Braided Jersey Knit Headband with Flower
Learn how to make braided headbands out of jersey knit fabric – or recycled t-shirts!
For years, I spent time searching for camp crafts for kids and adults as part of my job at the camp we worked at.
This simple and fun jersey knit headband project is one that we did at both kids’ camps and camps for adults.
These braided headbands are nice and soft and stretchy – perfect for holding back whispy hair for kids and moms might like them to hold back her hair when she washes her face!
How to Make Braided Headbands with Jersey Fabric or Recycled T-shirts
Supplies you’ll need
- Jersey knit fabric or old t-shirts
- Scissors
- Needle and thread
- Sewing machine (optional)
- Glue (If you choose to go the no sew route.)
Step by Step Instructions For the 5 strand braided headband
- Measure around the head of the person you are making the headband for and take note of the measurement.
- Cut 5 long strips of jersey knit fabric 2 inches wide and about double the measurement you took in step one. If you want a narrower headband, cut the strips 1/2 inch wide instead.
- Stack up the strips and sew together at one end with a straight stick, knotting each end well. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you could hand stitch this or use a hot glue gun to glue it together.
- Stretch out each jersey knit fabric strip so the edges curl slightly.
- Tape down the sewn edge to a flat surface and lay 3 strips out to the left and 2 out to the right.
- To see how to braid the headband, refer to the pictures on this post from Make It Love it.
- Once you are finished braiding, overlap and sew or glue the end pieces together tightly. (Make the finished size to be slightly smaller than the measurement you took in step one as the headband will be stretchy.)
- To cover the seam where the braid is sewed together, make a fabric flower like below and glue it on.
I just stacked up all the circles, sewed a big x in the center, pulled it tight and watched it ruffle. Easy peasy! I did strategically add some hot glue on to the petals to make a few more ruffles.
Step by Step instructions for the jersey knit flower
- Cut 5 circles out of jersey knit fabric that are roughly 3 inches around. As you are cutting them, make the edges slightly wavy – in an irregular way. Don’t worry about them being perfectly uniform!
- Stack the layers up so that the waves of the circles do not match up.
- Using a needle and thread, sew a big “X” in the center, going through all 5 layers.
- Pull the thread tight until it starts to ruffle.
- Knot off the thread in the back.
- Use a hot glue gun to glue the ruffles exactly where you’d like them to be.
- Glue (or sew) the flower onto the headband.
Other Fabric Craft Ideas:
- Jersey Knit bracelets
- How to Sew a Custom Tablecloth with Ruffles and Pleats
- I put these Tattered Fabric Flowers on Christmas stockings, but they’d also be cute on throw pillows.
- How to make a large DIY Fabric Flower
- How to Make Simple & Meaningful DIY Scandinavian Christmas Ornaments Using Fabric
- Make this Cute DIY Christmas Tree Pillow in Just 15 Minutes
Originally posted June 26, 2012. Updated January 21, 2022
Linking up: Freckled Laundry
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Great idea, Rita! I think maybe we should do a craft night for our 8th grade girls before they promote up into the high school youth group later this summer. I know I am going to miss them as they are such a fun bunch of girls. We are adding 6th grade to our middle school youth group in August…. and it looks like there will be LOTS of girls. Pray for us! (yes like you i am in an all male household… that many young teenage girls gives me the heebee jeebees! ha ha!)
I’ll be praying for you as the season is upon you!
It is very cute and personally, I would wear it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with air your laundry friday! xo Jami
Hey! I just realized your got your camera-in-the-mirror shot! (I remember the post where you felt kinda awkward with the angle!)
Wow, what a charming DIY project! I love how you’ve detailed the steps to make this jersey knit headband with a flower. I’m definitely going to give it a try.