sewVery Simple All-Purpose Headband Tutorial

Now that I have grown my hair back out long, I'm finding that I wear it up in a ponytail fairly often or need to keep the front out of my face, especially when I go for a walk, sew, or do a lot of chores around the house. I have such thick, frizzy hair, that I desperately needed something to keep those kinky curls contained and under some control. Of course, the simplest solution was to sew up a few wide, knit headbands for me to keep it all under control!

These headbands were such a cinch to sew and are great for everyday casual wear or a workout, so naturally, I took a few pictures and created the sewVery Simple All-Purpose Headband Tutorial so you can sew some, too. 

You are going to love these so much that you'll make one to match all your new knit shirts and dresses since the all-purpose headbands don't take much fabric to create. I've even given you the cutting dimensions to make them for your little girl, too. My daughter loves wearing hers to gymnastics class or when she is running around outside playing. 

Ready to get started?! Here we go! 

First, gather these supplies to make one or a few sewVery Simple All-Purpose Headbands.

Supplies:

• 1/4 yard Ann Kelle Remix knit fabric (or a comparable Laguna knit from Robert Kaufman with 95% cotton/5% Lycra) Here I've used Remix Crosses in Black/White
• Pins
• Rotary Cutter and Mat
• Serger (optional)
• Sewing Machine
• Thread
• Scissors
• Iron (optional)

A 1/4 yard piece of 60" wide knit will definitely make 2 adult sized headbands and possibly 1 child sized headband.

For an adult sized headband, cut out a piece of Ann Kelle Remix knit fabric 7" x 20 1/2". Seam allowance for this project is 1/4"; therefore, the finished headband will have a width of roughly 3 1/4". If you desire a wider or narrower headband, then adjust the 7" dimension accordingly.

For a child sized headband, cut a piece of knit fabric 7" x 19" and follow the same instructions below. This size headband comfortably fits my 7 year old.

Assemble the Headband:

Step 1: 

Fold the fabric in half with right sides together and pin along the long edges. Your fabric should now measure approximately 3 1/2" x 20 1/2" for the adult size and 3 1/2" x 19" for the child size headband.

Step 2:
Sew or serge the long edges together making sure to leave the short ends unsewn and open.

Step 3:
Turn the fabric right side out and center the seam on the back side of the headband. Lightly press with an iron if desired.

Step 4:
Fold the headband in half and match the seam along the short, open ends, with right sides together. Pin there and about an inch away.

Step 5:
Keeping the short open ends right sides together, flip the fabric so that one piece is inside the other as shown below. This is like folding a pair of socks. Place another pin or two to keep the raw edges aligned.

Step 6:
Sew or serge the seam making sure to leave an opening that is roughly 1" to 1 1/2" long and centered over the first long seam.

Step 7:
Turn the headband right side out by pulling the fabric through the opening.

Step 8:
Turn the raw edges of the opening to the inside and match seams.

Step 9:
Sew the opening closed.

Step 10:
Turn the fabric so that the long seam is face up and centered and that the short seam is centered when folded in half as shown below.

Step 11:
At the short seam, fold over the long edges of the headband approximately 1/4 of the width toward the back. Pin if necessary.

Step 12:
Fold the fabric again so that the two folds meet in the middle and pin.

Step 13:
Sew across the folds to secure them in place making sure to backstitch at the start and stop.

Step 14:
Flip the headband right side out so that the long center seam and the folds are on the back side of the headband.

Your new sewVery Simple All-Purpose Headband is now complete! Wear the headband with the smaller end at the base of your head near your neck.

The wide part of the headband is great at keeping your loose hairs in place as you exercise or do chores around the house. Plus, in the wintertime, you can wear the headband over your ears to help keep them warm. The All-Purpose Headband is also a stylish accessory to compliment any outfit!

These sewVery Simple All-Purpose Headbands literally take 5 minutes to sew, so make lots of extras to keep on hand for gifts for your friends or your daughters or to match every new knit top or dress you sew. It's the perfect gift for the female athlete you know or for the mommy-on-the-go who loves to wear her hair up while chauffeuring her kids from one place to another.

Have FUN sewing!