How to Sew a Headband

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How to Sew a Headband

Summer is here and that means working outside, playing hard, and getting hot and sweaty! Summer is a perfect time to wear a headband to keep your hair back and your face cool. I’ll even admit to wearing headbands once in a while to help hide my sweaty hairline. The headbands you can buy in stores are fairly pricey and rarely fit properly, and making your own is so simple, why not give it a try? I’ve made a couple of these headbands and plan to make more for myself and my daughters. This tutorial should be pretty easy to follow and easy to adjust based on the size you’re wanting to make.

How to Sew a Headband

What You Need:

  • Fabric – You’ll need at least 26″x7″. More if you like a little wiggle room! (Get it from Fabric.com)
  • Scissors
  • Printer Paper
  • Tape
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Pins
  • Elastic – 5″
  • Sewing Machine
  • Thread that matches your fabric

How to Sew a Headband

Step 1: Create and cut out pattern.  Above is a photo of my pattern, just click to enlarge. The entire length is 26″ and the widest part of the headband is 3.5″. The strap is 1.5″ wide. These dimensions can be adjusted for a smaller head or for a thinner or wider headband. I like my headbands to cover most of the top of my head, so this is a fairly wide pattern. To create the pattern, I taped three sheets of printer paper together, drew the pattern, and cut.

How to Sew a Headband

Step 2: Fold fabric with rights sides together, pin pattern to fabric, and cut.  Confession: I don’t pin my pattern. It gets a little bit sloppy in spots, but still turns out looking great in the end! If you want a perfect cut, pin! You’ll end up with two identical pieces of fabric.

How to Sew a Headband

Step 3: Cut 5″ strip of elastic.

Step 4: Pin fabric with right sides together and pin elastic to the end of the strap on the outside of the fabric.

How to Sew a Headband

Step 5: Sew pieces together. Starting at the short end, sew around the headband, turning at the end of the strap and catching the elastic in the stitching, then coming all the way back to the short end. Leave an opening at the short end. Keep the fabric right at the edge of the presser foot to create a 1/4″ hem.

How to Sew a Headband

Step 6: Turn right side out and iron seams flat. I use this method to turn my work right side out. It works great if you don’t have fancy tools like turning tubes. Ironing the headband isn’t completely necessary, but it’ll give your work a nice finished look.

How to Sew a Headband

Step 7: Gather the strap section over the elastic. This is probably the most difficult part of the whole project (and it’s still pretty easy)! Working through the fabric, you need to gather the strap fabric down over the elastic piece so that the end of the elastic comes to the end of the headband section. Once you have that pulled down and gathered, pin it in place (this part I do pin!) and sew across to secure the elastic.

How to Sew a Headband

Step 8: Turn the raw edge of the short side to the inside, tuck in the other end, and sew shut. You’ll want to make sure to tuck the end of the strap far enough into the hole that you’re only sewing through one layer of elastic. Also, make sure to back stitch so everything is nice and secure.

How to Sew a Headband

And that’s it! You’re done! This simple headband can be made out of such a wide variety of fun colors and could even be made reversible.

If you are looking for a headband that will keep your ears warm in the winter you will want to check this post on this Crochet Headband Pattern.

When do you enjoy wearing a headband the most?

jessicabio

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10 Comments

  1. Great headband and tutorial on how to make one. I have made a couple of crochet ones in the past but no fabric ones – I need to try this. It will also be great to use up some leftover fabric or match a headband to a shirt or skirt I have sewn for myself. Thanks for sharing this – pinning.

  2. Great tutorial! I am going to try this. I love those style of headbands. Thanks for sharing! #turnituptuesday

  3. Cute headband. I like to have my hair out of my face and in the summer, off of my neck. I hate the headbands you buy that makes the back kind of stick out. I like that you have a small elastic in the back. Great idea. Thanks for linking up to Tips and Tricks. We hope to see you again.

    1. Thanks for your comment Kathleen! I also hate it when it makes your hair stick out in the back. I’ve found the key to these is not making them too tight. If you make them too tight, they ride up in the back and your hair sticks up. Just another tip! 🙂

  4. Stopping by from Let’s Get Real Party and this is a great tutorial and terrific money saving idea. THANKS. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow

  5. Cute! Perfect for keeping hair off your face in summer while still looking good. Thank you for linking at the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party. Hope to see you again next week.