April 29, 2016

18″ Doll Knot Bow Headband Sewing Tutorial

Recently, I created a project for the doll sewing magazine Too Cute Doll Designs. It’s published in their summer 2016 issue and you can get the full-size pattern here through Etsy. Space is sometimes limited in publications, so I thought I would offer some additional visual help by creating a photo sew-along tutorial here.

Update: Download the pattern piece here

This trendy Knot Bow Headband will keep your doll’s hair out of her face as she plays and does crafts at summer camp. It’s reversible, so it can easily complement many of her camp outfits, like the one pictured, which was created using patterns from the new doll pattern book Doll Days! I used these prints from the Day Sail fabric collection by Moda. #showmethemoda I love the bright fresh look of the whole outfit.

How to make a knot bow headband for American Girl dolls.

All seams are 1/4” unless otherwise instructed.

Supplies Needed:

2 large scraps of coordinating quilting cotton fabric, each at least 12” X 7”

1 ponytail hairband (or a 2 1/2″ piece of elastic)

Cutting Instructions:

Trace the pattern piece and cut out 4 headband pieces, 2 of fabric A and 2 of fabric B.

Sewing Instructions:

Fold and press the short, straight ends of each of the headband pieces, 1/2″ toward the wrong side of the fabric. Sew across the folded edges.

2. Pin and sew together a fabric A headband piece to a fabric B headband piece, with right sides together and edges even.

3. Grade and clip the curved edges.

Repeat steps 2 – 3 for the remaining two headband pieces.

4. Turn the headband pieces right side out, by reaching inside the opening along the short ends and pulling the fabric right side out. Use small tweezers or a tube turning tool to make this easier to do. Once the fabric is completely right side out, use a corner turning tool or knitting needle to smooth out the curves. Press.

5. Add elastic or a hairband.

Elastic: insert the ends of a 2 1/2″ piece of elastic into the openings along the short ends of the headband pieces. Sew across the openings several times to secure the elastic inside the openings.

Hairband: place the hair band on the short ends of the headband pieces and fold the short ends over the hair band. Pin and sew across the short ends to keep the hairband in place inside the folded fabric.