Summer Wear for Girls — Fashionable Head Scarves
by Wardeh Harmon
One summer two years ago, I sewed bunches of head scarves. My daughters Haniya and Naomi still frequently wear them on carefree spring and summer days, so they have become warm weather wear in our household. Before I made them, I had shopped around trying to purchase the fashionable head scarves that little girls everywhere are wearing, but the price of about $5 each stopped me in my tracks. I saved a bundle by making them myself out of small sections of fabric I found in discounted remnant bins. We also gave them out as party favors for my daughter Haniya’s 7th birthday, which all the little girls adored.
My almost 9 year old daughter Haniya loves to wear a fashionable head scarf on carefree spring and summer days.
A head scarf in a sparkly dark denim.
A head scarf in a pretty embroidered rainbow pastel.
I hope you enjoy sewing these easy head scarves for your own daughters, granddaughters or nieces. I always welcome your comments, questions or suggestions. You can reach me at wardeh@t2chk.org.
GIRLS’ HEAD SCARVES
makes 2 scarves
This pattern is sized for 5 to 8 year old girls. Play around with dimensions to make a scarf that fits your daughter’s age and head size. I would suggest using a 14″ square to make a smaller head scarf or a 20″ square to make a larger head scarf. Consider using different, but coordinating, fabrics for the two parts of the head scarf (the tie portion and the scarf portion).
Needed Materials
- (1) 17″ x 17″ square of fabric (scarves)
- (2) 1″ x 44″ strips (ties)
- thread to match
1. Cut the 17″ x 17″ square of fabric on the diagonal to form two triangles.
Step 1
2. Lay each 1″ by 44″ strip wrong side up on ironing board. Fold short sides in 1/4″ and press. Fold long sides in 1/4″, so the edges touch in the middle, and press.
Step 2
3. Fold strip in half lengthwise and press.
4. Zigzag or serge along the two shorter sides of each triangle (the sides that are perpendicular to each other).
5. Fold one tie in half to find its mid-point. Mark this by inserting a straight pin at the mid-point. Fold one triangle in half, along the unfinished side, to find its mid-point. Mark this by inserting a straight pin at the mid-point. Line up the midpoints of the tie and triangle on a flat surface.
Step 5
6. Insert the entire unfinished edge of the triangle into the inside of the tie (it doesn’t matter whether you insert the right or wrong side of the triangle). Pin in place at frequent intervals, making sure that the edge of the triangle is tucked all the way into the tie. Repeat with remaining triangle and tie.
Step 6
7. Verify that each triangle and its matching tie are connected at the mid-points by folding each triangle in half along the tie edge and matching the ends of the ties. If they hang down the same amount, they are matched correctly.
8. Sew each tie closed, using straight stitching close to the edge. Sew along the short end (from the closed side to the open side), then turn the corner.
Step 8*
9. Sew the entire length of the tie, catching the triangle and sewing it in place along the way.
Step 9*
Step 9*
10. Finish sewing along the long edge of the tie, then turn the corner and sew the other short end closed, from the open side to the closed side.
Step 10*
Step 10*
11. Trim loose ends. Repeat with the remaining triangle and tie to complete the other head scarf.
*Note: In these pictures, the seam securing the tie to the scarf has already been sewn. However, the head scarf is shown demonstrating the correct position of each step.
© 2006 by Wardeh Harmon. Used with permission from the author.
