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Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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How-to: Nautical Headband

August 20, 2012 Leave a Comment

I’ve had short hair for a longish time now, so I tend to miss out on trying cute braiding or updo ideas I see on Pinterest or other blogs. Lately, I have been getting more and more into headbands, like my bronze laurel headband, when I want to get creative with my hair. Today, I wanted to share how I made my new favorite hair accessory, a nautically-appropriate cord headband. If you enjoy macramé, knot-tying or the metallic belt I shared a couple weeks ago, you’ll be all over this project.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

Supplies

1 yd navy cord

2 yds each of white and red cord

liquid stitch

ribbon

a few inches of elastic

straight pins

scissors

waxed paper

needle & thread

Directions

Cut your red and white cord into 2, 1-yard pieces each. You’ll have one 1-yard piece of navy cord, 2 1-yard red cord pieces, and 2 1-yard white cord pieces. Line up one red and white piece together, and one red, white and the navy piece together. Fold each set in half. Weave each set as one, following the animation below. If you remember my Olympic belt tutorial from a couple weeks ago, it’s the same basic sailor’s knot, also known as a Carrick Bend, that I used in that project.

How-to: Olympics-Inspired Knotted Metallic Belt | HandsOccupied.com

After your knot is tied, carefully tighten it until it lays evenly. Since one end of the knot has 3 pieces of cord instead of two, this step is important to make it lay just right. Then, braid the strings on each side of the knot. Since there are an even number of strings to braid with, you end up with a nice symmetrical braid with alternating V’s in each color of cord.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

At the end of each braid, secure the ends in place by hand sewing. Since cord is a little different than fabric, it’s hard to make a knot that doesn’t pull through the cord. You’ll want to use a looped/doubled over piece of thread like this:

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

Here’s what the finished end with the navy cord looks like.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

To secure the knot and keep it flat, secure each end of the knot similarly to the braid ends. Make sure that any exposed stitching is on the back side of the headband, the same side your braid sewing is on.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

Adding the elastic

Measure your head circumference and cut an appropriately sized piece of elastic for connecting the ends of the cords together into a headband. Sew the cord to the elastic and trim excess cord length.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

Cut enough ribbon to wrap around the ends of the cord and cover the end of the elastic. Use Liquid Stitch to glue the ribbon in place, and use straight pins to keep the ribbon and glue lined up as it dries. Set the headband on waxed paper to dry safely.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

You can add even more Liquid Stitch all over the ends of the cord to keep them from fraying or sticking out of the ribbon.

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

When it’s dry, carefully remove the straight pins, and you’re all set to rock this cute and comfy headband. I’ve worn this thing 2 or 3 times a week since I made it. A great way to add some variety to my limited repertoire of short hairstyles!

How-to: Nautical Headband | HandsOccupied.com

Filed Under: DIY Style, Fourth of July, How-to, Macramé Tagged With: diy, headband, macrame, nautical, patriotic

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
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Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the S Wow! I am floored by the awesome response to the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. Thank you. 🙏🏻❤️ If you love this pattern & didn’t know already, we are going to be doing a knit along (KAL) from October 1-29 featuring this spooky sweater vest & lots of tutorials, especially for the intarsia part. 
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Later today my newsletter will be coming out with additional Knit Along details, so if you’re not already signed up, now is a great time - the 🔗 is in my b1o. 
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Pictured: My Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern from the new Nightmare Before Christmas knitting book by @tanisknits. Model is wearing size 1 with 2” of positive ease, knit in @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted. Vest images via @insighteditions 
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#spiralhillsweatervest #handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook
At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater At long last! I can share the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest, my contribution to the new book Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, out now! 🎃💀 
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I’m hosting a knit along (KAL) October 1-29 for anyone who’d like to knit this vest along with a group & learn a little about intarsia while we’re at it. I’ve got weekly tutorials planned to help you knit this worsted weight sweater vest, and there’s a prize package giveaway at the end for KAL participants too. Details are on my site - you know where to find the 🔗 I think. 😉
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Book by @tanisknits 
Publisher @insighteditions 
Yarn @brooklyntweed Imbue 
Find it wherever fine books are sold. 
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#handsoccupied #nightmarebeforechristmas #intarsia #sweatervest #knittingpattern #knittingbook #spiralhill #knitting_inspiration #knitting
Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs Since there was some interest in stills of my WIPs closet after this weekend’s quick tutorial, here are few. ✂️ The tutorial is one post back in my feed as a video.
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As you can see, I didn’t worry about the wire hangers all being perfectly uniform, but it doesn’t matter to me. Also, this closet holds a lot! Despite that, it is already at capacity. Since the hanging bags don’t appear to be recyclable, I want to reuse them as long as possible. Who knows, maybe this will be a way to limit my WIPs? 😅
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P.s. In the third photo you can see how I use this system to store the original swatches, scraps, yarn ball bands, & notes from a design project all together. 
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#handsoccupied #wips #craftstorage #yarnstorage #yarncrafts #knitting_inspiration #craftstudio #craftroom #craftcloset
How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with jus How to convert a closet into WIPs storage with just a few supplies ✂️
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When I was a librarian, we would use these hanging bags to circulate books with audiobook CDs. They came to mind when I wanted to develop a filing cabinet-like system for my differently-sized WIPs. To fit in my studio closet, a standard bedroom closet, they just needed custom hangers. 🤙🏻 
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HOW TO MAKE THE HANGERS
1. Carefully cut approx. a 9” (23 cm) length of flexible 3 mm aluminum wire.
2. Near the end of a large knitting needle or dowel, wrap the wire around it as you would a twist tie. 
3. Bend the other end into a hook shape, perpendicular to the circle shape you just created. 
4. Hang like a hanger in a closet, as shown. 
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#handsoccupied #handmadelife #knitting_inspiration #craftcloset #craftroom #craftroomorganization #craftroomstorage #craftroomdecor #crocheter #latchhook #knittersofinstagram #wip #wips #hangingstorage
It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! T It’s time for the monthly review and giveaway! This go around, get to know two new sister yarns from @manosyarnsusa, Marla and Sami, and enter to win a skein of each to try for yourself. 
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What makes these yarns sisters is that, while dyed differently, they’re the same weight and come in intentionally coordinating color palettes. For my review, I opted for a sky-inspired combo of Sami in Natural and Marla in Nube. 🌧️ 
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Check out the full review & enter the giveaway at the link in my bio. 
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#handsoccupied #yarnreview #manosdeluruguay #knitting_inspire #crochet #yarngiveaway #knitters #yarn #crochetersofinstagram
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