Designer Hairband

I could not wait to get onto the next project with so many great responses from the first! Thank you to everyone who left them. I can see this becoming an addictive habit, Friday night tutorials! So with a very busy week I decided it needed to be something simple but chic and I decided to do some Sew Pretty hair bands.

Now I have never made these before (probably due to my short hair & 2 budding boys) but I was surprised at how easy and quick they are to make (watch my cup of tea during the photo's to get an idea on timing!) and that made me think these would be awesome for craft markets.

To experienced sewers, note I have bolded the main instructions.

To start these are the supplies you will need for this project

1.) Cut 2 rectangles, one for the main headband and one to cover the elastic around the back. Sizes are below the picture.

Sizing:
Large (fitted on my head!) 
40cm x 14cm (16  x 5 1/2 inches)
6.5cm x 28cm (2 1/2 x 11 inches)

Medium (18 months +)

38cm x 12cm (15  x 4 1/2 inches)

6.5cm x 25cm (2 1/2 x 10 inches)

Small (12-18 months)
36cm x 10cm (14 x 4 inches)
6.5cm x 22cm (2 1/2 x 9 inches)

(If you are not sure on your sizing, just make one, try it on and adjust by a few cm if it is not quite right. You can even unpick and cut it shorter if necessary)

2.) Next fold right side to right side horizontally and pin and stitch each rectangle

3.) Turn the each rectangle the right way out and iron with the seam down the middle of one side

For the smaller rectangle it is a bit more tricky, so using a pen or knitting needle push your tube the right way out and iron as above. (Tea going down quite well at this point!)

4.) Now cut a piece of elastic and attach your safety pin to one side. (Sizes below)

Large - 15cm (6 inches)

Medium - 13cm (5 inches)

Small - 10cm (4 inches)

5.) Thread it through your smaller rectangle tube, and when the elastic just starts to disappear at the back, grab it and sew it closed about 1cm in. Then scrunch up your tube until your safety pin emerges, remove pin and sew the other side. 

 Now take your large rectangle and lay it seam side down: ( I did this wrong 2nd time around, unpicking!!!)

Take your smaller rectangle and line it up to the one end of the larger rectangle. 

6.) Wrap the larger rectangle over the smaller one from each side, and sew it closed at least 1cm in if not a bit more. (Make sure you are sewing lower than your sewing line of the elastic otherwise it will show through)

7.) Now stretch the smaller rectangle elastic tube, to the other side of your head band and repeat.

8.) Finally turn your band over at each corner and ta da! You are done! Now if you are like me make lots more with all those fabric scraps!

Why not decorate your hairband with a one of the lovely fabric flowers that Molly the Bear shows you how to make in her tuturial found here
http://mollythebear.blogspot.com/2011/02/flower-tutorial.html