Mrs Bowden’s anti-sore-ear Headband tutorial

Mrs Bowden’s anti-sore-ear Headband Tutorial

Ready for a mask

I do hope this finds you well, safe and happy.  Thank you, first of all, for showing your interest in this tutorial.  The idea came about following a request made by a Midwife at Ipswich Hospital.  As face masks are being worn throughout the Hospital, many staff are experiencing chaffing from the face mask elastic hooked around their ears.  This headband has a dual purpose, it keeps hair out of the face and gives comfort and relief from the face mask as the elastic gets hooked around the buttons instead of the ears.  These are simple to make and suitable for construction on a sewing machine or an overlocker.  It is important to use a soft, stretch jersey fabric as it makes them more comfortable to wear and suitable for different head sizes.

Resources

Headband resources

Headband 8” x 16” (20 cm x 40 cm) jersey fabric – light to medium weight. Cut it so the greatest direction of stretch runs along the length of the fabric – think of it as the stretch travelling around the head.
Elastic casing 2 ½” x 5” (5 cm x 12 cm) jersey fabric.
Elastic 2½” (6 cm) of ½” or ¾” (1 cm or 1.5 cm)
2 x 5/8” (1.5 cm) diameter buttons
Sewing thread, pins, hand sewing needle, scissors, sewing machine or overlocker, safety pin.
Seam allowance is 3/8” (1 cm) throughout.

Fold the headband in half, right sides together and create a seam on the long edge. Repeat for the elastic casing.

Turn them both right sides out. Make sure the seam is running down the middle.

Attach one end of the elastic to the safety pin.  Thread the elastic through the casing.

Line up the edge of the elastic, that is not attached to the safety pin, with the edge of the headband. Fold the headband edges over to cover the elastic.

Sew along the short edge. Pull it to test the elastic is secured.

Pull the other end of the elastic – which should still have the safety pin attached – so the end of the elastic peeks out.

Sew the edge in securely and test it.

The headband should have little corners either side of the
casing.

Fold the headband in half and mark the quarter points – giving you the button position.

Using a double thread, for strength, sew the buttons on very securely.

The wearer can hook their face mask elastic around the buttons and keep their ears comfy.
You have finished and you have made something very helpful for our NHS superheroes.  Well done xxxx