How to Make Cute Headbands

Make cute frilly headbands from patterned lace ribbon.

Cute lacy stretch headbands look great on children and adults alike. You can make the headbands as a gift for a newborn baby or make some for yourself for a frilly and feminine hair accessory. The headbands are made from a layer of lace with a thin ribbon running along the center and can be embellished with glitter, imitation gemstones, big silk flowers or satin ribbon bows.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1/2-inch-wide lace ribbon
• 3/8-inch-wide grosgrain or satin ribbon
• Sewing needle
• Thread
• 1/8-inch-wide elastic
• Sewing bodkin
• Big satin bow or silk flower

Instructions

1. Measure the circumference of the headband wearer's head. Cut the 1 1/2-inch-wide lace ribbon to this length. Cut the 3/8-inch-wide grosgrain or satin ribbon to the same length as the lace.

2. Lay the lace on your working surface and arrange the ribbon down the center of the lace. Sew the ribbon to the lace by sewing straight stitches down the left and right long edges of the ribbon. This makes a tube in between the ribbon and the lace.

3. Cut a piece of 1/8-inch-wide elastic to the head circumference minus 3/4 inch. Slip one end of the elastic through the eyehole in the sewing bodkin and slide the bodkin through the channel in between the ribbon and lace. Sew the elastic ends to the ends of the lace and ribbon. This will gather the fabric slightly to make the headband a little bit stretchy.

4. Bring the ends of the lace together and overlap by about 1/4 inch. Sew the ends together with a tight straight stitch and then sew over the same stitches again for extra strength.

5. Find the point opposite the seam line by folding the headband in half at the seam line. The seam line is the back of the headband and the fold opposite the seam line is the front of the headband. Measure 2 inches from the front fold and make a small chalk mark. Pin the big bow or silk flower to the mark on the headband. Sew on the embellishment.

References

• "The Complete Photo Guide to Ribbon Crafts: All You Need to Know to Craft with Ribbon"; Elaine Schmidt; 2010
• The Frugal Girls.com: How To Make *Cute* Flower Hair Clips and Headbands
• Tip Junkie: How-To Make Headbands {21 Free Patterns}

Resources

• Bev's Country Cottage: Sizes for Making Various Items