A statement accessory, for sure! This DIY bohemian embellished scarf will totally dress up any outfit. Bandanas, as an accessory, are definitely popular for music festivals and upcoming spring fashion. Why not take these colorful pieces and add even more sparkle and shine? I’ll show you the steps I took to personalizing this piece below—it’s not as difficult as you would think!
I love wearing my bandana against a black or dark-colored tunic top. The contrast really makes it stand out. To me, these bandanas are an update on the statement necklace, but they’re maybe even more comfortable to wear because of the soft fabric!
You can get as detailed as you want when designing your own—I chose to add studs, crystals, chain, and even some embroidery. The more embellishments, the better, I say!
If bright color and bohemian style isn’t your favorite, I also have a mini tutorial at the end of this post on how to add subtle sparkle to a silk scarf. The result is an upscale accessory with a touch of glam—perfect for work or a night out!
Let’s get to the tutorials!
Step 1: Gather materials. Needed are bandanas or scares, cable chain, an embroidery hoop (and needle if doing embroidery), an assortment of beads, Gem-Tac, an assortment of crystal flatbacks
Step 2: Fold the bandana in half. You only need to decorate the top flap because the rest will be tied around your neck!
Choose your desired flatbacks or crystal rhinestones. I use a toothpick to help pick up glue and place on the fabric where I want a crystal—use only a small dot of glue so it doesn’t spread too much!
Glue on your embellishments in appropriate areas on the bandana—let the studs fully dry.
Step 3: Use an embroidery hoop (or you could just embroider without—this works if you have a lot of the rhinestuds glued, which make it hard to put through the hoop) to keep your fabric taut.
Embroider with thread on select places on the bandana—use a contrasting color to create a cool bright detail! I just did a simple running stitch on the paisley pattern areas.
Move the hoop around to embroider other areas. Again, a simple running stitch will do! I love how the pops of turquoise stand out against the silver studs.
Step 4: Attach your silver connectors to the edge of the bandana. Use jump rings (4mm or 6mm, depending on the thickness of your fabric and charm’s loop) to pierce the fabric and catch the charm. Close the rings. I chose to do one at the center point and two more on the outer sides.
Cut about 40 pieces of 5″ chain. Attach these chain pieces to the edge using jump rings. Space them out evenly! I did 20 on each side of the point.
Step 5: Continue adding the chain pieces—you can choose to fill it all up like I did, or just add the chain in certain spots and finish your bandana!
If bandanas are a little too trendy for your taste, you can apply the same techniques to really any scarf or wrap! I’ve created a simple sparkly rose here on a silk scarf—this dressy accessory is great for wrapping around your neck, or it can be used as a headband/headwrap as well.
If you’d like to create a sparkly scarf like this, the technique is even simpler! I took leftover crystals from the bandana project and used Gem-Tac to glue them onto a silk scarf. I used a tweezers to get the crystals even on the rose—use crystal colors the same as your pattern to get a seamless sparkle!
Layer the crystals smaller to bigger, to mimic the rose petals. Give the glue a few hours to dry.
If you wish to add chain to the edges, go for it! I chose to do just the crystals on this piece. The subtle crystals add that pop of glam—a super sophisticated accessory!!
Thanks for reading! You can catch all my tutorials at quietlioncreations.com. Stay crafty!
What other bohemian accessories would you use to perfect your look? Let us know below in the comments!
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