Elasticized Headband/Bandana Sew-a-long *in dwnld*

I saw a headband similar to this at Etsy a bit ago and was thinking they were "blanks" because the store dyed things but I wasn't able to find them ANYWHERE. So with a little convincing from someone I decided to just figure it out on my own. It came together really cute and I thought it would be a great sew along.

This sew along will make you a smaller sized bandana that can be scrunched up or pleated into a simple head band. It has elastic at the back(covered).

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana15.jpg

The cut fabric pieces in the pictures may not be the EXACT size that I mention because it took me a few run throughs to find the right dimensions, but its good for a visual.

Ok, here we go! (Whew I am talkative tonight!)

Step 1. Cut your pieces. I have found the following pieces work best for me (and will fit a head measurement of 21-23"). One long stretch of fabric (the main bandana fabric) that measures 8" tall by 19 inches long. A second smaller piece of fabric (which will cover the elastic in the back) that is 4 inches tall, 6 inches long. Finally you need a piece of elastic. I use 1" wide cut to about 3.25 inches long.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana1.jpg

Step 2. Finish edges of main bandana. Now you want to serge and hem the long edges of the 8"x19" piece. I serge and then just do a simple straight stitch down both sides.
Serged:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana2.jpg
Hemmed:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana3.jpg

Step 3. Finish edges of elastic covering. Serge and hem the short side(4") of the 4"x6" piece.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana4.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana5.jpg

Step 4. Sew up elastic covering. With right sides together sew up long side of the 4"x6" piece so you have a tube(with open ends) that is aprox. 2"x6". Now turn tube right side out and set aside for now.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana6.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana7.jpg

Step 5. Pleat your bandana. Now you need to take your piece that measures aprox. 8"x19" (with hemmed long edges) and pleat or gather the short sides (the unfinished edges). I find that 3 almost even pleats work best for me, but you can gather it or do more pleats. You want the finished height to be about 1.5" so it will fit into your elastic covering. Sew a straight stitch 1/4" in from the edge to secure the pleats in place. Do this for both sides.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana8.jpg

Step 6. Attach the elastic to one side. You should now have a 19" wide piece of fabric that is hemmed on the long edges and pleated on both ends. Attach the left side of the piece of elastic elastic to the pleated end of the bandana.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...g/bandana9.jpg

Step 7. Attach elastic covering. Insert elastic and bandana through the elastic covering you made in step 4until the left side of the elastic covering is just past your stay stitching that holds the pleats in place. Sew through all layers to secure it ( I like to sew along the hem I placed on the elastic covering in step 3 so there aren't any extra stitching lines).
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana10.jpg

Now pull the free end (the right side) of the elastic through the rest of the elastic covering and stitch it down to the other pleated side of the bandana just like you did previously.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana11.jpg
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana12.jpg

Step 8. Finish! Secure the right side of the elastic covering to the headband like you did above for the left side.
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana13.jpg

You are now finished. The back of your bandana should look similar to this:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana14.jpg

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana15.jpg

Worn as a bandana:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana16.jpg

Worn as a headband:
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../bandana17.jpg

I think I got it all... if anyone has any questions or if I wasn't clear about any of it LMK! :D

thank you so much i have been thinking of making those for a wile now and now i can make them:)

cute! I've seen these somewhere too and thought they were neat. Now we can all make them. Thanks!

thanks, my neice just asked if I would make her something like this!

i knew you would figure these out. they look great!!!!

great SA thanks :)

I saw the one you listed on Full Bloom and thought it was really cool! Thanks for the sew-along!

Thank you for the sew along! I could use some of these!

very cool! thanks for sharing!

yeaaa! thank you im growing out my hair a little and need something cute to keep it tame~

I just got a similar one for Mary at H and M, I was hoping to deconstruct it and now I don't have to! Thanks!!!

thank you! :cheerful:

That is SO cool! Cyan will love it! Thanks! (Great job BTW!)

oh and hers was made with cotton/lycra which really fits to the noggin in a cute way :yes:

Thank you! My girls and me are going to love making and wearing these.

love and blessings
angie

Thanks for this. It looks really cute. I will have to try one.:yes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by nutmeg

oh and hers was made with cotton/lycra which really fits to the noggin in a cute way :yes:

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a knit was going to be my next attempt... I thought it would be comfy! Good to know it is :D

Very cute.. Ive been wanting one fo these but keep forgetting to look for them at the store but now i can just make one!! Gonna do the cutting tonite! Thanks!

Way cool! Thanks!

That is an awesome tute!! i can't wait to make these to got with the summer outfits this year. Thank you so much

great job, my girls are gonna love 'em maybe I can let my hair grow back again by wearing one too.

"Thanks sew much" Nancy

Love this post, too--I'm new here so I'm wandering aimlessly at the moment. I sew by hand and don't own a machine. Your pictures are more than clear enough for me to follow and adapt to hand sewing. Love the idea of making my own headbands, too. Thanks for posting this!

Very cute!! These would be great for my DD to wear this summer!

Thanks. . .My neice will love these!

TFS! My girlies will like that!

Thank you so much :)

Hi :hithere:

I am interested in participating :heart: I have never done a sew-a-long before.

Where do we post the pictures once we are done?
And is there a time period ending for this to be done?

Thank you :cheerful:

I can't decide if I like it as a headband or bandana better. Great tutorial!