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Wire Head Scarf Tutorial for the Beginner Sewist

DIY Wire Head Scarf Tutorial for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this sewing project extra do-able!

I love me a good head scarf.  Especially on day 2 (or 3…cough) of unwashed hair.

But either I have to tie it on headache-tight or assault my scalp with bobby pins just to get it to stay on.  Ya feel me?

So…when I learned that you could line head scarves with wire to make them moldable to your head, well, I did a little heel click and to my sewing machine I went!

Now, before you navigate away because I just mentioned the forbidden word, “sewing,” let me stress that I still consider myself a beginner, and this is a do-able beginner project if you can sew a straight-ish line.

And if you’re still skeptical, guess what?  You could totally chuck the sewing machine out the window for this one and hand-stitch or even fabric glue this beast.

So, stick around!  Because once you see the light of the Wire Head Scarf as I have, you’ll be churning ’em out like there’s no tomorrow.  And when you need new inspiration, you’ll have 9 other Scarves for Sewists in the clickable collage at the bottom of this post to turn to.  Scarf Week has gotcha’ covered, my friend.

Welcome to Scarf Week 2015! Bigger, better, scarfy-er. July 6 - 10, 2015. We've got t-shirt scarves, dyed-painted-stamped scarves, scarves for sewists, knitted & crocheted scarves, and scarf re-fashions! It's going to be a killer week of inspiration, no fish-bones about it.

Here.  We.  Go.

Supplies

Here’s what you’ll need to D.I.Y. a Wire Head Scarf of your own:

Supplies to gather in order to create your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf. Another inspirational creation from Scarf Week! And a beginner sewing tutorial to boot!

Tutorial

Step 1.  Cut and press your fabric.  Okay, time to make a few decisions.  First, decide how wide you want your scarf to be.  I decided 2″ would be just dandy with a 1/4″ seam allowance.  Since I planned to simply fold the fabric atop itself when stitching, I doubled my total of 2 1/4″ and got a new total fabric width of 4 1/2″.  But you can totally go wider or thinner based on your preferences.

Measuring and cutting fabric in order to create your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf. Another inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing tutorial!

To determine length, I just wrapped my extra-long strip of fabric around my head, eye-balled it in the mirror, and made a small mark where I wanted my length.  I landed at 31.5″ long.  Double the seam allowance of 1/4″ for each end, and the total length I worked with was 32″.  Again, it totally depends on how bold or petite you want those cute little “bunny ears” of the scarf ends to be.  So, trust your gut.

Cutting the fabric in order to create your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf. Another inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing tutorial!

I have learned in my beginner sewing projects that a hot iron is your best friend and can make the process 10x easier if you press as you go.  So, first you’ll fold your strip of fabric in half long-ways, “right sides” together, and give it a press.

Pressing fabric in order to create your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf. Another inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing tutorial!

Step 2.  Trim your “ears.”  No, I’m not getting all Van Gogh on you now.  {Phew!}  I just like to call the two cute ends of the scarf, “bunny ears.”  And now is the time to carefully cut them in whatever shape you like.  I chose a gently curved diagonal, but in my research, I saw a sharp diagonal, a triangle, as well as flat ends.  So, you can try all of the above if you’re feeling experimental!  I just stacked both “ears” together, drew a gentle sketch with my pencil, and then cut them together so they would perfectly match.

Creating your "bunny ears." Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Step 3.  Pin party!  We are actually going to leave two inches open in the center of the strip, so I like to mark those two inches with horizontal needles so I don’t forget to stop stitching.  Then, pin vertically all the way up and down the rest of the raw edge.

Pinning your strip of fabric in order to create your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf. Another inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing tutorial!

I always have to pause and think before putting my pins in to figure out the right direction, but if you have the raw edge on the right side, you want your pin heads on the bottom.  That will make for easy pin removal as you sew.

Step 4.  Get your “sew” on!

{SIDE NOTE: As I said, if you don’t have a sewing machine, you can totally hand-stitch this head scarf with a needle and thread. Allie from xovain did just that and recommends an in-and-out running stitch, plain and simple.  I think her scarf has a nice handmade touch to it, so don’t be afraid to give it a go.}

Remember we’re working with a 1/4″ seam allowance, so I always like to use my seam gauge just to verify where I should be lining up my needle.  I was able to use a mark on my presser foot as a guide.

