Upcycled Headband Tutorial

Pin It

I know it's a poor marketing strategy to show people just how easy it is to make something I intend to sell, but I just can't resist. Everyone should have the chance to make these.

Now, you could use new fabric for this project, but as a committed re-user, I encourage you to get creative and chop up some old sweaters that are destined for a landfill, or find some scraps you already have on hand. I used leftovers from a sweater upcycle I'll show you later on.

NOTE: I did this project on an overlock serger. If you don't have a serger, a tight zigzag stitch on a conventional sewing machine will do. 

Headband with unfinished seams

1. Sew two strips of fabric of equal length. One (the plain one) will be the liner. The other will be the visible part of your headband. I added interest to the outside by using several different fabrics, all of a similar consistency.

When cutting your fabric, think about the way it stretches. I've used a ribbed fabric, which stretches far more in one direction than the other. Since a headband needs something of an elastic quality, I made sure it would stretch horizontally.

Sew your strips into a loop.

2. Attach a decorative motif. Since I like the look of the unfinished seams, I've left them on the outside.

 3. Embellish. I like buttons.

 4. Slide the liner into the outside loop with wrong sides facing.

5. Sew the liner to the outside along both sides.

6. To hide the tails of thread, use a darning needle to draw them under a few centimeters of stitching. Trim the end.

7. There you go!

 

Headband with finished seams

1. Sew a lining strip and an outside strip, as in Step 1 above. Do not sew into a loop. Embellish as desired. With right sides facing, sew the lining to the outside along both long sides; this will make a tube. As you sew, pull any tails of thread to the outside so that, when you turn your headband right-side-out, they will be hidden.

9. Turn the tube right-side-out.

10. Make your tube into a loop by sliding one open end over the other, turning the edge under as you do so. Attach with an invisible stitch all the way around.

11. Enjoy!

This tutorial is part of this week's link party at Tea Rose Home!