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Covered Headband - Decorative Stitching

A Sew-Expressive Project from Mulqueen Sewing Centers

Covered headbands are the definitive fashion accessory of the season. Make your own to go with your favorite outfits. You can even embellish it with decorative stitching to express your creativity and style!

Materials needed:

• ¼ yard fabric
• Thread to match
• Purchased headband to cover
• Bodkin (Click here to learn what a bodkin is.)
• FOR DECORATIVE STITCHED HEADBAND: contrasting color thread(s) for decorative stitching; tear-away stabilizer; wash-away marking pencil

Instructions

Fabric Preparation:

Measure across the widest part of the headband. Double this measurement and ADD 1 5/8". Note the measurement. (Example: If headband measures 2" - double is 4", then add 1 5/8" to get 5 5/8"). Cut one piece of fabric in the size calculated above using the full width of the fabric.  So in this example, if your fabric is 44", your cut piece will be 5 5/8" by 44".

Directions (Plain Headband):

1. Trim selvages off ends of fabric piece.
2. Fold fabric right sides together matching long, raw edges. Pin.
3. Using a ½" seam, stitch along long edge keeping both short ends free, forming a tube.
4. Gently press seam open.
5. Turn tube to right side (this is where the bodkin helps).
6. Slide fabric tube over headband. Be sure headband is centered and the two ties are of equal length.
7. Tie an overhand knot in fabric tube at each end of headband, to secure it in place.
8. Turn in ½" on each end of fabric tube to conceal raw edges. Press.
9. Stitch across each end to secure hem in place.

Directions (for headband with decorative stitching accent):

1. Measure width and length of the headband to be covered.
2. Using a fabric marking pencil, draw a rectangle centered on right side of fabric piece the size measured in Step 1. This is the area where the decorative stitching will be.
3. Place a piece of tear-away stabilizer on wrong side of fabric under area to have decorative stitching.
4. Select the decorative stitch pattern(s) to embellish fabric. NOTE: Experiment with various stitch patterns and thread color combinations on a fabric remnant before stitching on cover for headband. Limit stitching to size area noted in Step 2.
5. Place desired color thread in needle and stitch parallel rows of decorative stitching, as desired, in area marked in Step 2.
6. Remove stabilizer.
7. Remove pencil markings.
8. Complete headband following Steps 3 thru 8 of plain headband directions.

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