Flamingo Toes

Sweet & Skinny Ruffled Headband

78 Comments

I have discovered that I’m fairly picky about my headbands. Are you?

1.) They can’t be so tight that after an hour it feels like you have put your head in a giant pincher and will have indents on the sides of your head for the next 4-5 hours. I have a low tolerance for skull squishing.

2.) They can’t be too wide – apparently I have a smallish head and wide headbands tend to make me look like I’ve wrapped a dinner napkin around my head or some such thing.

3.) They can’t have too big of a flower/pouf/decoration – back to the smallish head thing. I don’t need to look like a large tropical plant has sprouted in my hair.

It’s a quandary.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and come up with a skinny, girly headband that is crazy comfortable to wear while being super adorable.
As in, “I forgot I had a headband on until I caught a glimpse in the mirror – and man – is it cute!”

Or something like that. :)

Want to see? (After a build up like that – how could you not?)

Aren’t they cute? And Ruffley?

Here’s a shot on so you can see that they’re pretty thin – and not too poofy.

These are super simple and quick to make! Just a little straight machine sewing and a tiny bit of hand sewing.

Materials:

• Base Fabric: You want this a little heavier weight, like the linen or twill I used.
Cut out a rectangle that is 19″ long and is 3/4″ wide at the ends and 1 1/4″ wide in the middle.
You’ll also need some small pieces – cut 4 rounded 1 5/8″ squares
• Chiffon or other sheer fabric: Cut a piece twice as long as your rectangle and twice as wide.
You’ll also need about 8 rounded 1 5/8″ squares
• 2 Elastic Hair ties
• Small beads for center of top flower

Your base piece should be narrower at the ends than the middle. You can use a ruler to draw out a pattern based on the measurements above.
I cut both fabrics out on the bias (diagonal to the selvage) to cut down on excessive fraying. A little is good though.

For this first headband, I wanted it to have a soft, pleated look. I didn’t really want the pleats to be perfect though, so I just eyed it.
Lay the chiffon centered over the base fabric. Begin pinning the pleats in place, the folds towards you.
When you get about 8″ up, flip the fabric so the unpleated end is towards you, then continue pleating with the folds down.
Leave about a 1″ section unpleated between the change of direction of the pleats.

Keep pinning the pleats in place until the ends meet and all the chiffon is pinned down.
You might need to adjust your pleats if you don’t end up with the right amount of fabric, just make them larger or smaller as you need to so the two fabrics begin and end at the same point.
I ended up with about 1/4″ pleats and about 1/2″ between each pleat. Approximately.

Sew down the pleats on one side, 1/4″ in from the base fabric underneath. It should show through the chiffon.
Repeat with the other side, 1/4″ away from the other edge.

Flip the fabric over so the base fabric side is up. Trim off the chiffon along the edge of the base fabric.

Trim up both sides.

Run your fingers over the edges just a little to fray them up some.

Now we’re going to sew on the flower piece. Take one of the rounded chiffon rectangles and pinch it together in the center.

Measure about 7″ up from the bottom towards the 1″ area where there are no pleats.
Tack the center folded section down, a little off center on the headband. Sea another little square piece next to it.

Continue working up from these petals, adding more as you go and alternating base fabric and chiffon, for about 3″. All these petals should be pointing about the same direction.

After you have 3″ of petals sewn on, sew two more about 1/4 – 1/2″ above that, pointing the other direction – up towards the center of the headband.
Sew a chiffon piece between these by tacking down the corner, then open up the square and sew a few more stitches so that it is gathered a little but stays open.

Sew three little beads in the center.

Follow these complicated pictorial instructions to knot your hair ties together.

Ok – maybe not so complicated. :)

Fold one end of the headband around one end of the elastic. Make a 3/4″ hem and sew down.

Repeat with the other end of the headband. (If you are worried about fit – try it on at this point and make sure that it will be comfortable. You can adjust your hem if you need to.)

That’s it! Pretty easy right? :)

Feel free to get carried away and make a few more. . . .

For this green one, I wanted to see what the chiffon looked like just gathered instead of pleated. I think that’s a pretty look too.

This is is made from some pretty knit lace I had – the knit worked great as a top fabric too!

I think they meet my criteria pretty well! I’d love to hear what you think!

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Comments

  3. Well, you built up my excitement and came thru in the end! Great headbands, so pretty too!!!! Love the ruffles! Thanks for the “how to”, gonna have to try these. Can you say? Christmas gifts!!!! :)

    Reply

  15. Okay i’m totally doing this look and putting a spin on it. And animal or african print.. or even a really pretty rock with give it some urban glamour. Thanks for the tutorial I <3 it! :)

    Reply

  17. Oh my goodness, these are beautiful. I love the idea to use hair ties for the elastic part. This looks so unique & original. I’m super impressed. Pinning this & plan on making one for myself soon.

