Friday, August 6, 2010

easy stretchy baby headband tutorial


Hee hee! Isn't this the cutest picture ever? I love this little sweetie. I also have a new niece coming in September, so I'm making all things girlie these days. When I found out my sister-in-law wanted to make some hair clips and headbands, I promised her a few tutorials. This one is perfect for Little Lizard King's hair bow tutorial yesterday, and my rosette tutorial coming up next week. There are probably hundreds of tutorials out there for these stretchy baby headbands, but this one is for you, Amy!

Easy Stretchy Baby Headband Tutorial

What you'll need:

*Pair of clean tights or thick nylon stockings (I found of pack of three bright colors at Walmart for $2!)--you could also use knit fabric, like an old t-shirt

*Rotary cutter or scissors

*Sewing machine and thread

1. Measure your baby's head circumference. As a general measurement, I use about 12" for newborns and 15" for 6-12 months. But every baby is different! The great thing is that the nylon is super stretchy and soft.



2. Using a rotary cutter or scissors, cut your length and cut off the toe of the tights (if necessary).


3. Tuck one open end into the other. If you want to get all fancy, fold over the raw edge and pin. I'm not very fancy.


4. Using a basting stitch (stitch length of 5), sew across where you overlapped the ends.



5. Pull one of the bottom threads to gather slightly.


6. Flatten out and, using a straight stitch with a normal stitch length (not basting), sew over the top of your basting stitch to secure the gather.

I think it's totally cute like this! You could stop here for a plain ruffled headband.


7. Cut another piece of your tights across the leg, about 1.5" to 2" wide.


8. Fold over this piece around the headband and stitch together. I used a zig-zap stitch.



9. Turn inside out so you can't see your seam and position over your gathered section. You can tack it down with a couple of stitches to keep it in place.



Wear it plain like this, or add a cute flower clip.


Just clip your bow or flower onto the middle section.



Complete cuteness.


Here's one I made out of an old t-shirt. I added ruffles and a flower made out of the same t-shirt. I love the raw edges. Shabby and e-a-s-y. Now go decorate a baby!

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57 Comments

57 Responses to “easy stretchy baby headband tutorial”

Anonymous said...

those look adorable!!

Anonymous said...

this is so easy and so cute!!

Rebekah said...

I love the white t-shirt one. Would the size be the same for the t-shirt material? I am thinking of making a couple for my 14 month niece.

Carly A. Heitlinger said...

This is awesome! I will definitely be making these for my little babysitting kids!

☼ Carolina ☼ said...

a great idea!
thnks
very nice!
hugs!
c@ fron Chile

Rebekah said...

cute!!!

Michelle said...

New follower today & I love your blog! Great stuff!

Michelle
http://www.cafeboulet.etsy.com

Unknown said...

What a cute and easy project. I can't wait to put my little girls in a few of there own.

Anonymous said...

This is FANTASTIC!!! Thank you for sharing it!!! Do you know if knee high panty hose are to small to do this? I have seen a tutorial on that somewhere and can not find it! Also, did you make the pretty flower? Maybe a tutorial on that, too?

Sarah said...

Good job! that's such a good idea

Lisa said...

Thanks for this! Just had my first girl and I love any easy girlie ideas!!

Sarah Bee said...

I LOVE this - thanks for sharing. I was just thinking about making baby headbands and now I have a way to start!

Your model is a cutie for sure!

What I Did Today said...

Thank you! I'm totally saving this for future reference.

http://spontaneousday.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Ruby is so stinking cute!!! She is outgrowing her newborn-ness :) And thanks for the tutorial...I have been looking for one like this!

Unknown said...

This is just the cutest! My friend is having a baby girl soon so I just sent this to her! Where do you find cute flowers like this?!?

Unknown said...

This is so cute! I can't believe how easy it is...you would never know. I love the white one!

barneyn said...

how darling is this!!! i love the t-shirt one!!! now only thing left for me to do is get a sewing machine!!!

Jaedyn said...

Could this be any easier? I think not! :) Thanks so much for the photo tute!

Unknown said...

sorry I sent in a comment a few hours ago and just realized that it was to the wrong blog...I know I must have sounded like a crazy lady in it!

Little Birdie Secrets said...

Yes--a knee-high stocking would work. I've bought those in the past, too. You can usually find them in a pack at Walmart for next to nothin'.

I made the flower years ago (I found it while cleaning out the craft closet!), but it was really easy. I had several silk flowers from Michael's that I pulled apart. Don't be shy--pull out the center and start pulling the layers apart. Then I just layered a couple of the petals and sewed a few beads in the center. Then I glued the alligator clip to the bottom. Voila!

Anne said...

So cute!! Great that they're so easy to make. I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-soft-stretchy-headbands-for-baby/2010/08/07/

--Anne

Sister Mikayla Fairchild said...

