5 Easy Headbands

In this Instructable, I’ll show you how you can make five different headbands. All of them are easy, beginner level projects, but if you’re not feeling quite ready to try sewing, or if you don’t have a sewing machine, the fifth headband is a no-sew option, so there’s something for everyone.

You can watch the video or read the steps here, whatever you prefer.

What you’ll need for each handband is listed at the start of their instructions.

Start by measuring around your head, so you’ll know how big to make your headband. My measurement is 58 centimeters (22 2/5 inches).

Step 1: Headband #1: Lace

What you'll need:

- Lace ribbon (60 cm/24 inches)

- Fabric ribbon (11 cm/4,5 inches)

- 0,5 cm (0,2 inch) wide elastic (7 cm/2,5 inches)

- Matching thread

- Sewing machine

- Scissors

- Ruler/measuring tape

For the first headband, start by cutting a piece of elastic that is 7 centimeters (2 3/4 inches)) long, and two pieces of ribbon that are 11 centimeters (1 1/3 inches) long. Make sure your elastic can stretch to the length of the ribbon.

Sew the two pieces of ribbon together on the long side, staying very close to the edge. Place the elastic inside, fold it closed and stitch it in place along the short edge. Do the same on the other side. Finally, stretch out the elastic and sew the other long side of the ribbon together, making sure not to stitch through the elastic.

Place your elastic closure on one end of the lace, right sides together. Stitch it down with a straight stitch. Protect the end from raveling by stitching over it in a tight zigzag stitch and trim the edge.

Now, check the length of your headband. The elastic will stretch, so make it a couple centimeters shorter than it needs to be. Place the other end of the elastic closure on the other end and sew it down the same way, first with a straight stitch and then finishing the edge with a zigzag stitch.

To make the seam allowances lie nice and flat, topstitch them down with a straight stitch.

And the first headband is done.

Step 2: Headband #2: Stretch Fabric

What you'll need:

- Stretch fabric (60x10 cm/24x4 inches)

- Matching thread

- Paper to draw your pattern on
- Scissors

- Ruler/measuring tape

- Tailor’s chalk

- Sewing machine

Start to draw a pattern by marking your head measurement minus 5 centimers (2 inches). I’m making my headband 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide in the middle, with a slow taper to 3 centimeters (1 1/5 inch) at each of the ends.

For the second headband you’ll need to use stretchy fabric; I’m using an organic cotton jersey.

Grab your fabric, double it up and pin your pattern to the two layers. Cut it out with a 1,5 centimeter (3/4 inch) seam allowance, giving you two pieces of fabric.

Pin the two pieces right sides together and sew along the long sides with a stretch stitch or a narrow zigzag stitch.

Turn the tube inside out. Place the two ends wrong sides together and sew them together with a straight stitch. Trim the seam down and turn the headband right sides together. Stitch another line, encasing the first seam.

And that’s it for the second headband.

Step 3: Headband #3 - Woven Fabric

What you'll need:

- Woven fabric (60x10 cm/24x12 inches)

- 2cm (0,8 inch) wide elastic (5 cm/2 inches)

- Matching thread

- Paper to draw your pattern on
- Scissors

- Ruler/measuring tape

- Tailor’s chalk

- Sewing machine

For the third headband, we’ll be using the same pattern as for headband #2, but this time with a non-stretchy fabric.

Pin the pattern to a double layer of fabric and cut it out, again with 1,5 centimeters (3/4 inch) of seam allowance.

Place the two pieces right sides together and sew along the long sides again, this time using a straight stitch. Trim the edges with pinking shears to prevent fraying and then turn the tube inside out.

We’ll be adding elastic in the back, and for this mark a piece of fabric to be twice the width of your elastic (in my case 4 centimeters or 1,5 inch) and 7 centimeters (2 3/4 inches) long. Add 1,5 centimeters (3/4 inch) of seam allowances on all sides.

Fold the piece right sides together and stitch the long side closed with a straight stitch. Trim the edges and turn the tube inside out. Place a 5 centimeter (2 inches) piece of elastic inside, lining it up with one end. Stitch the elastic in place close to the edge.

Pull the casing back so that the other end of the elastic lines up with the end. Stitch this end down too.

Fold the edges of the headband inside and place the end of the elastic inside as well. Stitch it down with a straight stitch close to the edge. Repeat this on the other side.

And that’s another headband done.

Step 4: Headband #4 - Looped Stretch Fabric

What you'll need:

- Stretch fabric (70x20 cm/28x8 inches)

- Matching thread

- Scissors

- Ruler/measuring tape

- Tailor’s chalk

- Sewing machine

Now back to some stretchy fabric again. Cut four strips of 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide and your head measurement long. For me that was 58 centimeters (22 2/5 inches).

Pin two pieces right sides together, sew them down along the long ends with a stretch stitch or a narrow zigzag, and turn the tube inside out. Repeat this for the other two pieces.

Fold one tube right sides together and stitch the ends together. Loop the other tube through the first one, and then also stitch its ends together.

Place all of the ends on top of each other, making sure not to twist any of them, and check the size around your head. Stitch all four ends together at the right size and cut away the excess fabric.

To hide the seam, cut a piece of fabric of around 10 by 10 centimeters (4 by 4 inches). Fold it around the headband and stitch a tube, as close as you can to the headband without actually stitching through it. Cut away the excess fabric and turn the tube inside out. Center the tube over the seam and fold the edges inside.

And the fourth headband is done.

Step 5: Headband #5 - Braid

What you'll need:

- Jersey fabric (75x20 cm/30x8 inches)

- Scissors

- Ruler/measuring tape

- Tailor’s chalk

Like I promised, the final headband requires no sewing at all.

Cut five strips of jersey fabric, around 4 centimeters (1,5 inch) wide and 70 centimeters (27,5 inches) long. Make the strips roll up by rolling them between your hands and pulling on them.

Clamp the five strips next to each other in a clamp and start braiding. I’m using five strands to give a bit of a wider braid, but you can just as easily use three or even seven strands for a thinner or wider headband.

When your headband is long enough to fit around your head, take it out of the clamp and knot each of the five pairs of strands together. Trim the ends down.

Cut a strip of jersey that’s around 5 centimeters (2 inches) wide and 25 centimeters (10 inches) long. Make a nice knot around the ends of the braid and cut the tails to a length that you like.

And that’s it for the fifth and final headband.