Upcycled Shirt to Glam Knotted Headband

So after just coming off of the DIY elastic hair ties I made, I have had hair accessories on the brain! What to make? What to make? With Spring and Summer fast approaching I want to start making some cute hair bands that I could wear. I also wanted to do this on a budget and preferably with materials I already had on hand.  I have many clothes that can be upcycled in to crafts so I grabbed a stack and set out to try and make some headbands. Here is a tutorial for one of them! I am calling it the Glam Knotted Headband! I wore it across my forehead for a more bohemian look, which I am really digging for this season. You can also wear this as a regular headband in your hair. This tutorial is pretty much all pictures, because words would just be too confusing to follow! Contrary to the photos you will need 4 strips of fabric, two for each starting formation of the left loop and right > shape. I just used two in the tutorial so it would be easier to see!

Here's What You Need:

• Jersey fabric or an old shirt with stretch
• Scissors
• Glue gun

Start by cutting 4-2.5" strips all the was across your shirt
(cut through both sides so it will actually make a ring)

Cut one end of your shirt so you have a strip instead of a ring

Pull lightly on both ends of your strip so the ends curl up

Starting Configuration

Move you top left piece under the top right piece

Now move your bottom right piece under the loop on the left(see below for a better shot)

Grab top piece of > shape

Pull the top piece of your > shape under it's bottom piece you just laid under the loop

Continue to pull your piece over the loop

You should have this shape now!

Lightly begin pulling the ends tighter to bring the knotted shape inward

I cut a small scrap piece of fabric and glued the ends down on the longer sides
  to cover and glue the ends down to form the headband

You will need to cut the ends to a comfortable size for your head then put the glue down side  of your small scrap piece in the middle ensuring all the ends are tucked in

Flip it over and add some more hot glue and press the left side down

Add more glue and fold the right side down

DONE!

DIY Elastic Hair Ties

Have you heard? Elastic hair ties are all the rage! My Birchbox (click here for more info) even sent me a elastic head band last month, and I LOVE it! It doesn't give me a headache, it doesn't pull or get caught in my hair and best of all it doesn't leave a dent in my hair! Yes, dent! We aren't talking cars here but rather beauty! You know...the ugly indentation your headbands and hair ties leave in your hair after wearing them for any amount of time! Ugh...hate it! Makes it hard for us housewives who work hard all day with our hair in a ponytail to let our hair down for a date night with the hubby later that same day. I am ecstatic about the hair freedom this little tie brings me! Dramatic? I am. I picked up a couple of the actual hair ties at Target and paid close to $2 for them. Pricey! I knew I could make them for cheaper so I surfed the web so find some 5/8" fold-over elastic! I also threw together some cute holders so I could gift these to faimly and friends.  I purchased my fold over elastic online from TheRibbonRetreat.com they have a good selection of 26 colors and  I received my order in two business days! At $1 for 2 yards the price couldn't be beat! 

Here's what you need:

• 5/8"  Fold-Over Elastic in whichever colors your heart desires! 
• Measuring Tape
• Scissors

If you would like to make the holders you will need:

• Card stock print out with a table with two rows and three columns with whatever wording you choose
• Empty cereal box
• Elmer's Glue
• Scissors

 This project is super easy! In fact, it took me longer to make the little customized holders than to make the actual hair ties! Easy peasy, as my son says. Use your ruler, or measureing tape and cut your elastic at 8.5" Making sure to fold the elastic leaving the shiny side out knot the elastic into itself and pull tight. You may want to try out this sizing on your hair to see if you need to adjust it smaller or longer. Also, be sure to cut the ends at a angle to prevent any future fraying or unraveling of the elastic! I actually bought two from Target last week and they were about the same size I made tonight, so it may be a pretty good "universal" size.  I love that they look like little ribbons and you can easily wear them on your wrist while you don't need it in your hair. They don't pull at your hair, or get your hair caught on them in any way. My favorite part is they don't leave any indentations from having your hair up in a ponytail! SAVED! Sometimes we women need to throw our hair up for a short while and would like to pull it back down in to it's beauty flowing glory free of any awkward dents! Now you can! Yipee! 

              

These little hair ties are easy to make and would make great little gifts for family and friends! Nothing like a little beauty item to brighten any woman's day! Making the holders was super easy as well. I created a table on my Pages document 2 rows big and 3 columns wide. The measurements are 3" column width and 3.25" column height. I used a font called CarbonType at 16pts. for my wording. I printed this on to card stock and grabbed an empty cereal box I was about to toss out. I cut out the squares and cut squares out in the same size from the cereal box. Using Elmer's glue I covered the printed side of the cardboard from the box and placed my card stock square over it. This way the back is just brown cardboard looking. Allow it to dry and then add your ties for a sweet gift! 

Cover printed side of cardboard box in glue

Lay card stock piece on top of glue and press firmly to ensure all sides are down

VOILA!

{QoK}