My project for today was a make a DIY workout headband that would STAY IN PLACE! (I love my BondiBands, but sometimes they slip a little.)
I was inspired by Sweaty Bands. I really, really like them, but they are more than I can afford for a workout headband on our budget.
So today I made a stop at JoAnn Fabrics and got my supplies…
- 1/4 yard black velvet ($12.99 per yard) = $3.25
- Package of 3/8″ black elastic = $1.29
- A spool of really cute ribbon (make sure it’s not wired) = $4.49 (normally – I used my 40% off coupon so it was actually $2.69)
Grand total = $7.23 (The supplies I got will make at LEAST six headbands. So that’s $1.21 per headband)
NOTE: If you don’t already have thread, make sure you get that too! I already had a TON.
Step 1: Measure your head to determine how large to make your headband!
Step 2: Cut your ribbon to a length roughly three inches LESS than what you measured. For example, here I measured my headband length as 22.5″, so I cut the ribbon to 19.5″.
Step 3: Lay the cut ribbon out on top of the velvet and cut a large enough piece of velvet that there is roughly 1/2″ extra on all sides. (If you have less than that, it’s likely that the velvet will fray while you’re working.)
Step 4: Cut a 3 inch piece of elastic.
Step 5: Lay out the pieces with RIGHT SIDES TOGETHER (velvety side of the fabric touching the nice patterned side of the ribbon) and the elastic in between the two layers at one end.
Step 6: Pin everything together. This is the most frustrating part, since the velvet likes to slide around. Make sure that the elastic is CENTERED so it doesn’t get sewn anywhere but at the end (red dashed box).
Step 7: Sew closed the two long ends and the short end with the elastic (make a “U” – blue dotted line). Stay as close to the edge of the ribbon as possible.
Step 8: Trim the threads and remove pins. Use something long and skinny to turn the fabric right side out (I like to use a chopstick).
Step 9: Fold in the raw edges of the fabric at the open end.
Step 10: Insert the loose end of the elastic into the open end of the headband. Make sure nothing is twisted. There should be roughly 2 inches of exposed elastic at this point. Pin the elastic and fabric in place.
Step 11: Sew closed. You can do this by hand and do a hidden stitch so everything looks neat. Or you can do the quick and dirty version and use your machine. For this one, I used the machine since this part will be at the back behind my hair. If I make these for other people, I would do a hand stitch so it’s neater.
Step 12: Remove the pin and admire your work!
Voila!
14 comments
May 14, 2010 at 11:53 pm
blndsnbrdr
That’s awesome! I’m glad it turned out good! I’m inspired to give it a shot, but with BondiBand!
May 15, 2010 at 12:00 am
Sarah
Thanks! That’s my next project! I definitely had fun making this one. Now I think I’m going to start making them for other people.
May 15, 2010 at 7:22 am
Lisa
OMG! So excited! I’ve been thinking about buying one of those bands because nothing will stay in my hair. I really didn’t want to spend that much on one if I didn’t even know if it would work. Is this design very similar to the Sweaty Bands? Do those have velvet to keep the band in place too?
May 15, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Sarah
It does have the velvet, and so far, seems to work great!
I played around with my extra material to find other ways to make the headbands and I found a way to make them so they are pretty much identical to the Sweaty Bands. (Disclaimer: I don’t actually HAVE a Sweaty Band – I’m going by what I’ve seen/heard from others.) I’ll put pictures and directions up soon.
May 15, 2010 at 5:45 pm
DIY Workout Headband: Revisited «
[…] PDRTJS_settings_1034760_post_753 = { "id" : "1034760", "unique_id" : "wp-post-753", "title" : "DIY+Workout+Headband%3A+Revisited", "item_id" : "_post_753", "permalink" : "http%3A%2F%2Fgeonerdette.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F05%2F15%2Fdiy-workout-headband-revisited%2F" } I found an even BETTER way to make this DIY workout headband! […]
August 6, 2010 at 11:05 am
Megan
Cute! I wish I was as crafty as you — those are darling!
I actually found some really nice and inexpensive workout headbands online (only $5 ) at IMPACT FITNESS WEAR. They are made of that stretchy and breathable lycra/tactel fabrics and are super cute. You may want to check them out if you are not a good sewer like me 🙂
http://www.impactfitnesswear.com/accessories
September 17, 2010 at 9:42 am
Carolyn
Thanks for the great thread. I wish I had skills with a sewing machine because these are so incredibly easy to make. Sweaty Bands is robbing all us runners charging what they do. (I did get a free one once though at a race expo)!
Also, yay to NO MEAT ATHLETES!
Carolyn
http://eatlivebewell.wordpress.com
December 17, 2010 at 6:29 pm
feener
do you think fabric glue would work for this and not sewing ??
December 18, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Sarah
It might? I’ve never used it so I don’t know how durable it is. It’s worth a try I guess!
December 25, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Cindy
This is great! I have made 2 already and preparing to make more… Wider ribbon works the best!
December 26, 2010 at 8:09 pm
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[…] DIY Workout Headband […]
January 6, 2012 at 11:59 pm
DIY Workout Headband: Revisited «
[…] I found an even BETTER way to make this DIY workout headband! […]
February 23, 2012 at 1:46 pm
virginia
how wide was the ribbon and do you have to use velvet on the back
August 6, 2012 at 8:32 pm
DIY Sweaty Bands « pinadvised
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