The CUTEST D.I.Y. Fabric Head Tie

Ok Ladies, I cannot tell you how many requests I have had to do a tutorial on this fabric head tie. I have absolutely loved having these in my girls wardrobe over the last six months! You could easily whip out 3-4 in an hour! These add the cutest flare to any outfit and are just such a fun girly accessory for all ages!

First let’s talk about fabric. You can make the head ties out of most woven fabric. I have used quilting fabric and light weight denim, but they honestly turn out best when you are using a light weight fabric. I have found cute fabrics online or from Hobby Lobby and Jo Ann’s that have worked perfectly! However, the best fabric by far, I stumbled across while I was at the mall! Light weight scarves!! The polka dot and leopard fabrics were staring at me from across the store and when I picked them up I knew they were just begging to be cut up and made into head ties! The reason the lighter weight fabrics work out so well is when you are tying them around your head the thicker the fabric, the more it sticks away from the head, and the bulkier the bow is. You can definitely make thicker fabrics work,  they are just a little harder to work with.

The first step is getting your fabric torn into strips. Some fabrics will tear beautifully while others won’t. Tearing is definitely easier, so test your fabric with a little cut and see if it will tear. If not just use a rotary cutter and mat. Cut or tear your strips to the following size depending on what age it is being made for.

Sizes:

Babies 3-12 months: 54 x 6 inches

Toddlers 1-3 years: 64 x 6.5 inches

Child 4 years – Adult: 70 x 7 inches

Once you have torn or cut the strips to the correct size fold the entire strip in half with the right sides facing each other. Take scissors or a rotary cutter and cut the ends at an angle. I usually cut mine between a 25-45 degree angle.

Now there is only one thing you have to keep in mind when angling the ends. You want the ends to angle opposite directions. One point of the angle will be on the fold side, and the other point will be on the selvage side.. Make sense?

So if you were to unfold the ends of the strip they would look like this.

With the width of the strip still folded in half you are then going to fold the length in to thirds.

Mark one of the “third” folds with a pin.

I don’t bother with pining the entire strip cause it will usually stay in place as long as you keep the edges matched up. Start at one end, from the fold side. Sew along the selvedge side with 1/4 inch seam allowance, make sure to back stitch to secure the seam. When you get to pin marking “the third”, back stitch, lift the needle and foot and leave an opening that is about 3/4 of an inch. Then put the foot and needle back down, back stitch and finish sewing the rest of the head tie.

Use your fingers and push the pointed ends of the head tie back in through the opening you left.

This shows half the head tie being half way turned.

When you finish turning the head ties they should look something like this! Don’t bother sewing up the little opening you left, it will always end up on the back of the head, and the back stitching will prevent it from opening any farther.

To finish off the head ties you will want to press them. Make sure the angled ends are pulled completely out and the seam edge is smooth. Be careful, some light weight fabrics cannot handle much heat. In that case go quickly and with a very low heat setting.

They should look nice and flat and crisp when you are finished! And ready to tie!

Watch this little tutorial for instructions on tying these darling head ties!

Quick, Easy and Oh so dang cute!

These are perfect for hiding the “bad hair days”…… or the “no hair days” which all of my kids seem to have till they are 2! 😉

Here are a few ways I have styled theses cute head ties on my girls this summer!

 Make sure to tag us on Instagram @howdoesshe with your very own CUTEST head ties!