Make your own Sports Headband Tutorial

from : dasiesandmore.blogspot.com

If you have a daughter who plays on sports teams or if you like to work out and you wear the "sports style" headbands with a ponytail - this tutorial is for you! Don't want to pay $8-$18 for a headband? Make one yourself for cheap!

You need:

• A sewing machine (or patience and good eyesight for hand sewing)

• 7/8" wide grosgrain ribbon of your choice (background color) ($1.97 or less - look for coupons)

• 5/8" wide grosgrain ribbon of your choice (top color) ($1.97 or less)

• 3/8" wide grosgrain ribbon that matches either of the two previous colors ($1.97 or less)

• 7/8" wide velvet ribbon (this is the hardest to find - check Hobby Lobby for $1.99 spools of 6 ft of ribbon that are often half price or check other fabric stores in the "by the yard" ribbon - black or brown work well, white is good for lighter colors)

• Fabric glue ($4 or so a bottle) - hot glue does NOT work for this, sorry, it is too stiff

• Invisible thread or thread that matches both of your ribbon colors

• Two "adult" size "no metal" thick ponytail holders

• Scissors

• Measuring tape

Step 1

Cut the 7/8" wide and 5/8" wide grosgrain ribbons to 15 1/2" long for a child's size headband or 16 1/2" long for a teen or adult headband.

Step 2

Cut the 7/8" wide velvet ribbon to 14" (kids) or 15" (adult) - you could cut it the same length as the grosgrain, but depending on your spool of ribbon you may be able to get an extra headband out of the spool if you cut it a bit shorter.

Step 3

Use the fabric glue and run a small line of fabric glue down each long edge of the 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. If this ribbon is a dark color, you could put one line down the middle, but lighter colors will show the glue line if you put it in the middle. Glue the 5/8" ribbon to the middle of the 7/8" ribbon - putting the ribbon down carefully so that the edges are even.

Step 4

Using invisible thread (or thread that matches the color of the 5/8" ribbon) sew down the edge of the 5/8" ribbon.

Step 5

Run a line of glue down the velvet ribbon. Glue this to the back of the 7/8" grosgrain ribbon. There will be a gap at each end of the ribbon where it is not covered by velvet - this is okay, it won't show.

Step 6

Using invisible thread (or thread that matches the color of the 7/8" grosgrain ribbon) carefully and slowly (especially if you are using invisible thread) sew down the edge of the velvet ribbon to attach it securely to the grosgrain ribbon.

Step 7

Take the two ponytail holders and knot them together. This is slightly difficult to explain, but I don't have a internet-compatible video camera, so I'm going to have to do the best I can. You're going to find the spot on each ponytail holder where they have been stuck together. Lay the two ponytail holders on top of each other with the connection spots on opposite sides of the circle from each other. Loop one side of one ponytail holder around the other and pull taught. Hopefully the pictures below help explain this.

Step 8

Fold the end of the ribbon from Step 6 over one side of the ponytail holder. Sew in place, going back-and-forth several times over the end to make sure it doesn't pull out. Repeat with the other side.

Step 9

Cut two pieces of 3/8" grosgrain ribbon to 2 1/2" long. Heat seal the ends (run a lighter or match quickly and carefully across the cut end of the ribbon and it will melt together slightly and prevent fraying). Put a line of fabric glue on each 2 1/2" piece.

Step 10

Fold these short pieces over the sewn part of the headband for a nicer looking finish. Allow to dry before putting in anyone's hair.

You can replace the "team colors" with a patterned 7/8" grosgrain ribbon like I did below, and you omit steps 3 &

4. (See photo of Kate below with the zebra print headband on.) Or you can move up a size and use 1 1/2" grosgrain ribbon and velvet ribbon, and 7/8" for the top piece (or again use a patterned ribbon).

You can find Razorback ribbon at some of the Wal-Mart stores so you could make "game day" headbands for you and your friends.

Nylon Knee Hi ~ Hair Bows

This is a tutorial on how to make Hair Bowbands out of knee highs.  I found the instructions on how to make these at :
http://www.thehandmadehousewife.blogspot.com/

This is the knee high version.  I purchased all my nylon knee highs from Walmart. You can find them for $0.33 a pair.

Turn the knee high inside out and lay flat on a cutting mat.
Using a straight edge (or just wing it with a pair of scissors) cut off the toe seam and ribbed calf portions.

Next slightly overlap the raw ends forming a circle.


Weave a needle through all 4 layers of nylon making sure to catch the underside as you go.

Scrunch the nylon in the middle and wrap your thread around several times. Secure with a few stitches in the back or tie several knots with your thread tails. Make sure you pull tight to create a secure scrunch.

This is what it looks like before you cover your seam.

Finally take a piece of 5/8" grosgrain ribbon and heat seal the end with a lighter or wood burner tool. Hot glue one end to the back of the band over the seam. I like using 5/8" ribbon since it's a better width to accommodate small and large bows.

Wrap the ribbon around to measure how much you need to cover the seam. Cut and seal the end as before. Place hot glue on the already glued ribbon portion in the back. Wrap the free ribbon piece around the front of the seam and place over the hot glued portion on the back. This completely covers the seam.

Finished! Now just clip on your bow to the front.

Knee Hi Sox ~ Bow Head Bands

Hair Bows from trouser or knee length nylon/spandex socks. I have found that the smooth print socks are woven tighter and therefore have better stretch recovery than some others that have a textured weave to them.

The method is generally the same as with the nylon knee highs. Turn the sock inside out and lay flat.


  Using a straight edge, or pair of scissors, trim off the toe seam and ribbed calf portions. If you want a wide bowband then stop here. Turn sock right side out, overlap ends, and hand sew just like with the nylon band instructions. For thinner bands continue to the next step.                                

Measure the middle of the sock witdth and using a straight edge cut into 2 equal width parts. Mine were about 1.75" wide.

While they are still right sides together sew a small zig zag seam close to the longest raw edge leaving the 2 short ends open. You may have to pull taught in the front and back of the sock as you sew to ensure even feeding.

Don't worry if it shifts a little and your raw edge isn't even. You can trim that after your seam is sewn.

Turn your band inside out and finger press the seam. You may have to roll the seam between your fingers to get it to smooth out. Now you're ready to overlap your short ends and hand stitch as before. Make sure your seam is to the side and not running down the middle.

Your seam is now on the bottom of the band.

Cover the scrunched seam with ribbon as before making sure to heat seal your ends.

Finished! Attach your favorite clip to the front and enjoy!