Headbands! This season's must have accessory! We can't get enough of Sara Trucksess' (SCT Designs) headbands. We love a self finishing tutorial at KC Needlepoint... because you've got this! If we can finish a headband, so can you. We have put together several self headband kits- ready to shop now with all the materials you need.
Follow our step by step instructions to get the perfect finish.
If you're looking for a new self finishing project, this is certainly a fun and practical one! They make great holiday gifts.
Click here to shop our in stock kits.
Materials:
Hand Painted Headband Canvas- Stitched
Headband Form (1")
Glue Gun
1.5" Gross Grain Ribbon
Scissors
2-6" of 7/8-1" Coordinating Ribbon
Step 1:
Gather your materials!
Follow the list above and grab all the materials you need. If you ordered a kit from KC Needlepoint, you already have all your supplies. 
Step 2:
When stitching your headband, stitch the center 17 rows, leaving the outer border unstitched. you will want to add a binding stitch here. If you are unsure how to do the binding stitch, click here for our step by step tutorial. Once you get in the swing of things, it's so easy!
Step 3:
Trim the canvas.
Once you have added the binding stitch, trim the canvas. You will want to cut the entire canvas down so that there is only (approximately) 3-4 rows of canvas exposed.
Step 4:
Tie a Knot!
This is the trickiest step. Take your canvas and tie a knot in the center. You will want to ensure the knot falls in the center of the canvas, so that the knot will fall on the top center of your head.
Don’t worry if your sides are not exactly even. As long as the knot is centered on your head and they are both similarly close to the ends of the headband (within
one inch of the tip) you will be fine.
Step 5:
Thread the headband through the top of the knot.
This sounds trickier then it is. Take your headband and thread it through the center tied knot and line it up with the canvas. The knot doesn't need to fall in the exact center of the headband, but it does need to fall in the center of the headband.
Now is a great time to try it on and ensure the knot is where you want it to fall. Double and triple check the placement of the knot prior to adding any glue. 
Step 6:
Thread the ribbon through the knot.
It really is as simple as it sounds. Thread the ribbon for the underside of the project through the knot and ensure that it spans the entire length of the headband. 
Step 7:
Time for glue!
Start at the knot and glue down one side at a time, flattening and straightening the stitched canvas as you go to cover any gaps, especially near the knot.
One single line of glue down the center of the headband will usually do it, but feel
free to add more as needed for total security. You can stop gluing when you reach the unstitched portion of mesh at the bottom. Repeat this down the other side.
Now you will fold the bottom corners of unfinished mesh back to the underside of the headband, glueing them into place in a wedge shape, ultimately tapering the finished needlepoint to follow the taper of the headband form.
Next, glue the grosgrain ribbon to the underside of your headband with one single line of glue down the center of the headband form, keeping the edges of the ribbon in line with the edges of the finished binding stitch. When you reach the bottom of the headband, loop the end of your ribbon up over the exposed tip of the headband form. Place a dot of glue on the exposed mesh and glue the end of the ribbon to the outside of the headband. You will trim the ribbon right at the border of finished stitching/unfinished mesh.
Any straggling strands of glue can easily be removed after the fact.
Step 8:
Now you will go back and glue the outer edges of the grosgrain ribbon to the unfinished mesh on the underside of your finished canvas (and in some cases to the underside of your binding stitch too), sealing the edges of ribbon and needlepoint together. You can do this any way that you like. It will take some amount of finessing but as long as you are happy with the end product, that is all that matters.
When you arrive at the bottom loop of your ribbon, fold and tuck the extra pieces of ribbon behind the headband as if you are wrapping a little gift. Glue your folds into place. Don’t worry if you can see glue spots on the back of the headband tip. We will be covering the tips one more time before we are done.
The last step is to cover your headband tips with a smaller piece of coordinating grosgrain ribbon, both for a more finished look and better comfort. Trim your smaller ribbon on the bias to line up with the edge of the tapered portion of the headband and wrap it around the tip so that the bottom edge of the ribbon lines up with the bottom edge of the headband tip. Glue the bias-cut edge into place.
Glue the center of the wrapped ribbon into place, and then trim the remaining
ribbon on the bias to line up with the tapered edge and glue into place. If this does not offer enough coverage on the front side of your headband, you can repeat this step, moving the ribbon a little bit higher until the front side is properly covered.
Step 9:
Trim off any last loose canvas threads and dried glue. This is the final touch!
Step 10:
Try your masterpiece on! Wear it and show it off or give it as a gift!
Click here to shop all headbands.
Quantities are limited and this is the perfect self finishing project now that deadlines have passed!
