A DIY Infant Headband With Lots of Ribbon

Make headbands to match every baby outfit.

Mothers rarely tire of dressing up their baby girls and showing them off to admirers. While the matching clothes and shoes make up the majority of a baby girl's outfit, accessories tie the entire ensemble together. Because infants are still too young for more mature accessories, such as hair clips and barrettes, elastic headbands are one of the safest ways to dress them up. These headbands take only a few inexpensive materials to make, and are easily customizeable.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Elastic band
• Scissors
• Ribbons
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Carefully measure your baby's head. Wrap a measuring tape around the forehead and the back of the head, looping it around the largest part at the back. Use this measurement to cut a piece of elastic the same length.

2. Measure the ribbon you chose for the headband. It must be about 1/2 inch larger than the elastic strip on all sides. For example; if the elastic is 11 inches long and 1 inch wide, the ribbon should be 12 inches long and 2 inches wide.

3. Place the ribbon on a flat surface with the back of the ribbon facing up. Fold the ends of the ribbon lengthwise so they meet in the center of the ribbon. Stitch these ends together so the ribbon forms a sort of tube; this is the casing for the elastic.

4. Place the elastic string into the tube casing you made with ribbon, and pinch one of the ends of the tubes closed with the elastic inside. Stitch this end shut, catching the elastic with it as you sew. Reach into the ribbon casing and pinch the other end of elastic. Pull it out through the opening.

5. Pinch the open end of the casing closed, with the elastic as well. Stitch the elastic to the ribbon casing's end, then loop this around so it meets with the other end of the headband. Sew both ends together.

6. Create a bow made of ribbons to adorn the headband. Cut any ribbon to any size that you desire and lay it out with the back of the ribbon facing up. Fold the ribbon widthwise so the ends overlap slightly in the middle. Press the middle together with your finger and sew the overlapped edges to the ribbon with a small stitch in the very center of the rectangle.

7. Place the rectangle of ribbon onto the headband wherever you think it looks best. Clip a small portion of ribbon and wrap it around both the rectangle and the headband. Sew this small piece in place so it secures the bow to the headband.

Tips & Warnings

• If you desire, revise the process by laying the elastic on top of the open ribbon. Again, the back of the ribbo should face up. Stitch the ends of the elastic to the ends of the ribbon, then proceed to fold the ribbon lengthwise, and stitch it where it meets in the middle.

References

• How To Make My Baby Headbands: How To Make My Baby Headbands