Sew a cute knotted headband with woven cotton: free pattern

Want to sew a stylish knotted headband that actually stays put and looks adorable? You’re in the right place! This easy tutorial will show you how to make a knotted bow headband with woven cotton fabric – no stretch needed. It’s quick, beginner-friendly, and super customizable. Plus, there’s a free printable pattern to make things even easier.

These DIY knotted headbands are soft, comfy, and perfect for girls, teens, and even adults. I made a bunch for my daughter because we’re in that growing out the bangs phase. She refuses to wear hair clips (of course), so I figured a cute headband might be the solution to keep her hair out of her face. Fingers crossed, right?

Looking for something fun (and secretly educational) for your kids? Check out this free maze generator for kids or try the free word search puzzle maker – both are super easy to use and perfect for keeping little minds busy and happy!

Why you’ll love making this DIY knotted headband

• It’s beginner-friendly – no fancy skills or tools required.
• You only need a quarter yard of fabric (or even just large scraps).
• There’s a small elastic section in the back for a comfy, flexible fit.
• The knot is adjustable – just tie or re-tie it to make the band longer or shorter.
• It makes a great handmade gift for girls and women of all ages!

This is seriously one of the easiest headband sewing patterns out there. You don’t even need exact head measurements to make one. Just estimate based on age or use a sizing chart if you’re sewing it as a gift. Since the elastic adds stretch and the bow is adjustable, you’ve got a bit of wiggle room to get the fit just right.

What fabric works best?

Use woven cotton or cotton blends – quilting cotton, chambray, or even light denim all work great. You can also make a reversible headband with two coordinating fabrics (so fun and such a great way to use up scraps!).

This is also a great stash-busting project if you’ve got leftover pieces from other sewing projects. I’ve even made some with old cotton shirts – they turned out super cute.

Want more quick and cute hair accessories? Check out the best DIY headbands I’ve made so far – there’s a step-by-step tutorial waiting for you! You can also learn how to make knot bow hair ties in under 15 minutes. Or, if you’re in the mood to browse, dive into a large collection of free sewing patterns and tutorials for just about everything!

Perfect for beginners and quick to sew

If you’re just learning how to sew headbands, this is a great project to start with. You’ll get comfortable sewing straight lines, adding elastic, and turning fabric right side out. It takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish once you get the hang of it!

Whether you call it a knotted bow headband, a fabric headband with elastic, or a DIY headband with a top knot, this pattern is super versatile. It’s great for everyday wear, dress-up play, photoshoots, or just because you want something cute in your hair.

So go ahead, pick your favorite fabric, grab that free headband sewing pattern, and let’s get stitching!

How to make this knotted headband in any size you need (yes, really!)

One of the best things about this headband pattern is how easy it is to resize. I’ve included a free PDF pattern for a standard size that fits a 4-year-old (about 19″ head circumference), but you can easily tweak it to fit babies, big kids, teens, or even adults.

Let’s break it down – no fancy math skills needed.

The finished headband from the pattern is about 1 5/8 inches wide and 19 inches around (unstretched). I made this one for my almost 4-year-old daughter, whose head measures about 19.6 inches. She wears this one all the time – it’s soft, cute, and actually stays in place. So now I just use this size as my go-to base.

But what if you need a bigger headband? Easy. Just add length to the two longer headband pieces in the pattern. For example, my 11-year-old has a 21.6″ head. That’s 2.6″ bigger than the original size. So I split that number in half (because we’ve got two long fabric pieces), and add 1.3 inches to each piece. That’s it!

Pro tip: You don’t need to change the elastic part. Leave the small rectangle (10″ x 1 ¾”) exactly as it is – it works across all sizes because it just provides a bit of stretch and helps the headband stay in place.

Same rule applies if you’re making one for yourself – just measure your head, subtract 19, and divide the difference by 2. For me (22.8″ head), I added 1.9″ to each of the long pieces, and it fits perfectly.

What if you’re sewing a headband for a baby?

Still easy! This time, instead of adding length, you’ll subtract it. Let’s say you want to make a headband for a 6-month-old baby with a 17″ head circumference. That’s 2 inches smaller than the pattern, so just take off 1″ from each of the longer fabric pieces.

This is honestly the easiest way to make a knotted fabric headband that fits well without being too tight or too loose – and the adjustable bow in the front gives you a bit of wiggle room for a comfy fit.

So whether you’re sewing a baby headband with a bow, a cotton headband for toddlers, or a knotted headband for women, this pattern is super flexible. Just adjust the length of the main pieces, keep the elastic the same, and you’re good to go!

Want a headband size chart to help with that math? I’ve got one for you right below.

