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

[tiffany]

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).



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.


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:

Hemmed:


Step 3. Finish edges of elastic covering. Serge and hem the short side(4") of the 4"x6" piece.

[tiffany]

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.



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.


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.


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).


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.

[tiffany]

Step 8. Finish! Secure the right side of the elastic covering to the headband like you did above for the left side.


You are now finished. The back of your bandana should look similar to this:




Worn as a bandana:


Worn as a headband:

[tiffany]

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

[maría]

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

[amandanmv]

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

[GrandmaDeb]

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

[kpfjpf]

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

[MamaShea]

great SA thanks

[~Sara~]

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

[nanirose]

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

[rubidoux]

very cool! thanks for sharing!

[tarablesue]

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

[nutmeg]

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!!!

[orangearrow]

thank you!

[bluerosemama]

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

[nutmeg]

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

[EarthMaiden]

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

love and blessings
angie

[rosebud314]

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

[tiffany]

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

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