Valentine Self Love Special: How to Make a Linen Scrunchy with Punchy Piping

One time a boyfriend put together High Tea for me on February 14th. I nibbled on pastries while wearing a tight pink velvet dress I made. Sometime later, in between High Tea and breaking up with him, he told me he didn’t like my dress. The hope of enjoying that dress again after hearing that was bleak. So I burned it.

Now I want that dress back.

If you’ve had some bad valentines, some lonely Valentine’s Days, here’s a fun project to celebrate just you. You and your beautiful hair.

Before we jump in, arranging the fabric for sewing this project is a bit hard to describe. So for the sake of clarity, I explain it in several steps with photographs. Once you look through the tutorial or sew one, you can combine a few of these steps together.

Step 1: Cut pieces.

Scrunchy Fabric:

(Regular Size) 3 3/4” x 17”

(Maxi Size)  5 3/4” x 17”

Accent Piping Fabric:

1 1/4” x 17”

Piping Cord:

17”

3/8” Elastic:

7”

Step 2: Wrap the piping fabric around the cord like a taco and clip to the wrong side of the scrunchy fabric.

Step 3: Fold the scrunchy fabric wrong sides together to sandwich the piping inside. Move clips to hold all the layers in place.

Step 4: This seam will be sewn with about 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance. Pull the ends of the piping up so the cord will be above the line of stitching. Adjust clips to hold the ends in place.

Step 5: Sew from end to end with about 3/8” (1 cm) seam allowance. Get the needle as close to the piping cord as possible without stitching into it. I used a normal foot, positioned it to sit on top of the cord, and stitched slowly while carefully keeping everything in line with my fingers.

Trim seam allowance to 1/4” (6 mm).

Step 6: Turn the tube right side out. Here’s what the ends of the piping should look like.

Step 7: Fold the ends in until they are flush with the start of the piping.

Step 8: Insert elastic through the tube. Stitch or tie the ends of the elastic together.

Step 9: Carefully hand press the folded ends together. Hand sew along the folded edges with a blind stitch.

Ready to hold your beautiful hair!

Do you have any funny Valentine’s Day stories you would like to share?