How to Make a Headband & Scarf From Ribbon

Design a 7-by-47-inch ribbon scarf pattern. Place the first ribbon in the center of an empty paper towel roll. Lay the ends of various ribbons, side by side, working out from each side of the center ribbon. Repeat this design process until the collective ribbons measure about 7 inches wide. Measurements do not have to be exact.

Clip the ends of each ribbon with pinking shears. Place a straight pin approximately 1/2 inch from the center ribbon's end. Press the pin through the center of the ribbon and completely into the roll. Repeat with each ribbon until the pattern is secured to the roll. This begins the design spool. Use the spool and pull the ribbons to lay out flat. Measure and pink 48 inches of each ribbon. Roll the ribbons, counter-clockwise, onto the spool.

Set sewing machine stitch to zigzag. Lay the ribbon spool to the right, inside deck of the machine. Unspool about 6 inches of each ribbon. Begin with the top ribbon. Sew a zigzag stich, 1/2 inch from the end and across the width of the ribbon. Stop at the ribbon's edge, lower the needle and lift the presser foot. Lay the next, descending ribbon beside the top ribbon, without overlapping. Align the ends. Lower the presser foot and sew across the ribbon. Repeat this pattern until all ribbons are sewn together.

Start a second line of stitching across the width of the ribbons about 2 inches from the first. Continue this pattern, unspooling ribbon as needed. Control the sewn portion of the ribbons by starting a left-side, ribbon spool. Continue stitching the ribbons together, at 2-inch intervals, until the entire length has been sewn. Unroll the ribbon scarf and clip loose threads. Pink each end about 1/2 inch from the last stitched line. The ribbon scarf is ready to wear.

Use the same technique to make a 19-inch headband. Begin the design using the spooling method but reducing the width to about 3 inches. The width is optional. Stitch the width of the ribbons together at 1-inch intervals. Repeat this pattern along the length of the ribbons. Clip each end with pinking shears. Wrap one end of the ribbons around the end of a 2-inch-long piece of 1/2-inch elastic. Secure the two pieces together by straight stitching across the width of the fold. Complete the headband circle by straight stitching the open ends together. Clip loose strings and the headband is ready to wear.