Headbands are essential to surviving summer, no matter what length your hair. So as I grow mine out some, I’ve been sporting several of them. Today’s headband tutorial is for this easy beaded gauze headband. This gives off a little bit of a bohemian vibe, and it’s about a 15 minute project.
Check out how to make your own.
You’ll need:
- Foldover Elastic – a few inches
- Cotton gauze fabric or another thing fabric like tulle, organza or chiffon.
- A needle and thread
- Beads with large holes – at least 1/4″ diameter
- Measurement of your head circumference
Cut your fabric to 4 inches wide and 3/4 of the length of your head circumference. I left the edges of mine raw – again for that boho vibe.
Roll one corner to fit through the bead, then pull each bead onto the fabric.  If you can’t get the bead on, cut the fabric to a narrower width. Space the beads out on the fabric.
Use your needle and thread to gather the end of the fabric. Wrap the thread around the end of the fabric a time or two before knotting and cutting the thread.
Cut the elastic to 1/4 of the circumference of your head minus 1 1/2 in. Sew to each end of the gauze, using a wide zig-zag with a short stitch length. Your stitch should overlap the edge of the elastic. Thread should be the same color as the elastic – I drew white lines so you can see where to sew, but my actual stitches are much closer together in black thread.
And wear your headband!
Short hair with a headband can be tricky. I recommend leaving some bangs and fringe in front of the headband and making sure to use your blowdryer behind the headband to add volume. I also like texturizing products – like this Powder Play (affiliate link) –Â it adds a little texture and hold without weighting my hair down or adding silicone (which I avoid with my fine hair).
If my ends are looking too flyaway, I also like to use just a teensy bit of Redken Shape Factor 22Â (affiliate link)Â on them to get them to stick together a little. Other days I’ll rub the Shape Factor 22Â through wet hair just out of the shower for a little flexible hold to my style. Since I know the key to cute short hair is the products you put in it, I thought I’d share what I’m loving and using.
Alice
Very cute! Thanks.
Pennyp
Sooo cute!!!
Holly
I LOVE this!
Anne
Beautiful!!! I’ve got a Craft Gossip post scheduled for tomorrow evening that links to your tutorial:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-easy-beaded-gauze-headband/2014/08/13/
–Anne
Linda Lee Steaples
So cute I just got a hair cut and this will work perfect thanks Melly. Enjoy your last week of summer with the kids!!! Thanks again Linda Lee ♥♥♥♥
Karly Nelson
I love that look on you! Thanks for the tutorial!
Dolores
Such a creative mind you have, I love your ideas