Thursday, October 10, 2013

DIY Wire Headband

Hey guys! Today I'm going to show you how to make your very own wire headband. They're super cute, super easy to make, and the wire makes them defy the rule of headscarves/headbands. Which is to say, they actually stay on your head! Yesssssss!
Grab yo-self some supplies!
- About 1/4 yard of the fabric of your choosing
- A sewing ruler
- Scissors
- 20 gauge wire
- Needle nose pliers
- A sewing machine threaded with matching thread!
First, cut that fabric! You'll want a strip that's about 4.5" wide (so when you fold it and sew it, you'll end up with a 2" wide headband) and 32" long. You can cut it, or you can make a snip and rip to get the strip you need.
Next, cut a length of wire that's about 36". You want it to be the length of the headband, plus a few inches on either end.
Bring your fabric over to the sewing machine and fold it in half hot dog style, aka: so the long edges meet. What? That Kindergarten folding term stuck with me, ok?
Starting about an inch from the center, sew towards one end of the strip of fabric, leaving 1/4" seam allowance.
When you get 2"-3" away from the end of the strip of fabric, gradually begin sewing towards the center fold, meeting it 1/4" from the end of your fabric strip.
Then, cut the curve down, leaving 1/4" seam allowance.

Repeat the last 3 steps, being sure to leave about a 2" hole at the center of the folded strip.
Once that's complete, turn everything right side out! You should be able to get the corners out pretty easily with a bit of wiggling.

If you would like to, you can press everything at this point. Honestly, I didn't feel like going down to the basement to iron mine, so I skipped that step! Laziness for the win!
Grab your wire, and make a loop at either end. Twist the tail around the wire to keep it in place, and use your pliers to bend the ends in such a way that they won't poke ya!
Insert the wire into the strip of fabric through the hole you left open, and adjust until the loops have reached their respective ends of the strip of fabric.
Now, this next step is completely optional. It kind of drives me nuts when I wear wire headbands and after a while, the wire gets all twisted and pulls away from the ends. To avoid that, I pulled the loops up against the seam allowances at the ends of the strip and did a quick stitch inside the loop. This holds it in place by permanently sandwiching the wire between that stitch and the seam allowance, so it doesn't get quite so twisty.

The downside, is that you will have a visible stitch on your headband, but if you use thread that matches (unlike what this lady did...), then it should be hardly noticeable!
Last, you'll want to close the hole you left open on your wire headband. You can do this either by doing an edgestitch if you don't mind the stitching being visible, or by hand stitching it closed.
Once you're done, pop that sucker on and check out how cute you look!

I love these wire headbands because they're quick to make, stay on reallllly well, and don't even require any tying. Just pull it up, twist the ends, and you're good to go!

I hope you enjoyed following along with this tutorial and use it to make yourself lots of pretty wire headbands!

Til next time!

-Becca

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65 comments:

  1. what a great idea and tutorial! I definitely want to give this a try. thanks for sharing.

    cindy :)
    www.yogaandalatte.blogspot.com

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    1. Thanks, Cindy! I hope you give it a try! I'm going to be whipping up more of these, for sure!

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  2. greatest DIY ever! when i get my sewing machine working, this is the first thing i'm doing!

    also, you look so beautiful in that last shot!

    xo nicole
    writeslikeagirlblog.com

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    1. Aw, shucks, thank you Nicole! I'm excited to see yours when you make it!

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  3. so clever!! I've always been really envious of people who wear headscarves, I just cant get the darn things to stay on my head (without cheating with bobby pins). definitely going to make this :)

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    1. Thanks, Juni! They slide off my head like nobody's business and the wire totally helps. I've got a whole work day without having to adjust it! I hope you get to try it out soon!

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  4. Just found your blog and love it! This is a super cute idea-i'm definitely going to have to try it! (:

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    1. Thank you, Marielle! Glad you found your way over here and I hope you have fun making one of these!

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  5. So cute! I always think headbands like this are adorable, but I never wear them. I should see if I can pull one off one of these days haha.

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    1. I bet you would look super cute in one! Definitely worth a shot!

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  6. ooh! i'm pinning this! i've been looking at those american apparel head wraps that are exactly the same thing as this. a diy would be so much better!

    xx
    Chantilly

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    1. Yay! Thank you! The DIY is so so cheap. Totally worth the 10 minutes it takes to put together!

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  7. Such a great idea!
    I'm going to make one for myself and one each for my three sisters, we all have straight hair and headbands are always such a nightmare! :D

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    1. Thank you so much! I love that you're making them for yourself and your sisters. You should totally take a family photo in them. It would be super cute.

