Friday, August 15, 2008

Headband tutorial



Since so many of you asked how I made these headbands I thought it high time I tried my hand at a tutorial. I'll attempt to teach you how to make them with pictures and words. My words can get kinda confusing so bear with me.




First off you'll need fabric, 3/4 inch wide elastic, a cutting mat, rotary cutter and straight edge. You'll also use an iron, ironing board and sewing machine.




Cut 2 19 inch x 4 inch strips of fabric. These will make the front and back of your headband. I used matching fabric but you can use coordinating fabric and have an reversible headband. Hmmm . . . wonder why I didn't think of that before now.

You'll also cut 2 2inch x 6inch strips of the same fabric. Or not. I mean go crazy. Use whatever fabric your little heart desires. I'm not the headband police.

While your at it also cut a 3 inch length of elastic.

Oh, and ya know these measurements are what works for us. Maybe you have smaller heads. Maybe you have bigger heads. These work for the girls (ages 8 and 6) and work for me too (age 36 thank you very much!) but you may need to play around with the measurements to see what works for you.




Now go to your iron and thank your lucky stars that your ironing board doesn't look like mine. You'd think I'd make a cute little cover for it but I just don't follow patterns well and haven't managed to take the time to figure out how to make one on my own.

Anywho, take your 19 inch long strip and fold it in half and iron it at the crease.







Now, one at a time, line the folded strip up on your cutting mat with the folded crease at the bottom. Double check and make sure the folded crease is at the bottom. Go ahead . . . I'll wait.



Good. Now using your straight edge line it up from the bottom right hand point up and over 1 inch in on the top. Then make the cut with your rotary cutter.

This is how you get the nice wide portion of the headband that goes at the top of the head and the narrow part down by the nape of your neck.





Do the exact same for the other side.




Now go back to your ironing board (I'll spare you another glimpse of mine), open up the fold and iron back nice and straight. Also, iron about 1/4 of an inch in on each end on each strip.

Then, with the rights sides of the fabric together, line the two strips up on on top of each other and pin together.





Sew each long side using 1/4 inch seam allowance.




Now you have to turn this right-side-out. I get it started with my hands and then use an unsharpened pencil to help me finish the job. The first time it can be tricky but you'll get the hang of it.





Just keep turning it right-side-out until it looks like this.




Then iron it nice and flat.




Top stitch along each length to give a nice finished look. I'd guess that it is about 1/8 of an inch in from the outer edge.




Ok. Remember the 2 inch x 6 inch strips of fabric? Now it's time to make a sleeve for the elastic.




Place them right sides together and sew along the two long sides using your 1/4 inch seam allowance.





Then you'll turn it right-side-out just like you did on the main headband portion.





No need to iron this one all pretty though because it will be all scrunchy here in a minute anyway.




Place the elastic in and have it just about even with one edge of the sleeve.



See how it is just about even?


Now this whole contraption fits into the end of the headband thinger-ma-bob you made a minute ago.









Now sew it securely with your sewing machine. I go back and forth 5 or 6 times to be sure that it is a good and strong connection.



Then you do the same for the other side. However, you'll have to shimmy the fabric sleeve down to find the end of the elastic. Don't get frustrated. Just work at it for a few seconds and you'll have it.

Sew the other side like you did the first and viola!!





Your headband is complete!




Once you have one under your belt then you'll be able to whip these out in record speed. Hey, I know!!! Let's have a race? Wanna??

-dana

57 comments:

Unknown said...

yay!! thanks for sharing :) this is something ive wanted to try for a while! (thanks for the fun music too!)

Sarah Pead said...

I'm so gonna make one! There's no stopping me now!

By the way...here's the zucchini bread recipe...

3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 cups shredded zucchini
3 cups flour
2 cups sugar
3 tsp vanilla
lots of cinnamon! (just sprinkle a bunch in, mix it up, dip your finger in and see if it's enough...you can never have too much)
1 1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix thoroughly. It will be thick! This recipe will make two loaf pans or lots of mini ones. Be sure to spray the pans before baking at 350 until done. The mini's don't take very long. The large loaves about 30 minutes - when the top cracks, it should be done! To be sure, stick a toothpick in.

Katherine said...

Wow Dana!! I know we're coming down off of the Quilt contest but can I just say "YOU ROCK!" ? I mean, I'm gonna be tied to the iron and sewing machine for the rest of the weekend making headbands for every outfit my daughter owns 'cause she was lookin' over my shoulder when I started to read your blog and instantly started making plans for each headband. (No joke! She made a list of colors!!!)

This is the coolest tutorial! Thanks so much for posting it!

