Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

While I have made many simple flat sewing projects, from napkins to burp cloths, I realized recently that I’ve never made a classic bandana!  What an oversight, since bandanas are the most versatile of all squares: a scarf! a headband! a hankie! It’s one of the most useful things you can sew!

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Once I got it in my head that I was going to sew a bandana, I knew there was only one fabric that would satisfy my vision: Liberty of London Tana Lawn. I wear a bandana all the time to hold back my hair while I’m sewing, so I kind of couldn’t believe I didn’t have a Liberty Bandana already!

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

We picked out three stunning Tana Lawn Seasonal prints, each one prettier than the next. After hand sewing them with an easy rolled hem, the bandanas look so sunny and breezy, perfect for spring! And since they’re sized for kids too, little ones don’t have to miss out on the utilitarian beauty  of these Liberty Bandanas!

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Materials

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

To make one bandana you’ll need…

Sizes

Finished measurements: kid (19-inch square) and  adult (22-inch square)

The Pattern

Cutting and Marking

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

For the kid size cut a 20-inch square of fabric. For the adult size cut a 23-inch square of fabric.

Using your fabric marker on the wrong side of the fabric, draw lines parallel to and 1/2 inch in from each edge.

Sewing

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

NOTE: If you have never sewn a rolled hem, you might want to check out our Rolled Hem Handkerchiefs, which use the same stitch as these Bandanas. The only difference is that I marked the fabric and used pins.

Moisten your fingers, and starting at a corner, roll one of the edges in to meet the 1/2-inch line. Pin the roll in place.

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Continue to roll the edge in this manner, meeting the 1/2-inch line and pinning into place. Stop at the corner.

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Cut a length of hand quilting thread at least 2 inches longer than the rolled side and thread it onto a hand sewing needle. Tie a knot at the end of the thread. Insert the needle inside the roll and exit at the bottom edge of the roll (the knot will be hidden inside the roll).

Take a tiny stitch from the fabric below the exit point. Then insert the needle back into the bottom edge of the roll, adjacent to your last exit point, and pull it a 1/4 inch through the roll, moving left.

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Take another tiny stitch below this exit point. Pull the needle back through the roll, again exiting 1/4 inch to the left.

Keep sewing the rolled hem down in this manner across the entire length of the edge.

Repeat this process on the opposite side, rolling, pinning and sewing.

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Once two opposite sides are complete, roll, pin, and sew the remaining two sides. Make sure to tuck the corners inwards to hide any raw edges.

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Spray away the fabric markings and you’re all done!

Rolled Hem Liberty Bandanas | Purl Soho

Update 2024: You can explore our current collection of beautiful fabrics and supplies on our page of Sewing Tools + Notions!