How to easily sew a tie-on headband for a child

Helena Lachowiczová
2024-04-27T11:32:33+02:00

Warm weather is coming and besides dresses, you're also looking for a nice and simple hair accessory. And behold, a tie-on headband for children is a great choice. I personally loved them for my girls, and even though they've grown up a bit, I still enjoy returning to this style from time to time. Especially when I sew dresses for occasions like weddings, pilgrimages, trips to amusement parks, public events and celebrations, parties...

Come and see a simple tutorial on how to sew a Megg children's headband.

What will you need?

Fabric for sewing the headband - sufficiently stretchy knit or unbrushed sweatshirt fabric

Megg headband pattern

Fabric scissors - I use the Kai brand

Pins or clips - to hold the fabric together

Sewing machine (overlock or regular sewing machine - in this case, sew either with an overlock stitch (it's stretchy) or use a three-thread stretch stitch, or a straight stitch with elastic thread - so that the threads don't break)

Thread

Needles - machine needles according to the fabric type

Fabrics suitable for sewing children's (and adult's) headbands

Practically the best fabrics for headbands are knits. Knits stretch beautifully thanks to the added elastane in the fabric's weave. The more elastane, the more it stretches. I personally also have good experience with 100% cotton knits, which do not have such elasticity. They usually stretch by 25% of their original length, and that's enough.

I consider warm fabrics such as brushed sweatshirt fabric (too thick and warm) or fleece, fluffy fabrics and similar to be not entirely suitable.

Woven fabrics - firm fabrics, are also not entirely suitable, but if you try to sew this headband from muslin, for example, it might work. The pattern itself does not need to be pulled over the head, which is an advantage.

How to choose the headband size?

You will certainly be interested in what size headband to sew. My Megg headband pattern is divided into several sizes. The sizes are marked with numbers 1,2,3,4.

Size 1 corresponds to - 0-3 months or 36 - 40 cm head circumference

Size 2 corresponds to - 3 - 6 months or also 40 - 44 cm head circumference

Size 3 corresponds to - 6 - 24 months or also 44 cm - 48 cm head circumference

Size 4 corresponds to 2 - 6 years or also 48 - 52 cm head circumference

With elastic fabrics, it's possible that they will stretch beautifully and last longer. With firmer fabrics, you need to account for a firmer circumference.

What is the procedure for sewing the headband?

1. First, choose the fabric you want to sew the headband from. Then print the pattern on a home printer. How to print a pattern can be found here. If you are not sure about the procedure, I recommend going through this link. Simply tape the pattern together. And choose your size.

2. The second step is to transfer the headband pattern to the fabric. Fold the fabric in half along the grain so that the pattern placed on the edge of the fabric fits nicely across the entire width and you can cut it on the fold of the fabric.

3. Prepare your pins and pin the pattern to the fabric, exactly as in the photo. Ideally, so that it doesn't move when cutting. You don't need to cut any seam allowances around the pattern. This pattern includes a 0.7 allowance for an overlock. If you are sewing on a regular machine, no allowance needs to be added.

4. In the next step, cut the pattern twice in total. Identical pieces of the headband so you can then easily join and sew them.

5. Place both headband pieces right sides together (the pretty patterned side in my case, but if you are sewing solid color headbands, determine the right side of the fabric and place the pieces right sides together), pin them along the entire length.

6. Sew one side of the headband knot as shown in the photo above, and then the second part of the knot in the same way. Sew slowly to properly curve the rounded edges of the headband. Do not unnecessarily stretch or pull the fabric.

7. Sew the other side of the headband in the same way and then start sewing the long sides of the headband together. It is important to pay attention to straight stitching and not to stretch the fabric, so that no "folds" or wrinkles appear on the headband.

8. On one side of the headband, leave an opening in the middle of the long side, about 4 cm, so that you can turn the headband through this gap.

9. Now turn the headband right side out and thoroughly poke out (shape) the corners of the headband so they are nicely square.

10. The next step is to sew up the turning hole either with a classic straight stitch on the sewing machine close to the edge - about 0.4 cm, or to sew it up with a hidden stitch.

11. And the last step is to iron the headband nicely and prepare it for tying. In the next step, we will show you how to tie it easily.

How to tie a headband so the knot is pretty?

1. Cross the right end of the headband over the left.

2. The right end now goes up and the left end goes down, crossing each other.

33. Turn the bottom end upwards, and now you will have a space in the middle through which you will now pull this end.

4. Pull the end through and pull both ends through the knot as far as possible to the sides to straighten the knot.

5. Adjust the headband ends so they spread out nicely and smooth them.

You can tie the headband like this or tie it on the child's head, but the problem will be that the child moves a lot, their hair will get tangled, and you might even snag some. I recommend tying the headband loosely like this and then putting it on.

And that's it. Your headband is done, and you can make another one or perhaps move on to a dress.

Here is the headband made from 100% organic knit Megg and also Sára dungaree dress (find the pattern here)

Megg headband pattern and Sára dress pattern (from 62 to 116)