I have a granddaughter, Elyza, that loves the retro 1940’s - 50’s look. And she should! That style looks great on her. She loves it when I do something that is reminiscent of that age she usually lays claim to it.. But all the young girls in my life love my Rosie the Riveter Retro Headband. I do too! It makes a great little gift to have on hand to tuck into a birthday gift or a stocking. It sews together quickly and helps use up scraps.
What you will need to get started
Focus fabric that is 9 inches wide by 38 inches. (You can also a fat quarter and piece the length together with a 1/4 inch seam.
Coordinating thread, pins, scissors and a tape measure or a rotary cutter, mat and ruler
Step one Cut strips that measure 8 - 9 inches wide by 36 inches long. ( If using a fat quarter the length should be 38 1/2 inches long to accommodate a 1/4 inch seam allowance.) These measurements can be adjusted based on the size of the head.
Step two Fold the strip in half with the right sides together bringing the long raw edges together. Fold the strip in half again bring the short edges together. Measure in 6 inches from the end. You will cut from this place on the raw edge to the corner on the folded edge.
Step three Using a 1/4 inch seam allowance stitch along the edge. Leave a 2 - 2 1/2 inch gap approximately half way. ( I mark the beginning of the gap with a pin so I will remember to leave it.) Back stitch at the points and at the beginning and end of the gap.
Step four Turn the strip right side out through the gap. Press. Stitch the gap closed using a 1/8 inch allowance.
Easy peazy! you done. You can whip up a dozen in no time at all. Make them for quick gifts, stocking stuffers, or just to match your wardrobe.
Jen Mullen says
Cute! I have a fondness for Rosie!
Maria Perez says
I do too. The girls also just love the look and it works in so many different fabrics. Thanks for stopping by.
Shirley Wood says
Great use of scraps or a planned purchase of material. My little granddaughter would enjoy this. I may make her one! thanks!
Maria Perez says
Shirley, make sure you measure her head and adjust accordingly. My granddaughters love them and style them all different ways.
Joleen says
Hi Maria,
I have a daughter who is 14 and she is very similar to your granddaughter, she also has the look for this style. I believe that I will be very busy making headbands to match all her different outfits…and maybe a few for me….
Maria Perez says
Joleen, If you do make sure you send me pictures I love to see what my readers are making from my tutorials. I am sure your daughter will look as lovely as my granddaughters in their Rosie the Riveter Retro headbands.
Karen Bell says
They look great and simple to make. My girls would like these.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Maria Perez says
They are very simple to make. If you make some I would love pictures. Thanks for stopping by.
Lisa Ehrman says
These are adorable! It’s nice that you can grab up a fat quarter or two (or more). She looks great with these colorful headbands, too! Thanks for sharing all the details and pics at Together on Tuesdays 🙂
Maria Perez says
These are so fast - so easy. You can make one up to match every outfit in your wardrobe.
Mickie Gurney says
Thanks Mary (I’ll try to call you Maria, but old habits die hard!), I’m going to make some of these for my niece and grand nieces! I’m going to see them in a couple of weeks and these won’t take up much room in my suitcase. I’ll send you pictures. - Mickie
Maria Perez says
I would love to see the pictures. I do round-up of readers pictures of the different projects that they do from my tutorials. So with your permission I would like to post it.
daisy says
Those are adorable! I’m just learning to sew and this would be a great project! Pinning!
Maria Perez says
Daisy,
This is a great beginning learning project. It is also adorable on. Let me know how it goes and if I can be of any help just let me know.
Kim Hilbert says
These do look super cute. I wondered exactly how they were made. Great job! Unfortunately, I can’t wear them, I’m strictly a hair clip type gal. 🙂 I tried to wear other things, They just irritate me. But I might make one for my daughter. She likes things like this.
Maria Perez says
Kim, if you do make some for your daughter I would love to put it up in my "what my readers are making post" I do it about every couple of months and it is great fun. I love to see everyone’s projects
lorraine williamson says
love the tutorial so cute I think even I can make one thanks for sharing have a great weekend
Maria Perez says
Lorraine, I know you could. All straight sewing and only about 20 minutes of time. I want to see them when you are done. (Betcha can’t make just one!)
Heather says
I was planning to be Rosie the Riveter next Halloween so I’m definitely going to try this! Thanks!
Maria Perez says
Heather,
We had great fun scouring the thrift shop for the blue shirt. Elyza, my granddaughter, was really into the pose. She kept the shirt and her mother told me she wore it and the headband to school the next day. Let me know if you make a headband off my tute for you costume. I would love a picture and put it in my readers’ showcase.
