That stretched-out T-shirt might be finished as an outfit, but the color is still cute. A soft braided headband seems like a much better ending than the bottom of the rag pile.
This version uses three fabric strips and a little hand stitching. No sewing machine. No mysterious five-strand braid that requires you to grow another hand.
Happy Family Art’s recycled T-shirt headband tutorial shows the sewn construction, including a strip wrapped over the join. We’re keeping the illustrated version plain so the braid gets all the attention.
A tiny supply pile. Excellent.
You’ll need a stretchy knit T-shirt, scissors, a needle and thread, plus a short fabric scrap to cover the join. A clip can hold the braid while you check the fit.
Keep it all one color for the lavender look, or try three colors from tees you’re ready to retire. Save the graphic-heavy favorite for our T-shirt and tank-top tote tutorial; braiding won’t preserve a big printed design.
Make the braid, then fit it
- Cut three strips. Start around 2 inches wide. Use long, unbroken sections of knit fabric, leaving extra length for braiding and joining.
- Secure one end. Stack the ends and stitch through all three. Braid by alternating the outer strips over the middle.
- Check the fit. Hold the braid around your head where you’ll wear it. It should feel secure without pulling tight. Adjust before joining; different shirts stretch differently.
- Close the loop. Stitch the ends together, catching every strip and keeping the join as flat as you can.
- Hide the join. Wrap a short, roughly 2-inch-wide scrap around it, tuck the raw end under, and stitch the wrap closed.
The lavender tee gets a second life. Your hair gets an accessory. The rag pile will recover.
