How Many Bandanas in a Yard of Fabric? How To Make Bandanas
Knowing your project helps you decide how many of any 1 item you can make from a single yard of fabric. That knowledge helps you plan and makes sure you buy enough fabric to get the project done without having to go back to the store to buy more.
How many bandanas in a yard of fabric? The amount of bandanas you can make out of a yard of material depends on the size of the bandanas you are trying to make. A rough estimate is 8 large ones out of 1.25 yards of material. To make a bandana you just simply need to cut the material to shape and you are done.
To get all the information you need about bandanas just continue to read our article. The key to making a great bandana is the Goldilocks principle. The fabric can’t be too soft nor can it be too hard
Fabric for Bandanas 101
How Much Fabric For a Bandana
This will depend on how many of these items you want to create and how large or small they will be. If you are making one or two at 21 inches wide, you can get 2 of these out of 1 yard.
But if you cut the fabric and fudge a bit on how many yards you use, there is the possibility that you can get 8 large ones from 1 1/4 yards of material. From that same size of material you can get 16 medium and 32 small bandanas.
It will depend also on how you cut the fabric. Having as little waste as possible is always the best way to go. Give yourself some time to think through this problem to make sure you can maximize the amount of material you have.
Careful planning should get you to your goal without spending a lot of money on materials.
What Fabric are Bandanas Made From?
The key to making a good bandana is to get the weight of the fabric just right. You do not want the material to bee too soft nor too stiff. That means you should look for a medium weight muslin material to do the job correctly.
If you want a better-looking bandana, then you can also try silk or satin. Both fabrics are quite good at holding the shape of the item. The purpose of the bandana will help guide you to the right fabric.
When the item is going to be used in your hair, slippery fabric like satin will not do. You would have to go to the muslin fabric to make sure the bandana doesn’t slide away on you. Of course, there will be other fabrics you can use, they are just not the best choice.
Fabric For Dog Bandanas
The good thing about making a bandana for your treasured pet is that you can use a variety of fabrics and they will all work on your dog. Not only will your pet not complain, but you can also use some leftover fabrics to create a special look for your dog.
Cotton, polyester, and other fabrics all work well. Plus, you only need 1/8 of a yard to make 4 of those items for your dog to wear around town. Even a cotton-poly blend will do the job right and make sure the bandana lasts a long time.
Of course, that number will change depending on the size of your dog. Expect to use a lot more fabric when your pet is a St Bernard and not a Yorkshire Terrier. Plan according to the size of your dog and make sure you use colors and designs that work with the color of their fur.
Best Fabric to Make Dog Bandanas
A good wash and wear fabric that is very durable would be the best choice. When you decide to make one of these items for your pet, you should take into account the activity factor and where your dog is going to wear it.
Your dog may be uncomfortable at first wearing the cloth around its neck, so make sure the fabric can withstand a lot of rolling and scratching. Also, you should take into account the weather conditions your dog and his or her new bandana have to endure.
If the fabric can’t handle moisture and shrinks, you will have to remake the item. Pieces of cotton are generally better fabrics but polyesters will also handle the tough task. Just make sure that the fabric you pick is just right.
You do not want to embarrass your dog by putting something outlandish on them and get them mocked by their dog friends.
How Much Fabric For Dog Bandanas
These types of questions are always a depends question. You have different species of dogs and many dogs within those species do not all grow to their full potential. Or you may overfeed your pet and they are wider than they should be.
So the first step in making a bandana is to look at the size of your pet. A small bred like a chihuahua is not going to use a lot of fabric. You may get that 4 bandanas or more out of 1/8 of a yard.
The same goes for a Maltese or similar sized dogs. With larger pets like Retrievers, cocker spaniels, and beagles you may need the full yard to make 4 bandanas. Then even larger dogs like Great Danes, mastiffs, and so on, you may only get 1 or 2 out of the full yard of fabric.
The key of course is to make sure your pet is comfortable and that the bandana does not go on too tight. Your dog will need to breathe.
Best Fabric For Baby Bandanas
Some people may confuse a bandana for a baby’s bib. The two are not the same but there will be those times when you make a search and all you get are bib instructions and not instructions for bandanas.
The best fabric would be one that is waterproof. You never know when your child will drool all over themselves or spill a little liquid on their upper bodies. Find a fabric that works well with being wet.
A good fleece is probably the best option as it is soft, absorbent, and cool. It also launders well making cleaning that bandana a lot easier. Then you need to be able to add some snaps instead of tying it around your baby’s neck.
The snaps make it easier to put on and take off. Plus it is a lot safer for the child to use.
How Much Fabric for Bandana Bib
Again this will depend on what stage your child is at in its early years. For 0 to 6 months you may need only about 12 inches from snap to snap and 6 1/2 inches from neck to point
For children 6 to 12 months you are looking at 13 1/2 inches from snap to snap and 7 inches from neck to point. