DIY Turban Headband

Headbands hurt my head.  It's a lesson I have to learn over and over again, because I love the way they look. I have amassed a collection that are, for the most part, relegated to face washing or the first 15 minutes of an outfit. The only way I can get away with a headband is if it is loosely fitted, with an elastic band around the back; a style that is usually only found in the little girls section.  After spotting something like this at Anthropologie, in a material that was a little too fancy for my taste, I set out to make my own, using the last of the scrap fabric from a long ago favorite dress. I can't wait to wear it this summer, hair down, up in a pony tail, or over the forehead, turban style. This tutorial is based on my own medium noggin size, just adjust the measurements to fit your own head properly.

To make one you'll need a sewing machine. I am a pretty terrible seamstress, but I can cut and sew a straight line. If you are at least this skill level, you are good to go. This project took me about 1 hour.

Fabric (I used medium weight linen) cut into the following sizes
-18"x8"
-6"x3"
-4"x3" 
4" piece of knit elastic (1" wide)

To get started, iron the largest piece of fabric in half, lengthwise. Using a straight stitch, sew along the outer edge of the fabric, with a standard 5/8" seam allowance. Center the sewn edge and iron the joined edge open, flat. Fold right side out and tuck the unfinished edges in about 1/4". Iron in place. 

Next you will sew the elastic band. Using the exact same technique, sew a second tube out of the 6"x3" piece of fabric. Insert the 4" piece of elastic into the tube. Secure to the edge of one end using a zig-zag stitch (at least two rows). Scrunch the fabric until the other end of the elastic reaches the the edge of the second side. Stitch down in the same way. 
 

 

Insert one end of the finished elastic tub into the back side of the larger tube. Center it on the back seam, and sew down with 2-3 zig-zag rows, just the width of the elastic. 

The next step is to finish the ends. To to this, I pinched the fabric around the front of the elastic, securing with a few hand stitches.  I then folded the fabric down, like an accordion, and secured either end with hand stitches. Lastly, I made a pleat in the center with the slack of the fabric, and secured that with additional hand stitches. 

 

To finish it off, I sewed a third, smaller tube, and wrapped it around the center, tucking the unfinished ends under, before securing it with hand stitching to the back side of the headband. I pinched an even pleat to make it look more like a bow.

Tutorial photography: Heather Jennings
Photographs of Heather: Peter Maloney

Pin It, Pin It Good

In my next few DIY posts you'll see a theme: wooden craft/art store basics. I am as much a sucker for balsa and plywood as I am for paper lanterns, air plants, and poppy red.  These wooden things (pegs, beads, dowels, decorative objects)are usually found on special in a bin outside the store, or with all the woodworking supplies. For today's DIY I took a very inexpensive 7" tray and using some scrap fabric, I made a simple, clean-lined pin cushion for my sewing projects. One problem I run into when I'm sewing is when advancing the fabric and pulling the pins out, I tend to toss them on the table haphazardly and they fall all over the floor. With this tray cushion, a simple 3M command strip will attach it to the wall, so I can have it right at arms length in front of me, off the table, and away from the project, which sure beats the old tomato cushion. 

Measure and cut a piece of thin cardboard to the size of of the interior of the tray.  Cut a piece of fabric to have a 1 1/2" excess for folding. Lay a large handful of pillow filler/stuffing on the cardboard, and place the fabric right side up, over the top. Carefully flip the pack over and use masking tape to secure according to the pictures.  Hot glue the pillow to the tray and you're all set.

Dress Shirt

This week I spent a little time thinking about my fall wardrobe.  I've been reading up on trends and evaluating what gets to stay and what gets to go in my closet.  I have an extensive collection of pretty work dresses from my former career as a bridal consultant, many of which I have no place to wear anymore, but I love them for their fit and pattern.  Vogue tells me the whole dress over pants thing is back, unfortunately I spent so many years shedding that 90's look that it's hard for me to imagine putting it back into practice, unless of course the dress is really mini.  

One of my favorite dresses to never be worn again is an ikat print in a heavy linen.  It had a tapered skirt so the whole dress over pants thing was out.  I decided that I would hem it into a shirt and give it a new lease on life. I pinned the shirt just below the pocket line, hemmed the bottom, sewed the pockets closed and trimmed them out. This would probably have been an inexpensive alteration if I'd taken it to a tailor, but doing it myself freed up my bucks for new boots, plus I think I'll like this dress over jeans a lot more.