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

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How-to: Turn a Scarf into a Headband (without destroying It)

July 22, 2013 5 Comments

How-to: Turn a Vintage Scarf into a Headband without Destroying It - HandsOccupied.com

If you haven’t noticed, this short haired lady. loves. her. headbands. I have really fine hair and always have, so headbands are one of the only things that will stay in place on my hair. My mom tried those velcro bows you can get for infants when I was tiny, but they wouldn’t stick to my hair – she was left with a bald blond bug-eyed baby whose gender was probably hard to guess. My affinity for headband accessories must stem from those formative years.

Supplies

vintage scarf
elastic thread
scissors
measuring tape
2 clothespins or chip clips

Directions

Today’s video DIY will walk you through how to convert a scarf into a headband temporarily without destroying it. It’s so easy, and the resulting headband is perfect for summer music festivals. I hit up Chicago’s Pitchfork Music Festival last weekend, by the way, and this headband fit right in.

What festivals have you or are you hitting up this summer? I’d love to hear about it!

Filed Under: DIY Style, How-to, Summer, Video Tutorials Tagged With: crafts, diy, easy, elastic thread, festival style, headband, How-to, style, video tutorial, vintage scarf

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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Comments

  1. Linda Hopkins

    August 26, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Totally Cool! Thanks for all your Great ideas :)

    Reply
  2. Joyce Ireland

    August 7, 2016 at 10:53 pm

    Thanks, Heidi, great and unusual idea! I’ve been searching all over for a tutorial for this technique, which I love.

    I especially like it for really long rectangular scarves. Instead of using elastic thread, I simply thread one loose end through the loop created by the fold, then thread the other loose end through the fold from the opposite direction and give the loose ends a half knot to keep the headband ring from unraveling. For a change of pace, I like to wear the knot on the side of my head near the temple (rather than the nape of the neck). It has an appearance reminiscent of a flower. Very cute.

    Another way to close off the ring on shorter scarves is to use an elastic hairband. Place the elastic band in the middle of the scarf, then twist as usual. The elastic band will end up at the loop. Take the band and wrap it tightly around the loose ends of the scarf, closing the ring.

    Reply
  3. Tara

    January 27, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    This is amazing…I would have NEVER thought to do this until stumbling onto your blog. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. Val

    February 9, 2022 at 1:13 pm

    HEllo! Where is the website tutorial for this; HOW-TO: TURN A SCARF INTO A HEADBAND (WITHOUT DESTROYING IT)

    thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Heidi

      February 14, 2022 at 11:43 am

      I only did a video.

      Reply

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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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handsoccupied

Helping yarn crafters untangle various techniques on the internet since 2010
🧶 Really into intarsia
Stay up-to-date 💌 & shop the latest patterns ⤵️

Heidi Gustad 🧶 knitting & yarn crafts
The first lesson of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest K The first lesson of the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest Knit Along is now up on the bl0g! First thing’s first: better understanding gauge in intarsia, a.k.a. my most-requested intarsia tutorial topic. 🧶
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Maybe it isn’t the flashiest or funnest of topics, but knitting your patterns at gauge accomplishes 2 important things for projects like the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest. 1️⃣ Your garment will fit properly. 2️⃣ The intarsia you’ve worked hard to knit won’t look squished like an image in Print Wizard 2000. (Is that software reference too niche? 🖨️)
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Find the first #spiralhillsweatervest Knit Along lesson at the 🔗 in my profle. 
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P.S. I’m currently finishing editing a related video for the lesson, which will be live on You2ube later today/tomorrow. I’ll post in Stories when it’s up.👍🏻 
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#handsoccupied #intarsia #knittinggauge #knitting #sweaterknitting #nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #knitting_inspiration #stopswatchandblockit #swatching
This audio was me last summer while secretly desig This audio was me last summer while secretly designing the Spiral Hill Sweater Vest pattern behind the scenes. 😆 I very often design with primary colors, so trying to explain suddenly working with black, white and grey was awkward/kinda funny. 🩶
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In case you missed it, this is my design from the new book ‘Disney Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town,’ available now from @insighteditions & @tanisknits. We’re doing a knit along starting very soon, and we’ll be knitting this pattern! I’ve got weekly video tutorials planned for this educationally-focused knit along. This KAL is especially for you if you’re eager to work on your intarsia. 🧶
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Full KAL details, yarn quantities & pattern information are available on my bl0g, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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Yarn: @brooklyntweed Imbue Worsted
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#nightmarebeforechristmasknittingbook #handsoccupied #spiralhillsweatervest #knitting #halloweenknitting #knitalong #kal #knitting_inspiration #intarsia #intarsiaknitting #learntoknit
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
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