Do you remember when Carrie Bradshaw determined that a woman wearing a scrunchie in her hair was either:
a) washing her face, or
b) a scrubbed-cheeked hillbilly from Hickville?
Well, no more. A recent discussion panel on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour (a programme where they normally tackle such weighty issues as gender pay inequality) suggested the Scrunchie is back and with a vengeance. No longer an apologetic substitute for a decent hairstyle, the Scrunchie worn ironically is the hairstyle.
Make one that’s a bit out of the ordinary for your daughter or fashionista niece so that she can wear it with a donut: use the scrunchie instead of pins to tuck in hair. Or, as the Radio 4 programme suggests, make it enormous and out of Dutch Wax cloth like a youngster’s version of a traditional headdress. Or use Day-Glo neoprene or paper silk. Make it from the leg of some old jeans (especially if they’re leather!). Liberty fabric leftovers make a good choice too and striped shirting is good for tomboys. Just don’t underestimate the amount of material this will require: the postmodern Scrunchie is a monster.
How to sew a Scrunchie
You will need:
a) One of these metal-free hair ties. These vary in quality so make sure they’ll last by giving them a reasonable stretch before committing to purchase. If they snap, walk off nonchalantly!
b) A rectangle of fabric some 70cm x 12cm for a smallish scrunchie or 90cm x 15cm for a jumbo. If using jersey, the end result will look even bigger.
If possible, cut with pinking shears.
Step 1
Press under 1cm on each short end of the fabric.
Step 2
With right sides together, fold the folded corners together over the centre of the hair tie.
Step 3
Stitch the long side with a 1cm seam allowance, keeping the hair tie stretched out of the way. When you get to the end, leave long strands of thread hanging.
Step 4
Feed to the right side. I use a safety pin.
Step 5
Use one of the long thread ends to slipstitch the opening closed.
And no, you won’t catch me wearing one of these but then I live in England and my ears are usually cold 😉
Are you a (closet) scrunchie wearer? Any interesting fabric suggestions?