!
TIE (optional)
1. Again, lay a long ¼” ish wide piece of scrap lengthwise, close to the center of the tie piece.
2. Fold in half with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER and pin to secure.
3. Draw a curving line on the TIE piece ROUGHLY following the diagram and picture. This will be your stitching line.
Don’t stress about them being perfect and the same on each side. Did I, queen of the OCD sewists, just say that? Wow. It must be true then. On my first experimentation of the shape I just kinda went with it on my machine and I didn’t feel like “whoa, that was a mistake” so I mean, there you have it. But do leave the middle 2” pretty straight (to make tying easier) and don’t sew the middle 1” so you can flip it right side out.
4. Sew the TIE piece right on the line you drew, leaving the middle 1” open so you can flip it right side out.
5. Trim off the excess fabric but DO NOT TRIM THE SCRAP.
6. Reach in through the opening to grab the scrap of fabric from the inside and gently pull. See where I’m going with this? Gently gather down and turn each point right side out. Trim the scrap from the points and then pull the other side of your scrap and poof it’s gone.
7. At this point I like to make sure all my fabric is untucked and I can really see the shape of the piece. It helps to roll the seam in your fingers till it all comes out. Press (Iron) that beauty flat and crisp.
8. Tie onto your scrunchie and fluff till it’s gorgeous.
Did you experience the magic? Did it work??? Tell me all about the moment your life changed!! And remember to tag us in your pictures and use #seamsrightscrunchies!
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