Holiday DIY.. Sew An Easy Headband

I was in New York last week for a footwear tradeshow. We launched our Fall 2013 footwear collection – I always love it when we start a new season!  At the show, our designers gave a quick presentation on the Fall/Winter 2013 trends.  One of my favorite trends was about the use of dark colors AND extreme hardware as embellishments – studs, spikes,  buckles and zippers.  Yes, zippers..!

The main reason that I loved this trend was it reinforced my current obsession with zippers!  I had already planned to use a zipper for my first holiday DIY post. ..

So here it is, a project and gift for the fashionista in your life.  I hope you enjoy making it as much as I did.

Materials needed:

• Fabric
• Interfacing
• Metal separating zipper in any color
• Elastic
• Pins, needles, thread, scissors, iron, ironing surface, sewing machine
• Needle nose pliers

8 easy steps:

1. Gather materials
2. Create your pattern and prepare your fabric. On a peice of fabric -draw a rectangle 15″ long x 1″ wide.  Add a 1/4″ seam allowance around the outside edge.  Fuse the back side of your fabric.  Place the pattern on the front side of fabric and cut out 2 rectangles [ 1 – front/self and 1 -back/lining]
3. Separate zipper. You will only use 1 side. Using pliers, gently pull off 5-8 metal teeth from each end of the zipper. Lay the zipper against pattern and double check there are no teeth approximately 1/2″ from each end.  This will help to turn the ends of the zipper inwards.
4. Line up the the zipper tape to the raw edge of the rectangle. Pin the zipper in place.
5. Place right sides of fabric together.  Sew down the length of the rectangle on the zipper side.  Open the seam and pres flat.
6. Turn edges and press a 1/4″  seam allowance.  Placing wrong sides together, enclose the seam allowances and close the headband.  Topstitch.  Headband is nearly finished.
7. Turn each end of the headband inwards and iron ends flat. Measure and cut the elastic to 7 inches.  Insert 1/2″ inch of elastic into each end and stitch closed. Reinforce where the elastic is inserted.
8. Stitch the on the front side of the headband.  Be creative and use a decorative stitch like the zig zag stitch. This will also help reinforce the headband.

Voila! You are complete.. For an easier version of the headband – just take away the zipper detail and simply use a patterned fabric.