To Catch A Thrift

I just love finding ways to use up scrap fabric. I had this scrap velvet leftover from making a photobooth curtain wall (legit, I know ) and have been trying to figure out what I could do with it, when the inspiration hit me. TURBAN HEADBANDS!

I’m still coming around to wearing them myself (i’m very much a hair girl, like to let my mane show, no accessories needed), but I’ve liked them so much on other people that I decided to give them a try. AND I have in mind a couple of friends (and my sisters!) who would love to get them as gifts…I mean who doesn’t want a super cute DIY accessory that looks awesome and covers up bad hair days?! 

I’m going to show you how to make two variations of Turban Headbands. The first one is a top-knot turban, and though I am going to use my sewing machine because my fabric frays, if your fabric doesn’t then this is a no-sew, quick and easy project! The second one is a cinched turban, and it does involve sewing. The good news is, neither of these are difficult, and I have step-by-step instructions and photos to guide you!

Disclaimer: I made these tutorials after trying one of the wonderful tutorials on one of my favorite blogs, Cotton & Curls, but made some small, some significant changes when writing this tutorial to make them work with my fabric and to fit how I like. If  you’d like to see even more unique styles of DIY turbans, check out Lizzie of Cotton & Curls great blog post on them here.

Step 1: Measure the circumference of your head.  Essentially – measure where you would be wearing the turban, which may be obvious, but in case someone measured directly around their head and ended up with a turban that didn’t fit, I’m going to spell it out. (Hey, that’d be a mistake I would make so…)You’ll want to measure from the top of your head right above your forehead, around the base of your head and back to the top. Now add 8″ total (4″ on each end-to tie the knot with) to that head measurement. This is the number you’ll need to cut in Step 2.

Step 2: If you have a fabric that doesn’t fray, for this step you simply cut out a shape that looks like the pictures below:

 Step 2 (continued): If you have a fabric that frays, cut out TWO  of those shapes, place them right sides together and pin in place. Now stitch around the outside, leaving one end open to pull it right-side-out. (a loop turner comes in handy with creating any tube – scarf, purse strap, spaghetti strap – and can be purchased at your local fabric and crafts store for typically $4.50 or less! I used a loop turner, but you could also use like a knitting needle or something to push it through!)

Step 3: Tie a knot with the ends. I used a typical knot, but feel free to get creative with it!.

(Optional) Step 4: Skip this step if you’d like the ends of the knot exposed (no-sew project) OR you can tack them down. I did (hand-sewing project). To tack you are simply sewing a few stitches to hold it in place. Easy enough to do with just a needle and thread!

Pssst – on my first one I tried I forgot to add length to my head measurement to be able to tie the knot, so my turban was too short. I grieved for the slightest moment and then to turn my frown upside down I tacked the ends together and hot glued an old earring onto the center. I see a gypsy or fortune teller costume in the future

But hey, that’s me, trying to make the best out of my mistakes. On to the next!

 Step 1: Cut the fabric into a rectangle, with the length being the circumference of your head + 1″ for seam allowance (you’ll see why soon!) and the width being whatever measurement you desire X 2, because you’ll be folding it in half and stitching to create a tube, thus decreasing the width by two.

Also, cut a 5″ by 5″ piece of fabric to be the cinching part.

 Step 2: Fold the big piece of fabric in half lengthwise, with the right sides together. Stitch along the open side to create a tube. Then turn it right side out. If your fabric slides a bit, it may be helpful to pin in together, like I did.

Step 3: Fold the 5″ by 5″ piece over so that it is a rectangle with the right sides of the fabric together. Stitch down one side, creating a tube. Then flip right-side-out.

Step 4: Fold the fabric from Step 3 over again and make sure the seam you created last step is on the outside. Then you stitch down the side, creating another loop. When you flip this right side out, the seam from Step 3 will be on the inside, and the seam from this step will be in the back, leaving a crease/seam free front!

Step 5: Slide the small tube onto the big tube you made in step 2.

Step 6: Sew the ends of the big tube together. Don’t forget to put the small tube on first (Step 5). Trim any excess down to ~1/4″, then slide the small loop over that seam to cover it up.

Step 7: Tack the small tube to the big tube in several places, making it secure (don’t want any messy seams exposed on our beautiful new turban, do we?!). And, done!

Okay, so, I am really liking these things! I got so excited about them that I started googling other things to wear on your head! I was inspired by this Man Repeller blog post and this Riann Star video, which led to me tying an old thrifted scarf around my head and trying to make my leopard print infinity scarf into a turban.

Gotta say, I am now IN LOVE with these things!

Hope you found this inspiring and informative, let me know if you give it a try!

happy weekend!

ashley