Girl in Pink: Floppy Fabric Bow Headband Tutorial

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Floppy Fabric Bow Headband Tutorial

As a busy mom on a limited crafting budget, I really love projects that can be whipped up in a short amount of time, use a fat quarter of fabric or less and require minimal sewing! I also love making pretty things for little girls! Of course if you've been following, you know that already! Not long ago I came up with the idea for these floppy fabric bow headbands (reminiscent of the ones worn by little girls in the 1920's, only not quite so enormous?)

Photo Source: Graphics Fairy

After some trial and error, I came up with a finished product that I was happy with. Now I make these for my space at the antique shop and for all of my girly little friends! Do you have a sweet little girl in your life who would love a pretty fabric bow headband? Well then, here is your tutorial! Have fun!

Here's what you'll need:

2 strips of fabric measuring 20" x 3.25" and one small 2"x3" piece

thread in a coordinating color

hot glue gun

sewing machine

scissors and ruler (a cutting mat and rotary tool work great)

pinking shears

plastic headband (you can either purchase one that coordinates with your fabric, or you may choose to cover one with a long strip of fabric or ribbon using your hot glue gun).

Start by matching up your two strips of fabric, wrong sides together. It's a good idea to put a couple of pins in the middle to hold the strips together. Next, cut each end at a slight diagonal. These will be your bow's "tails."

Take your strips of fabric to your sewing machine and stitch them together, sewing 1/2 inch from the edge all of the way around the strip. This is a great place to use a decorative stitch if you'd like to.

Now cut around the edge with your pinking shears, just outside of your stitching. Be very careful not to cut any stitches!

Fold your strip of fabric into a flat bow and sew a zig-zag stitch down the middle to hold it in place. Here is what the back side will look like after you've sewn it:

Now here is a front view:

If you plan to cover your headband with fabric or ribbon, do that now using your hot glue gun.

Take your 2"x3" square of fabric and fold the two longer sides in towards each other making it into a 1"x3" piece. It's a good idea to iron it to keep the folds in place. This will be the center of your completed bow and also attach your bow to your headband. Have your glue gun ready. Take your flat bow and fold it down the middle accordion style, holding it in the center with your thumb and forefinger.

Use your hot glue gun to attach the small piece of fabric to the front center of the bow and continue to wrap and attach it to the headband with small dabs of glue.

Glue down the end of the center piece of fabric to the underside of the headband and cut off any excess. You're done! You now have a lovely, feminine floppy fabric headband that is sure to make that sweet little girly girl's day!