With the rising inflation and Eid festivities, we encourage you to restyle your old clothes to create new looks. We have a chance to experiment with our clothes and make use of them like we never have had before.
As the Eid approaches and the ever increasing prices, it has forced us to re-think some of our choices even when it comes to our clothing. All of us can agree that we tend to have a lot more clothing that we need in our closets. There are pieces that go unworn or are barely worn a couple of times before we discard them.
These habits have been a part of our life since we were young, which is why we need to make a conscious effort to upcycle. Incorporating sustainability into our lives will not only help us address environmental issues, but also make us more aware of how we shop. The year has passed by, and it has brought with it a new appreciation for upcycling, which is why DIYs are a great way to start a habit at home. Not only do they help in reducing waste but keep our creative sense alive as well.
One item we can make at home is the headband. Headbands are one of the easiest-to-wear accessories and are super stylish as well. Even the simplest headband can take your look to another level. They not only help you keep your hair in check but add a trendy touch to your ensemble as well. They are especially great if you have virtual meetings, whether for work or with friends, and can keep you looking presentable all through the day.
For some easy ways to make headbands out of clothing and fabric lying at home, scroll down!
Basic Y2K Headbands
One of the basic headbands styles is the plain one. The same one we remember wearing as kids. It not only holds the hair back but maintains a minimalistic chic look overall. It reminds us of the Y2K era and, since the trends of the 2000s are coming back, what better way to get on board than to make some of our own headbands? This headband is perfect for those who are into minimalist vibes and like to wear hair accessories but keep it simple. The best part is that you can use old fabrics for this piece!
What you need: A rectangular piece of knit fabric, sewing pins, sewing thread and needle or sewing machine, scissors
Step 1: Wash, dry and iron your fabric. Take the fabric and measure it along your head to have a basic measurement of the length that fits your head. Once you have noted down the length, measure the width of the hairband you would prefer and cut the fabric.
Note: Make sure the width of the fabric you cut is double the width you prefer in a headband since the headband will be folded in half to sew. (That is, if you want a 3-inch-wide headband, you will need to cut a width of 6 inches).
Step 2: Once you have finished cutting the fabric, fold it in half along the length.
Note: In case you have a fabric that has designs on one side, make sure you fold it inside out, that is, the side you want on your headband needs to be inside the fold.
Step 3: Leaving two inches in the middle, sew the length of the fabric and leave the width. You should have a tube after you’re done.
Step 4: Take one side of the width and scrunch up the fabric until your fingers come out of the other end. Once the fabric is scrunched up, carefully align both the edges (make the edges meet) and insert a sewing pin to hold the edges in place.
Step 5: Sew the edges together so that you have a hairband.
Step 6: Using the two inches you left unsewn in step 3, turn the headband inside out so that the design is on top and the sewn edges are inside.
Step 7: Sew the hole shut.
Step 8: You’re done! Now go grab your spare knit fabrics and make some more! You can use any design to suit the look you’re aiming for.
Knotted Headband
Knotted headbands are a cute way to add a little something to your usual look. They hold your hair back and make you look stylish and chic. They’re a summer must-have, and will work well with your WFH wardrobe too.
What you need: A rectangular piece of knit fabric, sewing pins, sewing thread and needle, or sewing machine, scissors, chalk/pencil.
Step 1: Wash, dry and iron your fabric. Take the fabric and measure it along your head to have a basic measurement of the length that fits your head; leave extra fabric along the length for the double knot. Once you have noted down the length, measure the width of the hairband you would prefer and cut the fabric into two identical rectangular pieces.
Step 2: Take both the pieces and individually fold the fabric along the width so that the ends meet.
Step 3: Take your pencil or chalk and draw a semi-circle or a triangle on the edges where the ends meet according to your preference of the knotted ends. Make sure the shape is identical on both pieces of the fabric and then cut it.
Note: You need to draw only on the side where the edges meet and not where the fold is.
Step 4: Once you have two identical pieces of fabric, sew them together inside out, leaving two inches in the middle.
Note: Use serger or zig-zag stitch to stitch around the rounded edges to maintain the stretch.
Step 5: Once you’re finished sewing them together, using the two inches left unsewn in step 4, turn the headband inside out and then sew the hole shut.
Step 6: Iron the headband so that the silhouette becomes neat.
Step 7: Wrap it around your head into a double knot and you’re ready to slay!
Note: If the fabric you’re using is a stretchable one, you can even choose to stitch the knot in place for a more hassle-free experience.
Scarf Headband
If you’re having a bad hair day or simply need a hair accessory to amp up your look, a scarf headband will save the day. Scarf headbands come in handy especially if you don’t have time to make headbands from scratch. They are a great way to experiment with your look as well as repurpose the scarves you have at home. Here are two ways you can do that!
What you need: A long or a short rectangular scarf and bobby pins (optional)
Step 1: Take your scarf and fold it in half (if the width is big). Then, put it under your hair and around your neck. Make sure the ends of the scarf are equal.
Step 2: Grab both the sides of the scarf and pull them up towards the middle of your head and twist both the sides with each other once before bringing them back down. If the scarf is too long, you can repeat the step twice.
Step 3: Tie a bow at the back or side, or you can also do a double knot and leave the ends hanging (if it is long).
Step 4: Secure the scarf in place with bobby pins on the side of the head and you’re ready to seize the day!
So this Eid, indulge in conscious spending and create your Eid look with these hacks.
