Bow Ear Warmer DIY

As promised, I'm finally here (holy cow, it's been awhile, and I totally forgot how long it takes to put together a crafting tutorial) to share with you a fun, simple little DIY to help you keep those ears warm in this chilly weather. I'm missing my long mop a bit this winter, for my short hair does little to help keep me warm. The back of my neck and ears are constantly cold. As you can imagine, I've been wearing this giant bow ear warmer a lot lately. You can see how I styled it recently in this outfit post. I prefer this combined with a fluffy scarf over a hat. Does anyone else have issues with scarf and hats bunching up awkwardly in the back?

I made a bunch of ear warmers two Christmases ago for gifts and everyone seemed to love them. I've got the ear warmer making down, but I didn't think to add a bow until recently. Silly me. I love it, especially in bright red. And I plan on gifting a few again this year. They're so cute and cozy warm, I have to share!  See how to make an ear warmer below:



What you'll need

+ Fleece (one yard is plenty)
+ Fabric scissors
+ Sewing machine
+ Thread in a matching color
+ An embroidery needle
+ Two Large Buttons
+ Pins
+ A strong glue (I used E6000)
+ A few big scraps of contrasting fabric (optional)



1. Measure the circumference of your head and add two or three inches to that measurement. Decide how wide you'd like your ear warmer to be (I make mine about 3 inches wide), double that measurement and add an inch. Use your two measurements to cut out a large rectangle of fleece for the base of the ear warmer.
2. Fold the rectangle in half lengthwise and pin and with your sewing machine, stitch the sides together (making a long tube) as close to the edge as possible. Trim any excess.
3. Turn the long tube inside out, so that the seam is on the inside.
4. Iron the base of the ear warmer flat (fold it and iron so that the seam sits evenly on one edge, not down the back).
5. Making sure the base is pulled flat and tight, add a small seam to both edges.



6. Hold the base up to your head and if the ends are really long, trim them down a bit.
7. Fold the ends inside the base and pin firmly closed.
8. Sew a seam on both ends. All parts of the base should now be sewn closed.
9. Figure out where the buttons should lay and create the holes on one end for them to go through. Be cautious to not make them too big.
10. On the other end of the base, sew two buttons on, using thread and an embroidery needle, lining them up to fit securely in the holes.
11. When both buttons are sewn on, fasten the base together making sure the button holes are large enough, adjust as necessary.



12. For the bow, cut a piece of fleece a little bit wider than the base and twice as long as you would like the bow to be. Fold it so the edges met in the middle (as shown), sew together, and turn inside out so the seam isn't seen.
13. To make the bow of contrasting fabric, keep in mind that you are going to be folding the piece of fabric you cut into thirds and that the bow should be slightly smaller than the fleece piece you already cut. Once you determine the size and cut out the fabric, fold it as shown in the pictures.
14. Pinch the center of the folded rectangle together and sew in place, with the embroidery needle and thread, to create the smaller bow.
15. To create the center of the layered bow, cut a long rectangle of fleece and a a rectangle (slightly smaller than the fleece) of the contrasting fabric. Fold as shown.
16. Layer the two pieces together and secure them around the two bow pieces (using needle and thread) to create a nice layered bow.



17. Finish by gluing the bow onto the ear warmer. I like to secure the bow near the back so that it will sit on the side of my head when I wear it.  I use E6000 glue and let it dry for 24 hours, and then hand stitch the bow on further, to secure it thoroughly and make sure it sits flat.

That's it! It may be a lot of steps, but I promise it's simple. I wanted to be as thorough as possible with the steps so there would be little confusion, but please let me know below if you have any questions!

If you do make one of your own, I'd love to see! Send me a picture of your finished results.
xx Emorie