Our headband had a flower that was starting to look a little tired and worn so we made it new again! This braided ribbon could embellish many things— a hair clip would be cute too! These headbands would make great handmade gifts for little girls to make each other!
Woven Ribbon Headband
Gather a headband and about 4 1/2 yards of ribbon. You can use any with — I chose 1/4 inch. The braiding will be two toned if the ribbon is different on the front and back, another nice look!
Begin by finding the middle of the ribbon. In the middle of the ribbon make a loop crossing the left side over the right. (which way you start doesn’t matter — I am left handed)
Now bring the bottom ribbon up and make a loop and send it through the beginning loop that you just made by crossing the ribbon.
Pull the right side snug.
Now repeat for the other side, picking up the right side, making a loop and sending it up through the loop just made on the other side.
Pull the left side snug. Make a loop with the left side sending it through the loop made on the other side.
Pull right side snug.
Continue braiding until you have a piece long enough to cover the headband. Clip the end.
Bring the other side over and then trim. Fold ends under and hot glue.
Hot glue ribbon to headband.
Finished!
Cute and simple! Really love itttt!!!!!
I was wondering if you could email me the instructions on how to make this? Thank you for much for sharing your knowledge and talent.
Annie Burleson
THANK YOU for the photos of this technique. It is so much easier to follow than the videos.
am very excited to try. hope I can do it
Am a grandma making for grandkids in AK. New to this, where do I obtain headband? Like your site. Could be adapted to make matching ones for girls. Thanks
gracias me sirvio aprendi a hacerlo.
I have been making these braided ribbons for years an years.
If you want a 6 inch braided ribbon you need 8 times the length
of the braided ribbon to start the braid. That would be 48 inches.
Hope this helps.
Doris Anderson from Canada.
I love the braid, I was thinking this would be great for hatbands and trim on store bought purses. and clothes, too! It also reminds me of using 2 same lengths of rickrack same width (could be different colors) and weave wrapping them around each other you are able to make a braid, it is good for headbands, hatbands, clothing trim and trimming household items, too!
I remember doing this with “gimp” as a kid! We DID use this pattern to make bracelets! We also learned to do the “box” pattern as well. I never even thought of using ribbon to do this…I love the idea!
Normally, I don’t bother to comment, but this tutorial made me so frustrated, I hope to help others. I was eventually able to figure it out, but the problem is the first few steps are completely pictured wrong and instructed wrong.
If you look how the ribbon is looped, front-wise, like a collar of a shirt with the starting left piece over the right piece, the tutorial then tells you to take the back piece and loop it through the front. This DOES NOT, make the resultant knot shown. What results is a weird, tangled bottom.
To get it right, you have to cross the right side over the left, then take the FRONT piece and loop it to the back. Basically the complete opposite of what the tutorial says to do and what is pictured, but if you do this, you get the exact knot in the third picture. Hope this helps someone. It was so frustrating following the pictures and words EXACTLY and the result was utterly wrong. Trust me on this, do the exact opposite and then you will get the pretty pointed bottom.
Thanks Amanda for the tips!
I know this post is pretty old, in fact I found it soon after you posted it because I saw a woman at the local Civil War Re-enactment doing this weaving/braiding. I bought one from her and watched her do it. Then later I spent over an hour looking for a tutorial. I found you, and I learned how to make it and now I make them all the time for a variety of things. (thanks!)
What still irks me is that I can’t figure out what the technique is called. Everytime I try to figure it out I can’t seem to find a name for it.
When I googled ribbon braiding/weaving before, it comes up with so many different ways, but none of them have names!
There’s got to be a name for the different ways, or something!
That’s why it took me over an hour to find the right tutorial for the one I bought.
I bookmarked your site, in case I forgot, or someone else wanted to know. But, I still don’t know what to call it..
It is called Military braid.
What size was the headband?
