Do it Yourself: Headband

Let me preface this post with a personal statement: I love to sew! I watch Project Runway every season and think- man, I wish that could be me. I will be honest though, I have no formal training, my mom taught me how to sew by buying a Simplicity sewing pattern for a flannel shirt when I was an eighth grader (yep- a true tribute to the 90's). I have been using that same sewing machine until this Christmas when my husband bought me a new Singer machine, and it's awesome!

I've been sewing a lot more lately, since I am not fighting with threading, or my needles, or the infamous jams that happened with the old machine so often. Mostly, it's been hemming pants (I'm 5'2" so almost all of my pants need to be hemmed) but I keep pinning things on Pinterest for sewing. When I found the post 27 Most Popular DIY fashion ideas ever, I had to see what was on there. she lists a bunch of great stuff to try, with links back to the original tutorial. I plan on trying a few more, but today was totally just the headband, because it is super cute, and I had the most perfect fabric for it.

I really liked her instructions, but of course, I always have to add my own steps to make it my own so my headband has an added elastic to it- and it's simple easy to do. If you want to try the original headband- see her blog post on  Honey Bee Vintage. Not only does she have some great sewing items, but there is recipes and other DIY items. Okay, let's get started!



What you need:
Fun fabric print
Matching Tread
Elastic hair band
Sewing machine
Safety Pin
String

Instructions:

1. Cut two strips of fabric 4" X 20".
2. Take each strip of fabric and place the long raw edges together- wrong side out and sew a 1/4 " seam. (so your measurements would now be 2" X 20"). This will make a "tube".


3. Turn each strip right side out. Here's a simple way to do it that I hope you remember the next time you start a project.
4. Attach your piece of string onto the safety pin (on the little circle on the bottom of the pin).
5. Attach the safety pin/string onto one side of the fabric "tube".


6. Thread the string down the inside of the fabric. Push the seam towards the other side of the fabric to create the opening so the thread will drop down through the center of the "tube". UPDATE* If you attach another safety pin to the other side of the string and drop it down the "tube" it goes a lot quicker. Really it could be anything with a little weight to it that is thin and small.

7. Pull the thread out through the bottom, and help push the fabric through the center. Once the safety pin comes out the other side you can pull the fabric down until it is all right side out. Now see- wasn't that way more simple than trying to do it by hand!!


8. Take the two pieces of fabric that are now turned right side out in a "X" pattern. Make sure the seams are facing up.


9. Take the bottom fabric and cross it back to itself, twisting it against the other fabric to make the seam face out. Do this again with the other piece of fabric.


10. Place the elastic band about 1" down from the raw edge of one of the tubes- making sure the edges align.
11. Fold the raw edges over the elastic band, and tuck them back into themselves so you have a straight edge to sew.


12. Sew two lines down this fold to ensure it holds together.
13. Repeat steps 10-12 on the other side.

14. Your done! Now wear that headband with pride!




See, isn't this a cute pattern! I love it!! If you don't feel craftsy enough to make your own, check out my Etsy site, Statement Always Made. Available for purchase now!