-Katherine
PS- Sarah! Thanks for sharing the Zucchini Bread recipe! If I get a moment to rest from sewing headbands this weekend I'm going to try it out!

Unknown said...

He he he - my ironing board is worse! Great tutorial :) I just posted an award for you, probably again - oh well! Go check it out :)

Ann said...

I need to make about 300 of those. Thats enough for two girls and a woman don't ya think? We loose hair bands like crazy.

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

LOL I don't sew that fast. But I will try this project out. Thanks for the instructions.

Amy said...

so cute! My kids would love these!
So easy too! Great tutorial.

Tine said...

EEEEEEEE! I'll be making some of these for.....VIola....no, me!!!! Maybe she and I could match. How fun would that be?! Thanks for the tutorial!

Anonymous said...

WOW Dana! Thank you so much...I think this is something I'm actually capable of sewing! And a zuccini bread recipe in the comments? Thats like a cool easter egg in the credits of a movie!

amylouwhosews said...

I've been looking forward to this too! I've already got 3 cut out and now I'm off to sew them. I had enough scraps from some skirts a friend and I made.

My new ironing board cover has some serious battle scars from my malfunctioning (overheating) iron (which was replaced by the manufacturer).

Thanks for a great project to teach to beginners!

Angie said...

Applause, Applause! Great job on the tutorial Dana! Clap, clap, clap! Whistle, whistle!
I'm so gonna make one of these for myself (I don't have any girls and my niece wouldn't keep it on her head).
BTW, I'm not very good a following patterns either. :0<
A big thanks to Sarah for the recipe. I'm so gonna make this too!!!
Have a happy weekend!
~angie~

pescbrico said...

What a nice tutorial... I never tought of doing a sleeve for the elastic... I will sure remember it next time I try to make one!!

Scottish Nanna said...

Thanks Dana I am going to try these for my Granddaughters that will keep me buisy for a while.
Hugs Mary.

Dandelion Quilts said...

Hooray. That is useful! Thanks, Dana.

Dandelion Quilts said...

Hooray. That is useful! Thanks, Dana.

Redcinamn said...

Oh my goodness what I cant beleive is no one has said HEY can I hire you? LOL Not only that but the fabric is as always awesome!
~Red

Jessica said...

Thanks for sharing! It's fun to see how someone else makes them. :)

Julie said...

Fantastic Tutorial! I have just made one and I have plans for many many more! What a wonderful way to use a couple of co-ordinating fat 1/4's!

Jane's Fabrics and Quilts said...

Hi Dana, I wanted to thank you for putting my link on you blog, but it aims to my store and this is my blog link...http://janesfabrics.blogspot.com/ Thanks so much, Jane

JustJess said...

Dana - this is the best tutorial I've seen in ages - so clear and great images, so it's totally clear what you've done. I think even I could manage this!! J

Anonymous said...

Very Neat!!

Robin said...

You actually make me believe I can make one (or ten) of these!!! Perfect timing as my daughter is outgrowing her more 'juvenile' collection of hair pretties. I adore these! Now I don't have all of your fancy tools but I'd be willing to get some if I can produce what you did!

Nance said...

Thanks, Dana. I can make a lot of these and use it as party favors!

The Army of Four said...

Totally cool! My mom wants to make a bunch for stocking stuffers!
I think she should make something cool like that for us, too. Don't you?
Luv,
Dave, GDFTCB

Kirstin said...

Ha, Ha! I think I'll just buy them. Anything with sewing and cutting is scary when it comes to me! Maybe I'll just have my MIL teach my daughters how to do it.

Just Lisa said...

This is so great! I'm definitely going to try it!

Just Lisa said...

BTW... I made this while my daughter was taking her nap today! What a great afternoon project!

Anonymous said...

Great headbands and a wonderful tutorial....and now I just cannot resist...I have four beautiful, new, and clean padded ironing board covers for sale in my Etsy shop....;)

Kate said...

yay! I love little projects I can actually complete quickly for when I am procrastinating about getting a quilt done. Thanks for the great tutorial.

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial. Can't believe it is your first- succinct and easy to follow. Man, your ironing board is luxurious compared to mine. Maybe I will write an ironing board cover for MY first tutorial!!

lilfish said...

Love these! I can't wait to make some :)

Anonymous said...

That was a pretty impressive tutorial! I despair at ever being able to clearly explain anything I do!

I make something like this for my own girls and I must say I admire your restraint when it comes time to attach the elastic piece to the rest of the headband--I backtrack over that poor thing about a billion times. It ends up looking like the tire tracks from a smash car derby.