    Katy @ redBuddy notes

    Reply

  24. So pretty. I’ll be making some with school colors for our next fund raiser. Thanks! I also saw something like this- a ribbon ruffle over a wide head band. Looks like they used grosgrain on both sides. The top ruffled and the inside complimentary colors.

    Reply

  28. Love, love, loving these adorable head bands. I have a small head and always hate finding cute headbands that look a little hilarious atop my noggin.

    Reply

  31. Turned out really cute. Would love for you to link this up to my (wow me) wednesday link party going on right now on my blog. :) (I’m a new follower, too!)

    Ginger
    gingersnapcrafts.blogspot.com

    Reply

  36. This is the best tutorial I can’t wait to try this! I feel the same about you with headbands…hence why I don’t really have many although would love some!

    Come on over and link this up to Scrappy Saturdays this weekend @ candacecreations.blogspot.com :)

    Reply

  37. I love this so much that I had to stay up late to make one. I wear headbands, but this is seriously the most comfortable one I have ever worn! I have to rethink my outfit for work tomorrow so I can wear this!
    (I used a charcoal color for the bottom, with black chiffon on top, and did the charcoal/black for the flower.)

    Reply

  39. WOWZA!!! These are absolutely gorgeous. I cant even pick a fave…I love the color combos and fabric on ALL of them. Just beautiful…and totally shop worthy.

    Thanks for linking up to DIY Diva Thursdays and for helping me spread the word my friend :) You are always so kind.

    Kara
    http://www.mineforthemaking.com

    Reply

  49. These are absolutely gorgeous Bev! I’ve been growing my hair out from a pixie and it’s finally starting to get some length (and not like a wannabe mullet). I’m so excited to finally be able to wear cute headbands like these. I MUST make some. I’m featuring your post on my FB page (of course) and pinning too, so I don’t forget!

    Thanks for always bringing your A-game to “A Little Birdie Told Me…”!

    Jenn

    Reply

  55. I am dying over the cuteness of these little headbands! I can’t wait to make some for me and my girls. I have filed this at thecraftersfilebox.com.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  57. I absolutly love theseI lost my hair due to Chemo therapy this year. and it is just starting to grow back again and I am able to style it a little but I am trying to embrace the short hair i am so not used too. So have been trying different hair accesories. But Like you said I don’t want the HUGE flower sticking of my head lol. These are ideal I love them. now to find the energy to make them thats a different story lol

    Reply

  59. I’ve seen lots of headbands and lots of flowers that I’ved liked, but I LOVE these. They are absolutely gorgeous. I always want to wear headbands and/or flowers in my hair, but feel silly when I try because of how huge most of them are. I’m glad you agree. :) These are absolutely beautiful and I actually think I might be brave enough to wear one. Thanks for the tutorial and great pics.

    Reply

  60. I absolutely love these headbands. Have you ever considered making and selling? If you’d be interested in making and selling one to me please contact me? I don’t have access to a sewing machine!!

    Reply

  65. I plan to modify this and put on an elastic base to make a garter for my future daughter-in-law to wear for her wedding day. I can make her something truly unique and special thanks to you!

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  66. Those are so adorable! And I totally identify with those criteria – I hate it when headbands are too tight. Do you sell these anywhere? I am soooo un-artsy, so I could never make them :)
    -mal :)

    Reply

  67. Thanks for sharing. Wore a headband just yesterday and I have to pin them in place. My head must be odd shaped. Thankfully I have a head full of curls to hide it. Lol anyhow, by the end of the work day I had a horrible headache. It was too tight. I’m so glad I stumbled onto your tutorial. Now to find the time

    Reply

  68. Hi do you sell your hairbands? I’m thinking for my little ones as I’d never have the time, if I could send you head measurements and pics of clothing for you to match please? They are adorable, I have 5 year old and 16 month old and also,live in uk.
    Would be real grateful many thanks,
    Kathrynx

    Reply

  69. I just made one of these headbands and it turned out great! I saw this tutorial yesterday and it really inspired me.. I just had to make one asap! Thank you so much for sharing, these are super cute!

    Reply

  70. I am in LOVE with these headbands, Bev. They are beautiful and not too crazy. I love that they’re adjustable with the hair elastics, then my daughters and I can all wear them. Great work and TFS.

    Reply

  72. Love them going to try making them with my little daughters, as a craft together thanks for the great tutorial.

    Reply

  75. Thank you for sharing! There are super cute. I finally completed the headband for my 5mo baby girl… which I can also wear it. Thanks again!

    Reply

  77. I was wondering if I could get you to email this to me. I am presently without a printer. I was writing it all down, but I would love to have the pictures with it to refer to. I would really appreciate it.
    Thank you in advance!!!

    Reply

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