How to Fold a Bandana With No Overlapping

Folding a bandanna with no overlapping creates a smooth look that shows off the print or pattern of the bandanna. It's perfect for folding a square bandanna into flat strip to use as a headband, or as a blindfold for games. To use the folded bandanna for a headband or blindfold, you'll need to start with a bandanna that's large enough to wrap comfortably around your forehead or eyes, with enough material leftover to tie in the back. A 22 inch square standard sizes bandanna works well for most people, but you can also use a 27 inch square oversized bandanna, or an 18 inch square bandanna for a child. Handkerchief sized, or 14 inch square, bandannas are generally too small to use as headbands or blindfolds.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Square bandanna Table or flat surface

1. Place the bandanna with the printed side, or the side you want to show, face down. Smooth out the bandanna so it's flat.

2. Rotate the bandanna so that one corner is pointing toward you, making it look like a diamond shape.

3. Fold the bandanna in half from top to bottom, forming a triangle. The long edge should be on top and the pointed end should still be pointing toward you.

4. Fold the bottom point up about one inch, so that the bottom edge is flatter.

5. Fold the bottom edge up about one to two inches, or the width you want the finished bandanna.

6. Fold the bandanna up the same width again. Continue folding until the entire bandanna forms a flat, narrow strip.

7. Pick up the bandanna carefully and place the folded side (the side that was facing up) against your forehead to use the bandanna as a headband, or over the player's eyes for a blindfold.

8. Wrap the ends of the folded bandanna around the head and tie them together. Make sure the bandanna is snug enough to prevent it from unfolding, but not so tight that it's uncomfortable. A blindfold should be looser than a headband.

Tips & Warnings

• Since you want all the folds to be the same width, with little or no material leftover you may need to adjust the width of the folds and try again to get the folds even. If you're using a folded bandanna as a blindfold, you may want to use a dark colored bandanna, since people may be able to see through a white or lightweight bandanna, even with several layers of folds.

Resources

• This bandanna site shows how to do various folds, with pictures.