DIY: Make Your Own Quick and Inexpensive Hair Bands or Head Bands

Pretty hair bands can be pricey and you cannot always find the right color or pattern for your outfit. If you can sew, you can make your own hair bands for very little money in your choice of fabric.

Supplies Needed for One Adult Hair Band
63/4 inch long piece of ¼ inch wide elastic
2 pieces of fabric approximately 16 inches long by 21/2 inches wide
Sewing machine or needle and thread
Plain piece of paper
Pencil
Scissors
Iron
Thread
Optional embellishments

Instructions to Sew Your Own Hair Band
1. Draw a pattern onto the paper. I made my pattern 73/4 inches long by 21/2 inches wide at the widest point and tapering to 13/4 inches at the narrow point. Be sure to draw your 'place on fold' marks so you do not forget to cut on the fabric fold.

2. Place your pattern piece on your selected fabric. Be sure to cut the wide end on the fold. Cut 2 pieces. The inside piece can be cut from some plain material or from the matching material.

3. Use your iron to create a ¼ inch hem towards the wrong side. Iron this hem onto each piece of the hair band. Press the long sides first and then the narrow sides.

4. Place the WRONG sides of the fabric pieces together.

5. Pin the long sides. Be sure to tuck the hem inside.

6. Insert the elastic into one of the short ends about ¼ inch and pin in place with the fabric hem tucked inside.

7. Wrap the elastic around to the other short end, taking care not to twist the elastic.

8. Insert the elastic into the second short end about ¼ inch and pin in place with the fabric hem tucked inside.

9. Sew around the entire hair band using a 1/8 inch seam allowance. Take care that you catch both sides of the fabric into your seam. If you find that this seam allowance is too narrow for you to easily sew, you can always enlarge your pattern slightly and sew using a ¼ inch seam allowance.

10. Clip threads and press.

You are now ready to wear your newly made custom hair band or give it as a special gift.

Tip: If you'd like to modify this hair band to fit a child, simply shorten the length and width of the pattern piece. You can also modify this hair band to be narrower or wider to match your taste.

Embellishment Options for Your Hair Band
1. Add hot fix rhinestones for extra sparkle.

2. Add embroidered designs if you have an embroidery machine or do hand embroidery.

3. Add lace or other trims.

4. Add bead work.

5. Add a piece of batting in between the fabric pieces. Quilt.

6. Piece the hair band together using different colors of fabric.

Enjoy your new hair band!