Sewing supplies – free knotted bow headband pattern

• Knotted headband pattern – free PDF download below (size 4 or 19″ head circumference)
• Cotton fabric
• 1” wide elastic
• Scissors
• Iron
• Safety pin
• Matching thread
• Sewing Pins

Information about the free PDF pattern

The first page of the pattern (size 4) contains two pattern pieces – you have to join them on the dotted line to obtain one pattern piece that is 13 inches long. You’ll use this long pattern piece to cut 4 fabric pieces in total (2 mirrored pairs). These will be the fixed part of the headband that ties with a bow.

The second page of the pattern contains one pattern piece that will become the elasticated part in the back. I’ve written on the second page that this piece is 10″ x 1 ¾” – however, when you print it at 100%, it is slightly smaller than that (9 ¾” long) because I made a mistake in measuring. You can still use the pattern piece as-is – the error does not affect the final result.

How to sew this cute headband – step by step tutorial

Ready to start sewing your headband? Don’t worry, it’s super easy – just 5 steps from start to finish. This is a great beginner headband sewing project that comes together quickly and looks adorable. Here’s how to do it!

Step 1 – Cut out your fabric pieces

Grab your favorite cotton fabric and your free knotted headband pattern. Place the long pattern piece on the fold of the fabric and cut around it. Even though it’s on the fold, you’re actually going to cut along the fold too – we’re not looking for one solid piece here, but two mirrored pieces. Do this step twice so you end up with 4 long fabric pieces total (2 mirrored pairs).

Next, cut two rectangles, each measuring 1¾ inches by 10 inches. These will become the fabric casing for the elastic at the back.

You’ll also need a piece of 1-inch wide elastic, cut to 5 inches long.

At the end of this step, you should have:

• 4 long headband pieces (2 mirrored pairs)
• 2 small rectangles
• 1 elastic piece

That’s all you need to make your DIY bow headband!

Step 2 – Sew the long headband pieces

Take two of the long fabric pieces and place them right sides together (that’s the pretty side of the fabric facing in). Sew around the sides using a ¼ inch seam allowance, but leave both short ends open – we’ll need that opening to turn the piece right side out later.

Repeat with the other pair of long fabric pieces.

Now grab the smaller rectangle. Fold it in half lengthwise (right sides together again) and sew along the long edge to make a tube. This is your fabric casing for the elastic.

Always backstitch at the beginning and end of your seams – it helps keep everything secure and strong, especially since this headband will be getting a lot of wear.

After this step, you should have:

• Two sewn long headband pieces (ready to be turned)
• One long skinny tube (for the elastic)

It’s already coming together! Next, we’ll turn the pieces right side out and assemble your headband.

Step 3 – Turn your headband pieces right side out

Now it’s time to flip your fabric tubes right side out. For the long headband pieces, I like to use a chopstick – it makes it super easy to push the fabric through without stretching it out.

You could also use that purple thang (if you know, you know), a dull pencil, or even the handle of a wooden spoon.

For the small fabric tube (the one for the elastic), a safety pin works best. Just pin it to one end of the elastic casing and feed it through the tube. Easy!

Once everything is turned out, gently poke out the corners and shape the curved ends of the bow using your chopstick or turning tool. You want those curves to look nice and smooth.

Give all your pieces a good press with the iron. This helps flatten the seams and gives your DIY knotted headband a clean, finished look. Don’t skip this part – pressing really makes a difference!

Step 4 – Prep the elastic section

Grab your 5-inch piece of 1-inch wide elastic and your small fabric tube. Use a safety pin to guide the elastic through the tube. It might bunch up a little, but that’s totally normal!

Once the elastic is inside, sew across both ends of the fabric tube to keep the elastic in place. Just a straight stitch will do – backstitch at each end for extra strength. This creates a nice little gathered elastic section for the back of your headband.

You’ve now got three pieces: two long bow sections and one elastic part – almost there!

Step 5 – Put it all together

Take the two long headband pieces and turn the short ends inward about ½ inch to hide the raw edges. Press them with the iron to hold the fold in place.

Now grab your elastic piece and tuck one end inside one of the folded openings. The elastic tube is a bit narrower than the headband piece, so you’ll need to make a small pleat or fold in the middle to help the edges line up. Don’t worry – this step sounds fussier than it really is!

Pin everything together and sew across the edge to secure it. Backstitch at the beginning and end to lock it in place.

Repeat the same thing on the other side with the remaining headband piece.

Quick tip: Use a longer stitch length (around 3.5) in case you ever want to adjust the fit later – it’ll be easier to unpick the seam.

Once everything’s sewn, tie the front of the headband into a cute knot – and you’re done!

You’ve just made the cutest little fabric bow headband with elastic. Whether you’re sewing one for your daughter, gifting it to a friend, or keeping it for yourself, this handmade headband is the perfect combo of comfy and cute. Plus, now that you know how to make it in any size, you can sew a whole collection for all ages!

Made your own headband using this pattern? I’d love to see it! Come share your finished masterpiece on my Facebook page or tag me on Instagram @icansewthis so I can cheer you on – seriously, it makes my day!