Little Girl’s Headscarf Tutorial

My dear friend sent my kids a package today, and one of the gifts inside was a lovely little girl’s headscarf. It looks absolutely darling on my daughter, and it looked like it might be so simple to make. Turns out it was – here’s how I did it, and it took me less than an hour (seamstresses might scoff at how long that is, but I’m no pro)!

First I found a lightweight cotton fabric to use (I wanted to mimic the light cotton of the original scarf, but it certainly could be made with a heavier weight fabric). I cut two rectangles, using the measurements of the original – the bigger rectangle (the headpiece) measured 7″ x 16″, and the smaller rectangle (the elastic casing) measured 2″ x 10″.

fabric pieces laid out on an ironing board for a little girl's headscarf
measuring the fabric for the girl’s headscarf

Next I pressed the smaller rectangle in half (right sides together) and sewed the open long side to make a tube for the elastic. I pressed a small seam on either long side of the larger rectangle (folding the front side over and pressing it to the back), and stitched each seam.

Both the large and small rectangle for a girl's headscarf, pieced, stitched and pressed.
After each section has been pieced together, stitched and pressed.

I turned the tube right side out (it might be helpful to use a pencil to help push the fabric) and then added the elastic (I used 6-1/2″ of 3/4″ elastic because that’s what I had on hand) and sewed it to each end of the tube – the fabric will bunch between the ends so that there is room for the elastic to stretch.

Finally I folded pleats into each end of the larger rectangle, folded the ends back to hide the unfinished portion and wrapped them around the smaller rectangle with elastic inside. One simple line of stitches on each end and I was done! My baby’s sleeping now – can’t wait to try it on her tomorrow morning.

All done! The store-bought girl’s headscarf is on the left.