A fabric headband is a band of fabric that holds your hair back, sewn as a tube and turned so no raw edge shows. Sewly offers two styles: a wide band with elastic at the back, comfortable all day and easy to slip on, and a knotted front that ties like a turban, for a fuller, more decorative look. The pattern is drafted from your head measurement rather than one average size, so it suits an adult or a child.
Headband styles and width
- Style: elastic (the default), a wide band with elastic at the back; or knotted, with a knot at the front like a turban.
- Width: from 4 to 12 cm (1 1/2 to 4 3/4 in), 7 cm (2 3/4 in) by default. A narrow band holds a fringe back; a wide one covers more of the head and makes a bolder accessory.
Sizes
Sewly uses your head circumference, the same measurement as for a hat: wrap the tape around your head about 1 cm (3/8 in) above the ears and across the forehead. With a standard size (women's EU 32–54, men's XS to 3XL or children's 2 to 14 years), the head measurement comes from that size and you can change it. Our guide on how to take body measurements shows where the tape goes.
Best fabrics for a headband
Woven or knit both work. Cotton jersey is soft and gives a little, which makes a comfortable band for every day and for sport; sew it with a ballpoint needle and a narrow zigzag, as our guide to sewing knit fabrics explains. Quilting cotton and linen are easy to sew and come in many prints. Velvet makes a dressy headband but creeps under the presser foot, so pin closely. The pieces are small, so scraps from other projects are often enough.
How hard is it to sew?
A beginner project. The only fiddly moment is turning the long tube right side out; a safety pin, a loop turner or a chopstick helps. Allow 30 minutes to an hour for a first headband, less once you know the steps. A scrunchie from the same fabric makes a matching set.
What's in the pattern
- The headband pieces for the style you chose, sized from your head measurement and at the width you chose
- For the elastic style, the elastic for the back
Seam allowances are included: 1.5 cm (5/8 in) on woven fabric and 1 cm (3/8 in) on knits by default. The guide gives the fabric quantity for 110, 140 and 150 cm (45, 55 and 60 in) wide fabric with a cutting layout, and the PDF, with the pattern at true scale and the sewing guide, prints free on every plan, the free plan included.
How to sew a headband
- Cut the pieces: on grain for a woven, with the stretch going around the head for a knit.
- Fold each band in half lengthwise, right sides together, and sew the long edge to make a tube.
- Turn the tube right side out and press it with the seam underneath.
- Elastic style: join the band to the elastic at the back, so it stretches as you put it on. Knotted style: form the knot at the front as the guide shows, then join the ends at the back.
- Close any opening with a ladder stitch, press and try it on.
A headband takes less than an evening, which makes it one of the easiest handmade gifts you can sew in a weekend: make a few in different prints.
Frequently asked questions
How much fabric do I need for a headband?
Very little: usually less than 30 cm (3/8 yd) of 110 to 150 cm (45 to 60 in) wide fabric, the widest bands and the knotted style needing the most. Scraps work as long as they are long enough for the band. Sewly computes the exact quantity for your size and fabric width.
Elastic or knotted: which style should I choose?
The elastic style is the easiest to put on and stays comfortable all day, which suits children and sport. The knotted style is more decorative, with a turban knot at the front that shows best at the wider widths.
Should I use a woven or a knit fabric?
Both work. Cotton jersey is soft and gives a little, which suits sport and everyday wear. Woven cotton and linen are easier to sew for a first project and keep a print crisp; velvet makes a dressy headband.
Can I make a headband for a child?
Yes. Pick a children's size from 2 to 14 years or enter the child's head measurement, and choose a narrower width, around 4 to 6 cm (1 1/2 to 2 1/4 in).
Is the headband pattern free?
Yes. The headband is one of six very easy models, with the tote bag, drawstring bag, scrunchie, cushion cover and apron, that print free on every Sewly plan, the free plan included: download the true-scale PDF and its sewing guide without a subscription. On the free plan, changes by hand are unlimited and changes asked in words are limited to 2 per pattern.
