Make Cloth Baby and Infant Headbands

Making these cloth baby and infant headbands is so easy and really versatile. You can make these fast and in a ton of different color combinations. I like to keep a whole slew of em' around. They are both fashionable and great for keeping baby's hair out of her eyes. I think they are even cute on little baby boys if you are growing his hair out to a longer length. Just make them out of fabrics more suited to a boy. He can be a little rock n' roll baby!

I thought about providing a pattern for this, but they are so easy, you really don't need one. I'm going to show you how to make your own pattern essentially, if you even need one.

What you'll need:

• fabric scraps (preferably 2 different colors)

• 1/2 inch elastic waistband

• matching threads

Start by measuring your baby's head across the top from ear to ear. I like to measure from just behind the ear. You can make the width of this headband custom to whatever suits you, your taste, ad your baby's style. I think 1 1/2" is a pretty good width though. The first piece of fabric you should cut will be twice the size of whatever you wish the width to be, by the measurement you got from your baby's head. Add about 1/2" seam allowance as well. Therefore, if we are making infant headbands that are 1 1/2" wide by 15" long, then you will cut a piece of fabric measuring 3 1/2" by 15 1/2". You can also cut a piece of paper to this size to make a baby headband pattern. This will be especially helpful if you plan to make a bunch of headbands.

Fold both pieces in half so that the right side (front of fabric) is facing inward. Stitch down the entire length of the fabric. Take the smaller piece and turn it inside out. A trick I use to make turning easy is to insert a safety pin in one end and push it through to the other end. Then, simply pull it out the end.

Cut a piece of 1/2" wide elastic. I like to cut it a little long and then trim it to the right size after doing a quick fitting on the baby. Insert the end of the elastic into the middle of the smaller piece of fabric. Now insert this piece (fabric and elastic) into the larger piece of fabric and pin in place.

Sew the end of the fabrics to fuse them together. Turn the entire thing inside out. Now you are ready to do a quick fitting to get it to the perfect size for baby's head.

First things first, pull the end of the elastic out of the opposite end of the fabric so that you are scrunching the fabric up around it. The fitting can be tricky since many babies do not really like to stay still long. Just be quick about it and it'll be fine :) All you are looking to do is see exactly how far on the elastic you want to trim to sew the end of the infant headbands together at the perfect length. Once you get a fitting just fold the end of the fabric in a bit, insert the opposite end of the elastic and fabric, and pin it all in place. Now stitch it shut and you're done!