Easy Peasy American Girl Headband Tutorial

My girls just got American Girl dolls and they love them.  One of the outfits they have came with a headband.  I took one look at it and in my best mom voice I said, "I can make that!"  And the result is the easiest accessory.  Seriously, maybe 20 minutes.  Maybe.  Give or take a few because of three girls running in to ask, "Are you done yet, Mom?"  It's not unlike other tube-type headbands out there but this one makes use of a hair rubberband as opposed to elastic.

Sidenote: If you haven't already, pop on over to Cleverly Inspired and enter her giveaway for a matching toddler and American Girl dress!!

Another Sidenote: I don't pretend to have any talent taking pictures.  And, I also took pictures as I was making several of these bad boys.  Don't hold it against me!

Here is the headband to be replicated.  See how they snipped the hair rubberband?  

Cut a piece of fabric 12 in by 2 in.  

 Iron in 1/2 in at each end, wrong side touching wrong side.

Fold fabric in half lengthwise, right side touching right side.

Stitch up the side, about 1/4 in (I'm not a terribly exact sewer.). 
Zig Zag stitch to finish.  You should now have a "tube" with both ends turned in.

Iron the tube directly on the seam, flattening it to one side.  

You'll be glad you did this after turning it inside out!

Pin safety pin to one end and turn tube inside out.  

It's tough at the beginning to get the pin going, but then it takes two seconds!

 Iron the tube directly on the seam, to get rid of wrinkles and 

get you a nice smooth headband.  Here is where you are glad you ironed 

down the seam on the other side, yes?

Take a nice hair elastic (preferably a small Goody) and slip it under one of the folds.  Straight stitch to close.  I began in the middle, backstitch and then forward stitch.  It's not pretty, but my machine is not good *at all* 

in tight spaces. Slip the other side of the elastic under the other side's fold.  

Do the same as above and stitch that closed.  

Voila, you are done!  Isn't it cute?  An almost exact replica of the American Girl version.  

And guess what, it's way cuter fabric, yes?!

See the rubberband underneath?  The "real" deal cut the hair rubberband, slipped it through the seams and then tied the ends of the hair rubberband together with some string.  I think this way is much sturdier.

Ruthie is sooooo happy!