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  8. I love love love this project! It's so pretty. I wonder if I can pull it off with my short hair...

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    1. Thanks, Marlene! It's totally worth a shot. I always think ladies with short hair look adorable in headbands like this one!

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  9. This headband is adorable! Loving the plaid fabric.

    Xo, Hannah

    sweetsweetnoir.net

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    1. Thanks, Hannah! I'm such a sucker for plaid.

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  10. You make me wish I had learned how to sew.

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    1. This would be a great first project! You should try it out!

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  11. Such a cute idea! Thanks for sharing! xox

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  12. this is such an awesome tutorial... i just don't think i am quite crafty enough haha!

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    1. Thanks, Harley! I bet you could pull it off with no problem!

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  13. I have four headbands like this that Modcloth sent along with some stuff I bought a little while ago, and I had that same peeve- the wire gets all funky! But maybe if I get a sewing machine soon, I'll be able to make my own and nix that problem.
    I LOVE the fabric you used!
    xo
    Kristina
    www.eccentricowl.com

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    1. I have one from there, too. I love it, but the wire getting like that drives me nuts. Hopefully you can do some sewing soon. I love the fabric too. I've had it for ages and finally got to use it for something! Now if only I can figure out something to do with the other 3 3/4 yards...

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  14. I made myself one in like five minutes, and proceeded to pick out a whole new outfit to match it! Thanks a bundle for this, I'm totally making one in a bazillion colors now.

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    1. Yay! I'm so glad you tried it out. I will be making a bazillion colors, too, as soon as I get a chance!

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  15. Oh, how awesome! I so have to try this!

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  16. A headband that actually stays on my head? Yes please! This is a great DIY, and it actually looks like a headband unlike some weird wire head contraptions that are sold in shops. Also, I love the fabric you chose and it looks great on you! xx

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    1. Right? I'm glad you like it. Hopefully it will work out as well for you as it did for me!

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  17. Love. Love. Love. I can't wait to make one!!

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  18. Not only is the headband really cute, but YOU look super cute as well!
    Lovely tutorial ♥

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  19. This is SO ADORABLE~!!
    I can't wait to try making one of these. I just need to get some wire.
    Thanks for the awesome tutorial :]
    btw I really like the fabric you used for your headband

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope yours turns out super cute!

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  20. I'm totally doing this!!! What an excellent tutorial... :)

    PS You look super cutey too!

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    1. Aw, shucks, thank you! I'm glad to hear you'll be trying it out!

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  21. this is so cute! i've seen these in the shops and always thought to myself that i could def just make this myself rather than spendinf money on it. so thanks for the tutorial, will def be trying it out!

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  22. Turned out super cute! Alex

    tobebeautifulingodseyes.blogspot.com

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  23. This was soooo easy! Thanks for the tip about the extra stitches in the ends! Off to make a dozen more!

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  24. Easy to make and highly creative! Rather than spending money and not getting something that is truly satisfactory to the mark, it is better to engage the creativity and get it done at home. Really useful!

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  25. Are those glasses from BonLook? I think I have the same pair in the cinnamon colour!

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  26. It is really very interesting and easy to make the way you present it!! Thank you!

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  27. Super cute headband! This is a great DIY. I also tried to make my own headbands but mostly using flowers and rhinestones. Reading this tutorial makes me want to try other type of headbands. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  28. Nice post... thanks for sharing this information. Make your face good looking with the best Headbands. all types headbands available on kooshoo.com. please visit and find best for you.

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  29. The various applications and uses for Wire cloth or wire mesh products are literally endless, and span
    across all areas of commerce and industry. Aside from being a product itself, wire cloth is also used to
    strengthen, reinforce, or improve many other products in a variety of ways.

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  30. Thanks so much for the wonderful tutorial, it was very informative. The plaid fabric you chose makes the headband.

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  31. Wow! thank for sharing. Nice creativity for Cheap Headbands.

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  32. Thanks. I made this and it turned out fab. Thank you for sharing x

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  33. brilliant, so do you think this would work for babies or toddlers and I could make them size appropriate? Or do you think they would be some sort of choking hazards? I really don't see how they would be a choking hazard compared to other headband that I see on baby heads, what do you think? Anyone? Thank you so much for this I'm going to get my sewing machine going and see what I come up with

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  34. I'll give it a go because every headband i attempt to wear slips straight off, grr

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