Angela McKinney says
Love this look! Glad you shared at #HomeMattersParty
Maria Perez says
Thanks for stopping by.
Jessica Pelasky says
Ha! This turned out so cute!
Thanks for joining the Cooking and Crafting with J & J Link Up!
Maria Perez says
Jessica, thanks for stopping by.
Aliza Biorn says
These look great!
Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board. Hope to see you next week!
Maria Perez says
Aliza, thank you.
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says
What a CUTE headband! Thank you for the tutorial. I’d like to feature this today at Tuesdays with a Twist! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Maria Perez says
Marci,
Oh, wow! Thanks for the feature, These are so popular with my granddaughter. They love wearing them. One of my granddaughter was just here this weekend. She asked me to make her one for the 4th of July. Another big request is to have one in their favorite NFL team fabric. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Alexandra Guglielmo says
Ooh, great idea! I love this retro style, too. This seems simple enough…I just need to figure out how to threat my machine, now :/
Maria Perez says
Alexandra, threading your machine is probably going to take you more time than it takes to whip one of these up. Let me know if you make some.
Behind the Seams Sew says
Great tutorial! I love these headbands. Thanks for linking up at the Stitch It, Blog It, Share Link Party. I hope you’ll join us every Sunday night at 7 with more of your creative sewing projects.
~Bonnie @ Behind the Seams Sewing
Maria Perez says
Bonnie, I love to party. I’ll be there. Thanks for the invite,
Terri Presser says
These look great and you have made them seem so easy, thanks for sharing at Good Morning Mondays. Blessings
Maria Perez says
Terri, they are easy and quick. The kids love them, too.
Kathleen says
Can I just put a warning here, I see below and on many pages that I visit a google ad for ‘unfiriend alert’ this ad is malware. It took me hours to get rid of, it came with Norton approved. Then it took Norton 2 hours to get it off my computer. Sorry I just don’t want others to go through this misery.
As usual I love all the sewing tips and magic that you do with your sewing machine.
Thanks Kathleen
Fridays Blog Booster Party #9
Maria Perez says
I am sorry about that, Kathleen. I will leave this warning up for my readers to see but my tech guy and I could not duplicate your problem. That ad did not pop up for us. We sent an email to Google to see if it is something that they can control.
Thanks for stopping by.
Lou Lou Girls says
I absolutely love this! Thanks for sharing it with us. Pinned and tweeted. I hope to see you tomorrow night at 7 pm. We can’t wait to party with you! Lou Lou Girls
Maria Perez says
Thanks for stopping by. I love to party with you.
Julie Stocker says
Easy and cute! I have some fabric in mind right now. Someone’s going to love this sweet thing. Thanks for your easy tutorial.
Julie @ Pink Doxies
Maria Perez says
Julie, Share when you do make it. I would love to post it in my Readers Makes Showcase Thanks.
Chantal Bernard says
This is super cute! Thanks for joining the Link-It To Me Link Up party! I hope you will party with us again next week!
Maria Perez says
Chantel, Thanks for stopping by.
Staci says
I love having a go-to project that makes a great gift - and this is lovely! Thanks for sharing at Talented Tuesday!
Maria Perez says
Staci, think "stocking stuffers." Quick easy and inexpensive.
ntina nt says
So beautiful! I wish I could sew. Thanks for linking this to bloggers brags party! pinned.
Maria Perez says
The girls look beautiful in them too. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment.
Nicole says
This is getting pinned and Facebooked. It is awesome! Thank you for visiting our #HomeMattersParty and sharing this!
Maria Perez says
Thank you so much, Nicole. I look forward to the next party!
Nina Lewis says
Thank you, thank you for sharing this at Grandma Ideas Sharing Time link up! This is such a darling idea! I absolutely love it.
Maria Perez says
Thanks, Nina. I know your granddaughters are not yet teenagers but you can make these a little smaller and the headbands would look adorable on them.
Brandi Clevinger says
Those look super cute! Thanks for sharing at #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup! I pinned this to the Small Victories Sunday Linkup board at http://www.pinterest.com/beingfibromom
Maria Perez says
Brandi, I am sorry it has taken me so long to thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment. I have been MIA due to internet issues. I’m glad you liked my retro headbands and I look forward to the party this Sunday.
Jennifer S. says
These are super cute! I don’t know if I’m cool enough to pull off a look like that, but I’m tempted to try.
Maria Perez says
Jennifer, these will make you cool! Give ’em a try and let me know how it goes. Retro is in!