3 Headband Tutorials

I have been wearing headbands a lot lately - and getting a lot of compliments, too!  So I'm sharing my favorite 3 Headband Tutorials!Fabric Rose Brooch Headband TutorialMaterials and Tools:

• Fabric Rose Brooch*
• Blank headband (I got mine at Hobby Lobby)
• Wire (just about any gauge you have on hand will work.  I used 22 gauge)
• Wire cutters
• Chain nose pliers

*Click here for the tutorial to make a Fabric Rose Brooch.  This will take you over to my old blog at B.B. Bellezza (and that post has a bunch of really outdated stuff at the end of it.  But the tutorial is still helpful if you need to know how to make a fabric rose.)Step #1Slide the wire under the pin.(Note:  I had the idea to wrap wire around the blank headband first and then open the pin and slide it through the wire.  It didn't work out.  I also tried wrapping the open pin and then closing it when it was done because that would be quicker.  It doesn't work great because the top of the pin needs room to close.)Step #2Line up the pin where you want it on the headband.  I think it looks nice to the side, but try different spots before you wrap it down.Step #3Start wrapping the wire around the headband and pin back.Try to keep the wraps straight and neat.  People won't see it, so don't worry too much about it.  It's not easy to get around the pin and headband.Use your pliers if needed to pull the wire through.Step #4Cut off the excess wire and use your pliers to tuck in the ends.

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Button Bouquet Headband TutorialThis tutorial also starts with another tutorial I published a while back:  the Button Bouquet Tutorial.If you haven't already tried the Button Bouquet Tutorial, click here for the instructions.Materials and Tools:

• Button Flowers from the Button Bouquet Tutorial (or click here to make your button bouquet)  If you are making the button flowers just for this headband, you could use craft wire instead of floral wire.  In fact, it would make it a little easier.
• Blank Headband
• Wire cutters
• Chain nose pliers

Step #1Pick out your button flowers and loosely arrange them to place on your headband.Step #2Line up the first button flower and start wrapping the wire around.Note:  I generally like my headbands to have the focal decoration off to one side.  You can decide where you want your flowers.The floral wire isn't the easiest thing to wrap around, but just do your best.  Pull as hard as you can so that the flowers are tight against the headband and don't slide around when you are wearing your headband.I like to go around the headband and then wrap around in a circular motion around the wire coming from the buttons.Step #3Continue adding button flowers until you have your desired look.For each button flower you add, wrap the new wire around the previous flower to keep them together.Step #4Using your chain nose pliers, tuck in any ends that are sticking out and make sure it's comfortable to wear.Here's another example:

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Wire Wrapped Key HeadbandThis one is with one of my favorite things:  keys!Materials and Tools Needed:

• Key
• Wire (I'm using silver plated copper wire, 22 gauge)
• Blank Headband
• Chain nose pliers
• Wire cutters

Where to get your materials:Vintage skeleton keys have really gotten popular and thus, have gone up in price.  I purchased this particular key on etsy.  I did a search for skeleton keys and just scrolled through the results until I found what I was looking for.  You can do the same thing on eBay.  You can find skeleton keys at yard sales, estate sales, antique stores and flea markets.If you are just starting out, you can find wire at craft stores.  A.C. Moore and Michael's have copper wire in different colors.  For this particular project, I probably wouldn't bother to use silver wire.I got the blank headband at Hobby Lobby.  I'm sure that they are available online, too.Step #1Cut off about 24 inches of wire.Step #2Decide on the placement of your key.  I like my headbands with the main focus on the side.  You might want yours in the middle on top of your head.  The choice is yours!Step #3Starting at the end of where you decided to place your key on your headband, start to wrap the wire around the headband.  You can start wrapping without using pliers; however, before you get too far, you'll want to pull the wire tightly with the pliers.At this starting point, go back over the wire to sort of "catch" the end of the wire and make sure it is secure.  Then I like to give it a little tug to make sure it's not going to move.  When you're wearing it, you're not going to want the key to come sliding down.  This step is really anchoring it.Note:  Make sure the cut end is on the outside part of the headband when you wrap it and before catching it with the other wires.  The middle photo shows this.Step #4Line up the end of the key over the wrap you just did on the headband.  You'll line up the tail of the wire (that's not wrapped around yet) with where you want to put the first wrap around the key.Since the key has the tooth part sticking out, it's perfect to start wrapping on the side of that.Step #5{this is a shot from inside of the headband, you can see the first wraps I did in Step #3 are under the end of the key}Start wrapping the wire around the key and headband, attaching the key to the headband with the wire.  Keep your wraps tight and even.  I did not use pliers for this part, I just used my hands.Hold the key tightly to the headband with one hand while wrapping with the other.Wrap the entire length of the key.Step #6When you get to the end of the key, cut the wire leaving enough of the wire to come around the front of the the key and having it end somewhere in the middle of the front.Using your pliers, tuck the end into the wire wraps.  I like to come back a wrap and put it in between the last couple of wraps and use the tips of my pliers to push it in and secure it.Note:  It's important that the end is in the front because you don't want the end tangling with your hair.Enjoy your new headband!