Tutorial: How to Sew a Stunningly Simple Headband

Yay! It’s May! The sunshine is warming up. We are grateful for lots of clear blue sky. The flowers are blooming one after the other. Our fruit trees and bushes are showing signs of fruit yet to grow.

Do you want to know what else I love about May??? On the second Sunday in May, it’s Mother’s Day! My Hubby would try and convince me that “every day is Mother’s Day around here”.  But we Mamas can see past such flippant comments. We love having a least one day where we are practically guaranteed to get a little spoiled 😉. For all that we do, we Mothers are amazing and deserve it.

Would you like to know the biggest reason why I love May? My younger daughter would try to convince you it’s because it’s her birthday. And while that is lovely, the reason is that in May it’s also MY birthday!!!

Chance of birthday celebrations with friends at the moment due to a certain virus? Zero. ☹

What I can do, however, is celebrate online with you! And because I know that it is not only me busting to get back to the hairdresser to have my roots coloured (I know, #firstworldproblems) in honour of my birthday I am giving YOU a present!

I am going to show you how to create a super easy headband to cover up those greys for when you can’t get to the hairdresser. Or for when you just want to look cool and carefree anyway! 😉

AND this sewing project will only take you less than 20 minutes! Don’t believe me? See for yourself…

I know that having grey hair isn’t the end of the world. And some people get really cool grey streaks that are practically a fashion statement of their own. My hair? Nope! Just some bold clusters of grey that I am not ready to let grow out in their full glory. I don’t consider myself a vain person at all, but this grey hair thing is one thing I am not yet proud of.

Rather than hiding indoors or trying to colour my hair myself I decided to take action in one way I knew I could: with a sewing machine! Obviously, I didn’t invent the idea of a headband, but with some trial and error and basic know-how, I decided I ought to share my method for sewing one 😊.

Who is this Handmade Headband Sewing Project for?

Anyone wanting to cover up their hairline (that may or may not be greying due to the hair salons being closed 😉).

Anyone who wants to try a new look with a fun accessory that looks great on adults or kids.

Anyone who has finished outfitting the family (the neighbours, the friends, etc etc) with handmade fabric face masks and doesn’t want to sew those a n y  m o r e  right now (*raises hand* 50 and still counting…).

Anyone who has leftover stretch fabrics and is searching for a sewing project to use them up.

Anyone who values upcycling and has some unloved t-shirts lying around waiting to be put to better use 😉.

Anyone who loves creating simple, yet cute gifts.  

Anyone who calls themselves a sewing beginner and is looking for a super quick and easy project (Sewing this headband is just like sewing an infinity loop scarf, just on a teeny tiny scale, LOL). It’s so easy, even my daughter has begun sewing her own!

Anyone who wants to complete a sewing project in one sitting but doesn’t have a lot of time. (This will be done in less than 20 minutes, promise!)

How-To: “Sew” Easy DIY Headband

What You’ll Need

Stretch jersey fabric

Measuring tape

Usual supplies: pins, sewing needle, thread, fabric scissors, sewing machine

Tip! You could also sew this headband by hand if you don’t have access to a sewing machine.

Step by Step Instructions

No matter who you are sewing this headband for- yourself, a friend, your daughter- follow these steps and you will create the perfect headband!

Step 1:

Using your measuring tape, measure around the head. Start from the hairline at the front, then behind one ear, down around the base of the skull, back up behind the other ear and around to the hairline at the top of the forehead again. ie approximately where the headband will sit when you are wearing it!

We’ll call this Measurement A.

Decide how broad you want the headband to be. Do you want a slim one or a really wide headband?

This is Measurement B.

Step 2:

Now to calculate the size of the piece of fabric you’ll need.

From Measurement A subtract 2cm (approx. 1in.). No need to add seam allowance here!

Multiply Measurement B x 2, then add a 2cm seam allowance.

For example, if your head measurement was 57cm (Measurement A) and you wanted your headband to be 8cm wide (Measurement B), your fabric would need to be:

57cm – 2cm = 55cm long

and

8cm x 2 = 16cm + 2cm = 18cm high.

Got it?!? (I’ll bet your parents told you maths would come in handy one day 😉).

Obviously, some stretch jersey fabrics are stretchier than others, but I have found this calculation to work well on numerous fabrics 😉.

Step 3:

Cut out your piece of stretch fabric using your calculations from Step 3.

Step 4:

Fold the fabric lengthways with the right sides together.

Pin the 2 layers of fabric along the length.

Step 5:

Using a 1cm seam allowance, sew along the entire length of the fabric, leaving the 2 short ends open.

Tip! For an even faster project, you can use your overlocker / serger for this step 😉.

Step 6:

Now it’s time to pretend you are turning a sock right side out! Put your hand inside the fabric tube, grab hold of the raw edge and pull it back up inside the tube, so that both raw edges now meet each other, right sides together, and with the seams aligned.

Watch out that the fabric doesn’t get twisted around while pulling it through! You will want the headband to flatten out nicely once you’re done, right?

Pin the raw edges together ready for sewing.

Remember to leave a small gap (approx.. 2-3cm / 1in) for turning right way out in a moment!

Step 7:

Sew together the fabric layers around the raw edges, remembering to leave that gap for turning!

Step 8:

Through the opening, pull the fabric through so that the entire headband is now right sides out.

Now it looks like a real, live headband! *grin*

All that’s left to be done is sewing that gap closed.

Step 9:

There are a variety of options for you to choose from to close that opening on your headband. Most likely it will never ever be seen when you are actually wearing your headband 😉.

P.S. The photos below are of a variety of headbands so you can visualise the different options available to you.

Option 1> Simply sew closely along the edge with your sewing machine to close the opening. This is obviously the easiest and fastest option 😉. Headband complete!

Option 2> Using needle and thread, hand sew the opening closed, using a ladder stitch aka invisible stitch. Headband finished!

Option 3> Using needle and thread, hand sew the opening closed using the same stitch as in Option 2, but then also stitch up and down the length of the join and tug firmly as you go so that the headband starts to gather. Repeat this as many times as you wish. Your headband will now be flat and evenly wide around most of the band, and slowly narrow and be scrunched together at that join. Some of you may find it more comfortable to wear when the band is not so broad at the back of the head. Headband finished!

Option 4> My favourite 😉… If you want to *fancy it up a little*, you can also sew a small ring of fabric to cover those joining stitches. Cut a strip of fabric approximately 3cm wide and long enough to stretch around the joining seam of your headband. Fold it in half around your headband, right sides together, pin and sew the ends of this loop together. Flip the loop right sides out, wriggle into place to cover the seam. Headband ready!

Once again, a job well done! Congratulations! If you follow these easy steps, you will be on your way to DIY headband heaven!! Sorry, got a little carried away with myself there, oops. But you get the idea, right?

These easy-sew headbands can be churned out in quick time, they look good on everybody, make great gifts, let you use up extra fabrics around home or pep up an existing outfit and are a brilliant beginners DIY project. Oh yeah, and they also cover hair when the colour is growing out 😉.

I’m so excited to what designs you come up with! Be sure to tag me @everythingsfamtastic when you show off your work on social media. Or share with me directly below!