MUITO LEGAL O QUE VCS FAZEM AQUI NA ENTERNETE OBRIGADO
What a beautifull headband! I just made two, one for each of my girls.. Thanks for the tutoríal!
Thanks for the tutorial! Uses A LOT of my ribbon but this is just
FA-BU-LOUS! A lot of detail in the tutorial. You may want to make the first few steps clearer in the pictures. I had a bit of trouble understanding what to do. But THANKS! That’s all I want to say. 😀
Just tried this. It looks beautiful! Took a little while to get the rhythm of it, but then it was easy. Definitely takes a lot of ribbon, though. Now I want to try it with 2 different colors. Thanks for the tutorial.
Love this! Make sure to use a big enough ribbon. The first time I tried it mine was too small and it didn’t look good at all. Used a bigger one (about the size pictured above) and it looked amazing! Very cool!
this method looks like the same way you make a paracord braclet.
Super cute! A great way to use ribbon!
wow
Hi, I google the tutorial and find it.
Thanks for sharing.
There is some confusion on the step 7.Please more details.Thanks.
Achei muito bonito.manda outra ideia para mim
Hi! Love your tutorials! Thanks for sharing! I actually do this for a headband @ my etsy store, but freestanding… Just as a tip, if you use it “freestanding” (no glued to a headband), you need to insert an elastic inside the braid, (if is done correctly you can’t see it from either side), if not is going to stretch, and maybe you can wear it just once! 🙂
Always looking for new ideas and this is a good one,dosen’t look to hard
Really love this, simple but looks great. I’ve got a couple of old and tired looking head bands that are perfect for this makeover!
What a wonderful idea, gorgeous head band thanks for sharing
just made these headbands in 10 minutes. EASY!!! So cute. I added a ponytail band first so now I don’t need the plastic headband. So fun and quick!
I just made one for my little girl. Adorable. thank you for sharing this tutorial
awesome! thanks for the great tutorial!!
OMG!!my daughter showed me this and I have been making these like crazy. With the ribbon I have, l can make one in 15 minutes. I don’t have any headbands, so I stitched a thin elastic to each end and made a stretchy headband. I will be making these all winter and have them ready for the church bazaar.
Hi this is fabulous!. I’m just strting to make my own line of headbands, hair clips etc and this is invaluable!. I’ve just tried this with the addition of the hair tie as someone commented/sujested and it looks AMAZING!Thanks very much. xxx
This is so cute! I love how you braided the ribbion with just one piece!
Helen
Blue Eyed Beauty Blog
I just used this method to make an elastic head band for my daughter. I used a hair tie and looped the ribbon through before I started. Then when I reached the correct length I pulled the last loop all the way out and went around the hair tie then put the ribbon back through to recreate the loop. Then did a simple tie knot on the under side, and cut the ends and melted slightly with a lighter.
hi
I made it over the weekend and it was very easy,a person can take the same methord,and take thin rope to make friendship bracelets
Here is a link with a video on how-to of ribbon braiding.
http://www.mayarts.com/blog/flip-flops-with-flair/
I have been trying this for 30 minutes… I think there needs to be another picture after Pull the left side snug. Make a loop with the left side sending it through the loop made on the other side.
Is there any video that shows how?
Can you tell me what the size was when you were finished? I am looking at doing it on a pair of shoes, but have no idea what size ribbon and the difference in my results would be. Thank you.
I was thinking of making the braid even longer and using it as a headband do I don’t have to deal with a hot glue gun xD I would just wrap it around my head and tie it off 🙂
wonderful tutorial!!! I will try to make one for my little daughter!! Thanks so much!!
i like it. very nice
Cute and really pretty!!Thanks for sharing.
