So what do you do when you’re on lockdown and you’ve made the decision not to take any new orders in support of Government advice? You start making headbands for frontline and key workers!

My friend put a shout out on Facebook this week to say headbands would be greatly appreciated by many front line and key workers as the elastic from their face masks can be really uncomfortable around their ears. The idea of these headbands is to include buttons on the side where the elastic can be attached instead.

So I rummaged through my fabric stash and took to my sewing machine to make a batch of headbands that I hope will help a few keyworkers somewhere stay a little more comfortable. It’s not much, but I guess every little helps in showing our support to these fabulous people on the frontline, working tirelessly to tackle this awful virus.

If any of you are feeling a bit crafty and would like to join the headband effort, here’s a step by step guide on how to make a headband for a face mask (it really is easy peasy)!

You will need:

• Cotton fabric that can be washed at 60 degrees
• A piece of fabric measuring 35cm x 15cm (fabric 1)
• A piece of fabric measuring 28cm x 6cm (fabric 2)
• Elastic measuring 17cm (at least 1cm wide)
• 2 x buttons
• Sewing supplies
  

At this point I like to press the two pieces of fabric with the seam line running down the middle, so they’re lovely and neat (I am a sucker for an iron and a nice pressed seam) 😉

Step two:

Take your strip of elastic and pop a safety pin on the end. Use the pin to guide the elastic through the fabric 2 tube.

Be sure to sew the end of the elastic to the fabric tube before you pull it right through, so you don’t lose the elastic in the tube.

Remove the safety pin and also sew this end of the fabric and elastic together, so you now have a secure ruffle.

Fold one side of fabric 1 over fabric 2 (as shown here).

Step three:

Place fabric 2 in the centre and at the end of fabric 1 (as shown here), making sure right sides are together.

Fold the other side of fabric 1 in to the middle and covering fabric 2 (as shown here). Sew along the end to secure.

Repeat the same on the other side of the headband.

Step four:

Turn the headband back out the right way. This will have created a little pocket where the elastic piece joins so you can’t see any raw edges.

Add a button each side of the headband, around 1″ up from where the elastic joins the main fabric. I tend to do this by hand using upholstery thread to ensure a strong & secure hold.

And voila! Your face mask headband is complete and being modelled beautifully by the Cuddle Me Keepsakes Amie Bear 😉

If you’re looking for somewhere to donate your face mask headband, Facebook is a great place to start with a host of groups and people doing shout outs for items needed for frontline workers – this is definitely the best place to find someone who may be looking in your local area. Be sure to use the search function in Facebook.

If you have any queries on this How To Guide, please do leave a message in the comments or pop me an email – leah@cuddlemekeepsakes.co.uk.

Stay home, stay safe and happy sewing! xxx