WOW! Man I wish saw this when my girls where babies. So cute, so clever. thanks for sharing.......I am posting this on my blog www.thingswevediscovered@blogspot.com

Combitos said...

Great idea! And I agree that the model is super cute... she must have really good looking parents :) hehe

Nana's Fun Stuff said...

Oh these are SO cute!!! I found your blog and hopped on over and am now a new follower.

Stop on over and visit me at http://howifoundmyhusband412.blogspot.com

Have a great weekend!!

Jenn said...

Thanks a bunch! So cute!

Steph Jacobson said...

Thanks for the tutorial--I'm bookmarking. I have a friend who is having a baby girl in December. These will be a wonderful gift!

The Cook Fam said...

LOVE that white one! I've made those headbands without the sewing but I ADORE that white one!

Amanda said...

I think I am going to try this for my niece! This looks so cute and (hopefully) easy!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

Aww, that's so cute! Thanks so much, I'll be linking.

Yycien Adams said...

This is completely amazing. I'm actually looking for baby gifts and this headband is just perfect! This would make a really great gift for my niece. Thanks for sharing!

Candy said...

Those are awesome. My twins are already two but what a great use for their tights. I just never managed to find an outfit I thought would look decent with pink tights.

Miss bowjangles said...

Lovely blog, will def be back :D
Thank you!! xxx

Miss bowjangles said...

Ohh and yes it is the cutest picture ever!!

Ali's Creations said...

so cute and easy!

Amber said...

Such a super cute and easy project! I am definitely saving this one. It is perfect for a baby gift and ALL of my friends seem to be having babies these days. :)

mannmade said...

Adorable! What a clever idea.

mannmade said...

Adorable! What a clever idea!

Unknown said...

I can't wait to make these as a baby gift! I have so many friends having baby girls! I love the white T-shirt one! its beautiful!

Texas JennyWren said...

This is an easy pattern to use. Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with all of us. I was looking for this pattern for my new grandbaby arriving this month.
txjennywren.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

So So cute.
I LOVE the white shabby one. Is this flower made the same way as your fabric flowers with glue?

Unknown said...

Leaving you some linky love. I am going to feature this tutorial on my baby blog:
http://www.willblogforbaby.com on Monday and link back to you many times. Hope you get lots of new readers!

Amy K said...

I have to say, I love that you just said, "go decorate a baby!" Awesome.

Caren with a "C" said...

Love the idea! Especially since you could recycle a pair that may have a small hole in it by not using that area.

Story of an Irish Mum said...

These baby headbands are great! It's such a wonderful feeling when you make something beautiful for a little baby!

Cassandra said...

So simple! I've linked up to this tutorial here... http://casscansew.blogspot.com/2011/10/precious-pink.html

Thanks for sharing!

Cass

ashleymoranyoga said...

I love this tutorial! I linked your site and post to my blog today. http://mistergandmecrafts.blogspot.com/2012/01/stretchy-baby-headbands.html

Thanks for sharing-- I've really enjoyed making headbands for my baby niece!!!

take care,
ashley

NikiP said...

This is such a cute idea! I love the stretchy bows and have been wanting a tutorial! Thank you :) When you say "you can tack it down with a couple stitches" referring to the loop to cover up the seam in the headband, where did you sew? I didnt see any additional stitches. Im still new to sewing, so Im learning!

Bree said...

so cute! thanks!

Vanessa's Mommy said...

I can't sew but I went to Hobby Lobby and just bought the plain strechy headbands in EVERY color then tons of bif flowers. I mix and match them to match her outfit. So cheap and SO cute. They even had an iron on to make baby a onesie that says, "The Bigger the Bow, the better the Mama." What a perfect fit for a huge bow! Thanks for the idea. I will save the tight idea in case I have a specific shade I am trying to match. Great ideas!

The Brunkes said...

i LOVE the white one you made! I have a new baby girl that would be adorable in one of these. I think I can figure out the ruffles, but how do you make the white flower?

Anonymous said...

Or just make the cute bows and stick it on with Girlie Glue! I love the look without the headband and then they don't slide down over babies eyes! It will hold anything on ALL DAY! Love the stuff. love your bow and flower ideas!

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing, really cute... New idea to make a headband for my little baby

http://twinq.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

These are really great and so cute! keep bringing out new and unique options in baby headbands. Good luck!

testblogger123 said...

That is like soooooooooo cute!

Anonymous said...

Help I made these but when I clip the bow on it just flops over. What am I doing wrong?

Fitness By Jennie said...

OMG simply adorable! :) Great job! Jen @ www.sweetbabybowtique.com

Fatima G. Lopez said...

Sooo pretty! The baby looks adorable in her headband. I am definitely making a couple of them for my granddaughters. Thank you little birdie for giving out your secrets!

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