For everyone that was having trouble (like I was) I found this online! It explains it much simpler, including terms like “wrong side together” and “right side up” which really helped me, plus good illustrations lol. After finding this I finished my headband in about 5 min, not even haha. Hope this helps everyone!!! 🙂
Here’s the link: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oFFUhXC8TSo/STXFBKQdRpI/AAAAAAAAACw/Y_5C79dxxVM/s1600/hobbylobby1.jpg
-Stephanie Marie
Check out my pinterest, I’ll be posting a finished pic of this headband and another neat DIY I came up with for this! 😉
This is so cute! I’ve never even thought of making one myself, I love it!
iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii lllllllllllllllloooooooooovvvvvve this, thanks for sharing.
love………….nancy
Wow, how nice, great color for summer, I have to try to make this. You are so inspirational.
I wish there was an actual “video” of this because I’m too confused…It’s beautiful tho! =)
How do you make the underside look more finished and hide the plastic?
Beautiful and very well finished looking. And it looks so easy, too. I really want to try it! Thanks! xox jean
This is so pretty, thank you for sharing the tutorial.
I linked it in a series I’m writing for my blog (http://rock-n-roll-stops-the-traffic.blogspot.it/2012/05/diy-from-head-to-toe-9.html#more), hope you don’t mind 🙂
I recommended your website on my blog. I really like the headband.
http://nashbr3eze.blogspot.com/
Great idea! Planning to use these woven ribbons in many ways. Honey, you work so hard, treat yourself to a manicure.
Thank you for this tutorial, I found it very easy to do & loved the result. My granddaughter will be getting plenty of headbands to choose from. Will also use it for other things.
Really cute!
im making a bracelet of it..supernice idea and totorial, thanks!
i followed Julia’s tips and am still not getting it. I was really excited to make this too!
http://postadaychallenge2011.com/2012/02/07/award-from-all-around-wonderful-blogger/
For those of you having trouble, I struggled with this as well (and I make boutique bows so I think I am typically fairly handy with ribbon projects. lol). I finally figured it out and have some tips that might help.
First, I don’t suggest using ribbon larger than 5/8 — I tried 7/8 even after getting the technique down) and it wasn’t very pretty. Second, pay attention to the way in which she has looped the ribbon above. For example, note that her initial loop is not like an awareness ribbon (folded inward). Rather, it is folded the other way. It makes a difference. This brings me to my third tip…when you start inserting the loops, again pay attention to the direction of the fold (it should be the same every time, making sure none of the ribbon is twisted. Lastly, do not pull the ribbon too tightly. When the instructions said to “pull snug”, I thought took that to mean “tightly”. Wrong. Instead, pull just enough to get a flat braid. If you pull tightly, the ribbon gathers.
I hope this helps, at least a little! Good luck!
Wonderful idea. I just try it o a little bit of ribbon and it is perfect. Thanks for sharing this.
Brilliant.
This is awesome! My 10 year old daughter and I have been making these today like CRAZY. We added clasps to each side and a small charm to the center and turned them into lovely choker necklaces, too. Another idea that we’ll try tomorrow is to use hot glue to add a strip of felt to the back side and turn it into a book mark. Soooo many possibilities. Thanks for a fantastic and inexpensive last minute gift.
You should post a video of you doing this. I’m with everyone else having a hard time keeping it tidy.
To anyone who is having a hard time… when I did this I thought I was doing it wrong, too, but I flipped my ribbon over and the braid was on the back! Somehow when I do it I end up doing it backwards, but it’s the same thing. Try again and see if the braid is showing up on the opposite side. 🙂
Love this. Easy and really pretty. Thank You!!!!
I am also having trouble and I can not figure it out either. I have tried several time and just cant seem to get it down. What type of braiding is this called and do you know of any video tutorial on this type of braiding?
Love this. I think it will be cute as bookmarks. Gonna try it.
Love a good refashion!
I loved this tutorial so much I have featured it on my blog.
You can see it here….
http://allysonadeney.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/handmade-gift-ideas-with-tutorials-kids-little-boys-little-girls/
… if you like.
Thanks for taking the time to put it together and sharing it.