Perhaps next time I won't be so extreme...

Lene said...

I just got some ribbon to make headbands, but I hadn't thought about making a sleeve for the elastic. I think I will be adding that step. Picture day at school is Thursday so I can't put off getting them made.

Bloggy Mama said...

Dana, you are fantastic!!

susan said...

i bet victoria would love some of these...

Sheyb said...

I made one!! Mine is skinnier... don't ask! LOL. But I made it, and it looks pretty good. ;)

Thanks for the tutorial!


www.shealynnbenner.com

Shealynn

Ricki said...

YOU are amazing! I'm so excited to try this out!

And I don't mean to be a big dufus but what is that thing on your straight edge called? I so need one of those as my wrists are killing me from holding down on those so hard.

Thanks agaiN!

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial, thanks! I too have never seen the doohicky on your straight edge. :) Does it work well for you?

gina said...

Hi Dana
Thanks for the headband tutorial. I posted a bit about in on QuiltersBuzz.com and linked to your site.
Gina Halladay

Kimberly said...

Fabulous! Thank you so very much!

...now let's if my mental block regarding patterns kicks in or not...

Blessings, Kimberly
mybrownbagstudio.blogspot.com

Karen said...

Love it!
On your mark, get set...GO!!!

Rossie said...

Very cool! I found this through Quilter's Buzz and am now wanting to delay bedtime in order to make at least one of these beauties!

And *what* is that glorious handle on your acrylic ruler and where can I get one????

Pearl Maple said...

Way cool, my mother used to make these for me in the 1960's, with her left over quilt fabric.

Goes to show good styles never go out of fashion.

Enjoy your music play list and can't wait till we get broadband in our area so i can listen more often.

Pearl Maple said...

Way cool, my mother used to make these for me in the 1960's, with her left over quilt fabric.

Goes to show good styles never go out of fashion.

Enjoy your music play list and can't wait till we get broadband in our area so i can listen more often.

Emily Cole said...

Dana - I'm so glad you did the photo tutorial! Yay! I really think I might have time to make some of these later this month! Ha ha! I've been so busy lately, I haven't even gotten caught up on my blog-reading. Thanks for the comments on my blog - I think my daughter is a cutie too... :D Em

Alisa said...

While I won't be racing you anytime soon, these were a total breeze for this sewing novice to make! I did 3 (well 4 actually, one I did reversable) in about 1 hour. My daughter loves them and thinks I'm the coolest mom ever. Thanks for showing me how easy it is to start becoming friends with my sewing machine! I've always been a little scared of the thing. No more!

SuzyQSparkles said...

I just found you via a comment at crazymomquilts.blogspot.com.

Thanks for this Tute! I too have been meaning to "figure this out"!

Check out http://www.purlbee.com/ironing-board-recovery-project/ for recovering your ironing board!

:D

Anonymous said...

This is just what I was looking for. When I ride the Harley I need something for my hair, because it looks scary when I take the helmet off, and scull caps look bad on me. I have some Betty Boop biker fabric that will be perfect, we'll see how it looks. Thank you.

patchesquiltworks.blogspot.com

Sylvie - Madame Créative said...

Thank you for this tutorial!
It is all I was looking for!

l said...

great tutorial! thank you
I made my first one this afternoon:
http://canadianhomelearning.blogspot.com/2009/05/ready-for-summer-headband.html

headbands said...

Thanks for sharing :) This is something I've wanted to try for a while! I'm really excited to make some.

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Brenda said...

I have spent the afternoon searching tutorials and thankfully stumbled upon this one. I can't wait to make one for my daughter. I figure if they are as easy to make as they look, I will be making several of them!

Thanks for taking the time to make the tutorial and post it!

Brenda Bayless
Alum Creek, WV

Brenda said...

I have spent the afternoon searching tutorials and thankfully stumbled upon this one. I can't wait to make one for my daughter. I figure if they are as easy to make as they look, I will be making several of them!

Thanks for taking the time to make the tutorial and post it!

Brenda Bayless
Alum Creek, WV

Brenda said...

Got up early to go Black Friday shopping but the weather was too nasty to venture out. What did I do instead? I looked up this tutorial and finally made one of the headbands. So easy and CUTE! I am going to make several of these. Thanks again for the tutorial!

TJ and Whitnee said...

This is darling! I love that adults could wear them too! I'm going to post a link to this tutorial on sewwhattoday.blogspot.com on December 30!

You can grab a featured button from the bottom of our blog!

http://www.artfire.com/users/auntiechrisquiltfabric said...

Really cute.Love your fabric.Nice quick gift!