twist and shout headband

by Nicole Smith

Need a quick accessory for dinner tonight? Or do you have a few fabric scraps laying
around that need a good project? Try this headband tutorial, which shows you how
to create a twisted fabric band that you can use in future sewing projects. Use this
technique to add twisted bands to garments, bags and more.

• 1 yard fabric
• 20 inches of ⅞"-wide ribbon
• 20 inches of ¾"-wide double-sided fusible tape
• 6 inches of ⅜"-wide elastic
• Leather scraps
• Fabric glue
• Temporary fabric marker
• Iron and ironing board
• Press cloth

1
Step One
Cut a 6"-wide by 20"-long strip of fabric
on the bias*. Along both long edges,
use a temporary fabric marker to make
a mark every inch along the strip’s
length.

Fabric must be cut along the bias for

*

the twist to work properly.

Step Two
With right sides together, fold the
fabric strip in half lengthwise.
Shift the short end to the first
inch-mark as shown. Pin the two
long edges together, keeping the
inch-marks aligned.

Step Three
Sew the two long edges together
using a ¼"-wide seam allowance.

2
Step Four
Press the seam allowance open.

Step Five
Turn the headband right side out. Fold
and twist the headband until the seam
is in a straight line. Pin the strip to
the ironing board as you work to hold
it in place. Press with a press cloth to
crease the fabric in place.

Step Six
Place a ¾"-wide strip of double-sided
fusible tape along the headband seam.
Position a strip of ⅞"-wide ribbon on
top. Press through all layers to fuse
the ribbon onto the headband.

3
Step Seven
Lay the headband out on your work
surface. Cut off the ends to make the
headband 16" long.

Step Eight
Pleat the fabric at each end by hand
so that it is the same width as the
ribbon. Pin in place.

Step Nine
Machine-baste across both short
ends of the headband to hold the
pleats in place.

4
Step Ten
Cut four matching pieces of leather.
Make them 1¼"-wide at their top and
⅞"-wide at their base. Make them
1¼" long.

Step Eleven
Cut a 6"-long piece of ⅜"-wide
elastic. Lay one leather piece face
down on your work surface. Place
one end of the headband on top of
the wider end of the leather piece.
Place the elastic at the leather
piece’s shorter end. Glue the pieces
in place as shown.

Step Twelve
Place a second piece of leather on top
of the first, sandwiching all of the raw
fabric and ribbon edges inside. Glue
in place.

5
Step Thirteen
Repeat for the opposite end of
the headband, making sure to not
twist the elastic.

Step Fourteen
Edgestitch around the edges of
both leather headband ends to
secure the layers together.

6
Appliance clothing for sewing republic