DIY Scrunchie Barrette - Easy Sewing Tutorial

See how easy it is to make a scrunchie barrette! It's like a scrunchie, but made into a barrette so it's easy to wear in different hairstyles.

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If you haven’t noticed, scrunchies are back. Big time, just like other fashion trends of the 90s.  Back in the day, my mother used to make them for me.  I had them in every color you could imagine.  Or at least from just about every fabric in her scrap bin.

I've been making them for my daughter lately, though updated with an optional knot bow. Click here for easy tutorial and free pattern. For even more hair accessories you can make, check out my roundup of DIY hair accessories.

My mother also used to make something I can best describe as a scrunchie barrette.

It has the gathered fabric like a scrunchie, but instead of elastic inside there’s actually a barrette so you can just clip it in your hair.

And as easy as a scrunchie is to make, a scrunchie barrette is even easier!

It takes just one seam, some hem tape, and some hot glue.  No joke, I can make one in 5 minutes. 

Also they use just a small piece of fabric so you can make them from your scraps.  All of these scrunchie barrettes came from my scrap bin.

The hunter green crushed velvet is left over from a bodysuit I made for my daughter last year. 

The peach silk taffeta is a scrap from the Holly Ball dress I made for her a couple of years ago.  I'm still totally in love with that fabric!

Read below for how you can make your own! 

Gather your supplies:

Scrap of lightweight fabric 3” x 7-8”

3” French barrette

Steam-A-Seam or other fusible hem tape (1/4” wide)

Hot glue

Make a scrunchie barrette:

First, let’s create a simple hem to finish off the short edges of the fabric scrap.  Fold ¼” to the back and then use Steam-A-Seam (or other hem tape) to fuse it down. 

You could also just sew the hem but I think it looks nicer on top to not have a stitch line.  Plus, it’s just a whole lot easier to just fuse it down.

Fold your fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together.  Sew the long edges together with ¼” seam allowance to create a long fabric tube.

Turn the tube right side out, then press it flat with the seam going down the middle.

Open the barrette and remove the spring from the back.

Thread the fabric tube over the barrette, stopping just before the hinge.  Make sure the seam on the fabric tube is on the bottom side of the barrette.  Place a small dot of hot glue on the back of the barrette just in front of the hinge then press the end of the fabric tube into it to secure.

Scrunch the rest of the fabric tube on to the barrette, and glue the other side of the fabric tube in place just in front of the pinch closure mechanism.  (Make sure you don’t block the space underneath the pinch closure with the fabric or glue.  You’ll need that space clear later if you replace the spring back.)

Now to wrap the fabric tube  around the ends of the barrette.  Pull the front (non-glued) side of the fabric tube out just past the end of the barrette.

  Place a small dot glue on the back of the barrette then press the fabric into it.  Repeat for the other end of the barrette.

You can replace the spring back if you like, but I’ve found the barrettes work better without them.  The bulk from the gathered fabric tends to push the spring up, and it can easily pop out of place as you open and close the barrette.  On the other hand that same bulk also fills the space and keeps the barrette from sliding out of your hair, so it’s all good. 

Your scrunchie barrette is done!