Ally on harrysdesk
Just knocked out 5 of these. Made of beautiful, but inexpensive, ribbon from Hobby Lobby. Using the braid, adding a tassel and occasional bead and gifting as beautiful book marks.
Thanks for the tutorial! I have made some short ones for on clips. I plan to send them to my nieces for Christmas! thanks, they are so easy and very cute!
I, too, found this on Pinterest and bought some ribbon to try it with. I’m left handed also, but for some reason, this just isn’t working for me. I’m getting really frustrated but I am not sure what I’m doing wrong :/
I just wanted to let you know I included this in my 2011 Ultimate DIY Gift Guide (101 tutorials/recipes)! 🙂 http://danimariedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/10/2011-ultimate-diy-gift-guide.html
My daughter has a few headbands that are waiting to be refashioned. I cannot figure this out. It looks simple but even following the steps my ribbon doesn’t look ANYTHING like this. 🙁
This is a super cute idea! Unfortunatly I cannot figure it out, I’m doing something wrong but I’m not sure what! lol My daughter has 3 headbands waiting to be refashioned and I can’t figure this out.
Cute idea! I found this on Pinterest. I am now subscribing to you.
Thanks for posting the tutorial it is extremely clear. However I am having trouble with it and I dont know why! (I am only 11) mine looks knotty and untidy! Any advice??
Thanks so much
We did this with lanyard string at a camp I worked at one year. never thought about using it to make a headband! We called it snake because with the plastic like string, it felt like snakeskin. Thanks! Glad I have ribbon to try this out!
Thank you for sharing this fab tutorial. I’ve never tired this technique before, but I’ve got so much ribbon that’s been hanging around for a while. Now I have something to do with it. 🙂
These look great. And are so easy to make. I took it one step further, though. I made a braid with the 1/4″ ribbon and glued it to the headband. Then I made another braid with a different color ( either a lighter shade or a contrasting color ) out of 1/8″ ribbon. (A little tricky because it’s so thin.) Then I hot glued it down the center of the 1/4″ braid. It looks fantastic. I also wanted a two-toned braid, but couldn’t find any ribbon with a different color on the front and back, so I just used took 4 1/2 yards of 2 different colors and held them together while working the braid. So far I’ve made 8. Looking for a few more color combinations. Thanks for the tutorial.
Thanks for the great how-to, I have add you to my Pinterest board.http://pinterest.com/craftykate/
Thanks for the great how-to. I have placed you on my Pinterest board
Great tuturial
I’m gonna make one
and put it on my blog with your link
gonna look on youre site
keep up the nice work
I like this! Now I’m on the hunt for more ribbon and headbands to try this out 🙂
Looks wonderful!!! I can’t wait to try this… my girls would love these
So Amazing work. I like the color too. 😉
Yay!! I did it. Thanks for this tutorial. I got a book from the library called Ribbon Crafts and in there where it showed how to make it. I just wasn’t getting it. With your help I was able to figure it out.
~Laura~
Seems like it could be used for hem-lines, or a sash/belt on clothing as well 🙂
Great tutorial, thank you!
I linked to it on my blog http://birgitkerr.blogspot.com/2010/09/headband-from-scraps.html
You can make great bookmarks using this technique. My craft club starting making them years ago.
finally………….directions for the amazing left handed people in this world! thank you. i am off to get ribbon and headbands for a night of crafting while watching Dancing with the Stars. a perfect night!
Love this headband–so crafty!
Would love for you to link up to my Headband Link party over at Little Miss Momma! Here’s the link:
http://littlemissmomma.blogspot.com/2010/09/headband-week-link-party-and-surprise.html
I love this idea and the directions look easy to follow! Great idea!
We used to do this “back in the day”, and I forgot how pretty it is! Thanks for the reminder – I need to go make some!
I love this and have been trying it all day! I cannot figure out how to start it correctly though 🙁 I make the first loop and then make a loop with the bottom ribbon and stick it through the first loop, then I got lost where it says to pull the right side snug. When I do what I think I’m supposed to, it does not look like yours does in the picture. Is anyone else having this problem. Help!
