Girl Bands [A DIY Tutorial]

Rose went to a craft fair and tried on a headband. It was an animal print fabric, with a little knot on the top. She looked gorgeous, and she really wanted it. But it cost £14. Mummy Liz suggested she should see what Grandma could do. I searched on line, and found a number of video tutorials and DIY patterns. I bought a pack of simple hairbands, and a pack of 6 polycotton squares. Here is my template, cut from a cereal packet.

The tie is a strip 1½" x 8" cut to a point at each end.

The main band - 16" long, 1½" at each end, and 3" in the middle. You will see the pattern is half length, you need to place it on the folded fabric. Cut two pieces of each shape

Right sides together, sew round the edge of the tie.
Turn out and press. Sew up the gap neatly

On the band, right sides together, sew just along the LONG edges. Turn out, press. Now slide the band through the tube, and tuck in the raw ends at each end. make pleats to gather up spare fabric.Sew across neatly by hand.

Now tie the tie round the centre, pull tight  [Fold in spare fabric on the top of the band - this loose fabric adds to the effect] Hold tie in place with a few stitches on the underside.

I polished off half a dozen in an afternoon. The girls were delighted, and took the spares back for their friends.

If the fabric is fine and floppy, the use iron on lightweight interfacing on just one of the two tie pieces, and on one piece of the band strips[the upper strip] Total cost about £1 per band, and I have lots of fabric, and a loads of bands leftover.