https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/fishtail-braided-headband • Posted by
I personally love the fishtail braid, but unfortunately my hair isn't long enough, and it's extremely thick. I've tried it, but it looks like a chubby fishtail. I recommend watching a video on how to do a fishtail, because it was tricky for me, and it took a while to get the hang of. If you don't want to have the headband wrap around twice, just cut strips inbetween the two serged seams of the XXL shirt, so it'll be half as long as the large headband.
I personally love the fishtail braid, but unfortunately my hair isn't long enough, and it's extremely thick. I've tried it, but it looks like a chubby fishtail. I recommend watching a video on how to do a fishtail, because it was tricky for me, and it took a while to get the hang of. If you don't want to have the headband wrap around twice, just cut strips inbetween the two serged seams of the XXL shirt, so it'll be half as long as the large headband.
from your XXL shirt, cut 6 strips about 2 inches wide. stretch them through your hands to get a curl to it.
ignore the color, i tried to do this headband with regular fabric, but because it didn't curl like a cut up t-shirt, it was difficult to do the braid. but make 2 groups of 3 strips, backstitch, stitch, backstitch again to make it secure for both groups.
safety pin your 2 groups together, and attach the safety pin so something that won't move when braided. in my case, my dvd basket.
start your fishtail! make sure it's tight so it doesn't unravel. be patient, it will take a while since it's going to be a long braid.
when you've braided to about an inch from your shortest strand, sew on the machine to close the braid off and to keep it from unraveling. trim off the excess fabric, BUT DON'T THROW IT AWAY.
this is optional, but you can sew again if you really want to reinforce the braid.
sew the top, about an inch from where the 2 groups start, this way, the 2 groups are sewed together and the braid doesn't get loose.
at this point, hand sew the 2 ends to each other. i tried on my sewing machine and broke my needle. cut off the excess from the top.
take a strip from the excess pile,cover it over the ends, and sew. this will act as the cover for your ends if you don't want them to show.
turn the strip inside out so the thread doesn't show.
and that's it! this is a large headband, so i just wrap it twice so it looks like a double headband on my head. if it starts to get loose, just throw it in the washer and dryer and let it shrink a bit. and it's it's too small, just stretch it out!