Guauuuuu!!! I love it!!!
Kisses from Spain.
I love these, and have been meaning to make one for quite sometime. Thanks for the re-inspiration! 🙂
This is a great tutorial! I love how the weaving is done first and then glued to the band, instead of weaving around the headband. It looks a lot easier!
So pretty! I will be making this very soon. 🙂 thank you so much for the wonderful step by step instructions! 🙂
Thank you so much for posting this. The blog “Be Different.. Act Normal” linked up to this post. Rather fortuitous, since just today I went to a renaissance faire that had braided ribbons and I wanted to learn to do that. 😀
this is great and so simple! thanks so very much for the tutorial. I’m going to link to this on my weekly international blog linking party so that my readers can see it too! Do drop by yourself, there’s always lots of good inspiration from around the world!
This little tutorial is giving me flashbacks to back when I made homecoming mums for my high school’s homecoming (that would have been in the early 90’s). Do they even do that any more?
Great tutorial, by the way. I’ll have to make a few decorated headbands for my daughter!
Oh boy, just what I needed…another project!!! I love it, I have already made one headband, your directions are incredibly easy!!
Thanks!
Very cool! Thank you!
Oh, this is wonderful! Perfect craft for some birthday presents!
You make this look SO easy!! 🙂 I’m going to have to give it a try…I have 3 little girls who love headbands!
I loved the look of the braid (on craft.com) and had to click through to see how you did it. I was surprised to recognize the method!
When I was about 10 plastic cord (we called it “gimp”) was all the rage and we used two colours and this type of braid to make bracelets.
I think I like it even better in ribbon, but if you are trying to teach young kids how to do this, gimp is great because its stiff enough that the loops hold their shape.
I’ll have to dig out my ribbon stash and try it.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Your little model told me that you made it and I didn’t believe her!! Oh, no!! So, so cute!! Great tutorial! Love it!
This is great to learn how to do. Thanks for the “tute”!!
Very cute….Immediately made me think of this last week on Project Runway. Andy’s winning dress was made with this same braid. They had to shop entirely at a party store.
http://tinyurl.com/2dqxmw7
Oh, I really like this, and I think I can even do this! I will be making several for my granddaughter. She will love them – also my greatneices. Thanks for the great tut!
Wow, this is so pretty! Fun too. Thanks so much, I’ll be linking.
another adorable project – my girlies will love doing this one!!
Cute and simple! Thanks for explaining it so well. I am excited to make a whole bunch!!!
I used to make barrettes kind of like these back when my 36 year old daughter was young, using those double metal barrettes with space inbetween! I had forgotten all about them! Thanks!!!
This is so adorable, and it looks like something I could actually do myself even with my craft challenged brain! 🙂
Thanks!
thanks for all the photos along the way. this has a really neat texture to it!
OMG! Is there something you can’t do? 😉 you make every thing look simple… I’ve gotta try this one! Thanks for sharing!
Very sweet way to use the ribbon braiding.
I’ve tried like fifty tutorials for something similar on youtube, but this looks so much easier! Thanks so much for sharing!!!
Oh snap! I’ve wondered how that braid is made. Thank you for the tutorial — I can see this used for Flower Girls next summer!
Wow – I just received the tutorial in my mail – and I’ll make one now. 🙂 Luckily I have a plastic headband and lots of ribbon, and hot glue, yay! 🙂 Awesome tutorial!
Thank you
That came out great. I’ll have to give that weaving technique a try.
Thanks for Sharing
Hammer & Thread
Super tutorial (though I will probably make a complete mess of this project) and what a great idea! I am going to pick up a couple of plastic headbands and make something pretty for my granddaughters. They will think Grammy is terribly talented!
You make it looks so easy!
oh my….off to find a headband and some ribbon. so dang cute..
Great tutorial!