Relaxation Time! How to sew a sleep mask and a head band!

Ahhh relaxation! All of this time spent inside may have you searching for ways to pass the time and to forget about the outside world! This week's challenge was to learn how to sew a head band or a sleep mask. We put out two polls, one on Instagram and one on Facebook, but it was a tie! I then tried to post another poll on a separate account and it was also a tie! This led to the conclusion that I needed to show you how to sew both!

Video Instructions

Twisted Headband

Headbands have gained a lot of traction and popularity lately. Instagram feeds are full of images of twisted and turban style headbands. In this post, I will show you how to sew a twisted headband using knit or Jersey knit fabric. Cotton or flannel fabric will not work as it does not have enough stretch for this pattern. It's also important to use the correct needle. Knit fabric stretches which is great for headbands, but can be more challenging to sew. With that said, let's get started!

Items Needed:

• 2 Strips of Knit Fabric - I used the dimensions 21 inches by 5.5 inches. You can size down this pattern for kids or make it more custom to your head. 
• Circular Needle/Point Needle meant for silk or delicate fabrics
• Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine

Step 1: Cut out two fabric strips. Fold each strip hot dog style so right sides are together, and pin.

Step 2: Sew the fabric using a zig-zag pattern, and turn right side out. 

Step 3: Lay one strip at a diagonal and place the other fabric in an X pattern on the other diagonal. Fold the the top left corner of the fabric strip over the second fabric strip so the edges of the bottom fabric strip are together. Bring together the edges of the top fabric strip. There should now be a twist! 

Step 4: Bring the edges of the fabric strips together, and sew a zig-zag seam through the edges.

Step 5: Trim the seams using scissors or pinking shears. Pinking shears are scissors with a zig-zag pattern.

Step 6: Wear your headband! 

 

Sleep Mask

Some people need complete darkness to sleep, and with summer right around the corner that can be hard to find! This sleep mask will be letting you get all the zzz's you need in no time! The mask pattern can be found at the end of the instructions!

Items Needed:

• 1 mask pattern cut out of silky or flannel fabric
• 1 mask pattern cut out of cotton or velvet fabric
• 1 mask pattern cut out of batting
• 1 piece of 14 inch elastic
• Thread
• Needle
• Pins
• Scissors
• Sewing Machine 

Step 1: Cut out fabric using pattern. You will want one for the outside of the mask, one for the inside, and one of the batting.

Step 2: Pin the elastic to the notches on the pattern piece on either side of the mask. You can place a pin in the middle to hold the elastic, so it doesn't interact with the rest of sewing the mask. 

Step 3: To build the sleep mask, place the inside layer on the outside layer with right sides together. Place the interfacing layer on top of the rest of the mask. Pin these layers together. 

Step 4: Sew the mask from the first double notch to the second double notch. 

Step 5: Turn the mask right side out. Hand stitch the seam closed. 

Step 6: Top stitch around the mask about a 1/4 of an inch around. 

Step 7: Sleep soundly with your mask! 

All this sleeping and relaxing is giving me plenty of energy for some organization....maybe that can be next week's goal!

Use this Mask Pattern! 

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