Stitching down the strip of fabric. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

I used a straight stitch with a 3.0 length, started at the top, and stitched down the raw edge, removing pins as I went.  Remember to stop stitching at the horizontal pin and then re-start after the 2″ gap in the middle.  Back tack at the start and finish of all stitches for this project (sew forward, backward, and forward again to prevent your thread from unraveling).  Also, you can lift the presser foot to help you maneuver the angles and curves of your bunny ears.

Here’s my strip of fabric post-stitching:

Stitching the strip of fabric. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Step 5.  Turn your scarf inside out and press.  Gently poke each bunny ear through scarf and out the 2″ opening, so you turn the scarf right-side out.  To get your ends fully worked through and pointy, I recommend using a chopstick or lead-free point of a mechanical pencil.

Turning your scarf right side out. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

And once you’re done, you can re-iron your scarf so the right-sides are pressed as they should be.

Pressing time! Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Step 6.  Prep and cut your wire.  Unfurl some of your wire so you have enough to go the length of the scarf and then some.  Before you cut it, though, simply take one end and twist it into a loop.  Then, take the “tail” of the wire and use the needle-nose pliers or nimble fingers to wrap it several times around itself, sealing it all up with some duct tape or in my case, masking tape (since we are sorely lacking duct tape in this household right now).  This will protect you from sharp pointy metal wire jabs to the head, which are never fun in my experience.

Looping the 20 gauge wire. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Then, lay the wire out alongside the scarf, and cut it with enough length so you end up with the same style of loop at the other end.  Voila!

Looping the 20 gauge wire. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Step 7.  Insert the wire into your scarf and secure.  Feed the wire through the 2″ opening of your scarf until it reaches both ends.

Feeding the wire into the scarf. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Then, in order to secure it to the scarf and keep it from floating around, make sure each end of the loop is pressed into the seam, pin it in place, and tack the fabric just inside of the loop with a single or double stitch.  You can do this with your machine or by hand on both ends.  And if you have thread that will blend right into the background, grrrreat.  If not, no worries!  We just want to make sure that wire isn’t getting any funny ideas about wandering off where it’s not supposed to go.

Tacking down the fabric so the wire is secure. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Step 8.  Stitch the opening closed.  Almost done!  Now, head to the ironing board and tuck the raw edges of the 2″ opening inside the scarf so they stay put.  Then, head back to your machine, and do a simple edging stitch to close it up.  You want to get as close to the edge as you can to keep the stitching inconspicuous.

Final edging stitch on the opening. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

Here’s mine:

Final edging stitch on the opening. Another step in creating your very own DIY Wire Head Scarf, an inspirational tutorial from Scarf Week 2015. Such a fun beginner sewing project anyone can do!

And there you have it!  Your Wire-Lined Head Scarf is all ready to be wrapped around your pretty little head and twisted into place.

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

Backyard Photo Shoot

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

Remember, no knot-tying and no bobby pins should be necessary.  Just a single twist…

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

…or a double!

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

Do some head-banging to verify how secure it feels.  Ahhhh…the power of wire!

I love to rock them with the bunny ears up, Rosie the Riveter style!

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

Or if you prefer, you can twist them in the back.

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

This would be great for kiddos who haven’t yet learned how to tie knots or bows!  After all, tying is so 2014.

I already have a request from Mark to make him one of his own (in a fabric that is perhaps a little less floral).  He just may have worn mine around the house last night, he was such a fan.

DIY Wire Head Scarf for the Beginner Sewist | Another inspirational Scarf Week tutorial that is fun, easy, and will open you up to a whole new world of head scarves that actually stay on your head! Lots of step by step photos help make this project extra do-able!

Now, go forth, and have fun creating a head scarf that will actually stay on your head.

From the Archives

If you’re feeling inspired and want to venture into the wonderful world of knits, you can follow it up with this Sew-Easy Turban HeadBand Tutorial from Scarf Week 2014:

"Sew Easy" Turban Headband: This video tutorial walks you through every step, making it a fun and easy beginner sewist project! Love how versatile these headbands are...and what great gifts they'd make!
“Sew Easy” Turban Headband: Video Tutorial

Want More Scarf Week Inspiration?

The sewing fun has only just begun!  Be sure to chomp those shark scarf teeth into each of these inspirational D.I.Y. projects hitting the blog-o-sphere today.

10 D.I.Y. Scarves for Sewists | Here are 10 do-able projects, many of which are beginner level, where you can stitch your way to your own D.I.Y. scarf! We've got neck scarves, head scarves, scarves for kiddos and babies...and and this is just one of FIVE inspirational themes during the Second Annual Scarf Week. Let's get scarfy!

Quick and Easy Knit Infinity Scarf by It Happens in a Blink Simplest DIY Lace Infinity Scarf by The Southern Couture Sewing a Patchwork Loop Scarf by It Was Weekend How to Make a Bandana Scarf for Baby by Burlap & Babies Upcycled Scrappy Scarf by Lucky Scarf Lace Trimmed Jersey Knit Scarf by One Dog Woof Scrap-Busting Children's Scarf With Pockets by Crafty Bonds Easy to Sew DIY Two-Sided Scarf by Apron Strings & Other Things Kids Infinity Scarf by The Crafting Nook Wire Head Scarf Tutorial for the Beginner Sewist by The Thinking Closet Image Map

Click the images above or links below to check ’em out.

1.  Quick and Easy Knit Infinity Scarf by It Happens in a Blink

2.  Simplest DIY Lace Infinity Scarf by The Southern Couture

3.  Sewing a Patchwork Loop Scarf by It Was Weekend

4.  How to Make a Bandana Scarf for Baby by Burlap & Babies

5.  Upcycled Scrappy Scarf by Lucky Scarf

6.   Lace Trimmed Jersey Knit Scarf by One Dog Woof

7.  Scrap-Busting Children’s Scarf With Pockets by Crafty Bonds

8.  Easy to Sew DIY Two-Sided Scarf by Apron Strings & Other Things

9.  Kids Infinity Scarf by The Crafting Nook

10.  Wire Head Scarf Tutorial for the Beginner Sewist by The Thinking Closet

Coming Next….

Here’s a glimpse at what’s coming up next!

Welcome to Scarf Week 2015! Bigger, better, scarfy-er. July 6 - 10, 2015. We've got t-shirt scarves, dyed-painted-stamped scarves, scarves for sewists, knitted & crocheted scarves, and scarf re-fashions! It's going to be a killer week of inspiration, no fish-bones about it.

To access all 5 days of Scarf Week in one special spot, click HERE to visit the “home base” post for this series.  I’ll be adding each day’s clickable collage to that page as they go live this week, including tomorrow’s theme of Knitted & Crocheted Scarves.  It’s one you’ll want to pin for later.  And be sure to follow along on social media with our hashtag, #ScarfWeek2015.

It’ll be wave after wave of killer inspiration, no fish-bones about it!

Then be sure to stop back in on Friday to check out my final scarf victim tutorial!  Mwah ha ha.

Stay scarfy, y’all.

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*Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase after clicking through, The Thinking Closet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for helping to support this site!

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8 Comments

  1. Thanks for this tutorial. I made my first wired headband today out of some boring, old, grey fabric, left-over from a pre-loved men’s shirt. Turns out it was just what my 5 year old needed to wrap around his head to turn him into a ‘ninja’. Cue lots of jumping, toy-sword twirling action. I WILL make a pretty one just for me though because they are so easy.

  2. How do you come up with all these ideas for scarf (hair) decor? To think it all started with scrunchies back in the early 90s! So love all the pictures, too. 🙂

    1. Ha ha. In truth I was inspired by some other tutorials…so I pulled little bits of each of them into developing my own! 😉 And yes, this was a total throwback to the scrunchie-making dayz. Thanks for getting me hooked on hair accessories at an early age!

      1. You are welcome, thought I’m sure YOU and your sister spearheaded some of those early projects as well.! It’s fun to see how those childhood projects are creatively coming back in similar yet contemporary ways so many years later!

  3. I wish I could rock headbands…but my curly hair always seems to pop out and lie in odd spots. A lot of them give me headaches too, but maybe the wire ones would be perfect! I’m somewhat proficient with my sewing machine but the easier the better 😉

    I don’t know how you keep coming up with all these scarf ideas, but I’m loving them!

  4. look at you, adorable bunny ears and all!
    I made actually made wired headbands way back in the early 90’s, but I like yours waaay better! Your tip for making the little loops at end of wire and covering with washitape is genius, thanks so much! may have to get my girls to try this one.

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