Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Knock It Off! Store Inspired Tutorial: Wired Fabric Headband



For the next installment of my Knock It Off: Store-Inspired Tutorials, I thought I'd take on a must-have summer accessory, the Wired Fabric Headband.  When days are hot, and hair is not cooperative, headbands are a lifesaver.  And they make the perfect accent to an outfit. Fabric styles feel best (I hate the pinchy plastic ones!), but they do tend to slip around, so a wired one is the ideal solution.  You can shape it in lots of ways and it'll stay in place without the usual headband headache.



ModCloth has some super cute wired headbands in their usual fun & funky prints, but at $14 each, that's a little pricey for just a strip of fabric and bit of wire.  My version is easy to make and for about the same price you can make a week's worth of headbands in all your favorite fabrics!



Materials Needed:

- 1/8yd of fabric
- Floral Cloth Wire
- Sewing Notions: rotary cutter/shears, iron, pins, fabric marking pen, yardstick

How To Do It:

Cut a strip of fabric that is 34 inches by 4 1/2 inches and press nice & flat.



Fold in half lengthwise, with wrong sides facing out.  Mark on an angle or do an upside down "V" or "U" shape on either short end.



Stitch all the way around the open sides with a 1/4 inch seam allowance, leaving a 1-2 inch gap on the longest side.  Trim down the ends.



Turn the headband right side out, using the marking pen or a knitting needle to carefully pull the ends out fully.  Press flat.



Now comes the wire.  Personally, I prefer to use cloth floral wire you can find in the floral crafts section.  It's thin, easily bendable wire with a thing cloth covering, so it doesn't feel quite as hard as the plain metal.  The one I found came in a package of 12 that were each 18 inches long.



I double knotted four wires together to make a circle.  Wrapping the ends around the main wire for extra reinforcement and so nothing pops through the fabric:



Then placing one end over my yardstick, I slipped it into the headband opening and into place.  The yardstick keeps the wire from bending or getting stuck while trying to snake it down.



I also did a couple of tack stitches near either end of the headband, just under the looped end of the wire.  This will keep the wire from slipping down or bunching in one spot (a common complain in the reviews on the ModCloth ones).



Topstitch around the edge with a 1/4 inch seam allowance.  



A sweet & sassy headband is now done!  Wear it tied at the back for a traditional look:



Up with the ends up top for a retro style:



The wire makes it easy to press the ends down or have them perked up at a jaunty angle.  You can even just tie it around a hairband to accent a ponytail.  And since you can use whatever fabric you want, have fun trying your favorite prints or vibrant colors for a totally unique or custom matched look.  

Total Knock Off Savings:  $35-40

Enough wire to make all 3 headbands shown was under $2.  I used leftover fabric remnants from past projects, but 1/8yd cuts would be about $1.50 or less depending on the fabric chosen.  Each takes less than 15 minutes to make so it's time & money well spent!



I'm also sharing this project with my FAVE LINK PARTIES.
Click HERE to check them out!

20 comments:

  1. This is great! I would not have thought to use the floral wire! Thanks for the tips!

    ReplyDelete
  2. These are too cute!!! Thanks for sharing! Stopping by from Hoyby Crafts!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very cool, Cheryl. Love your tutes. Linda

    http://www.craftsalamode.com/2013/07/what-to-do-weekends-28.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. Really cute. It would be fun to make a whole collection of these!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love these headbands! I actually did a similar tutorial a month or so ago after getting a headband from ModCloth. I always love to see how other people do things differently, so I am glad you posted this! I'm your newest follower!

    Krissy @ http://hotcommodityhome.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great minds think alike Krissy:) There was no way I was willing to pay $14 for just one when their pictures showed how simple the design was. I went and checked yours out & love the idea of adding ric-rac too. Thanks for the follow - I'm following you back now!

      Delete
  6. Cute! I love an easy headband! Thanks for linking it up at Monday Funday!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for your great tutorial! xx
    From your newest follower,
    Mary of Mar-ian Makes
    http://iwannahaveago.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is so cute and cool! Thanks for linking this great project up to Well Crafted Wednesdays!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your idea of using floral wire instead of regular wire! I also thought the store prices were a little steep and went on a mission to make my own.
    http://creativemadnessblt.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  10. These are adorable! love all the patterns! Thanks for linking up to Give Me the Goods! Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof

    ReplyDelete
  11. Love it! Thank you so much for sharing the tutorial and for linking up to Handmade Tuesdays @ Ladybug Blessings. I am featuring them :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your post it's very interesting and very usefull, thanks for hosting. Does any of you have ever heard about www.elcoplanet.com or maybe use their web hosting service ? Because I nee web hosting for my page. Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are adorable! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thank for the tutorial! I'm wondering if it would be okay to add wire to both edges of the headband. I would stitch it in instead of threading. I would do it as if I were stitching in cording to make piping. I know it would increase the cost, but will it function the same?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it should, but maybe make the wire only go to the stop where you would tie it or it may be more difficult to knot or scrunch down if the wire is sewn to the edges. Let me know how that works out - sounds like a good idea!

      Delete
  15. These are great! Off to share with my crafty friends on FB.

    ReplyDelete
  16. These are great! Off to share with my crafty friends on FB.

    ReplyDelete

Getting your comments brightens my day. I'd love if you left one:)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails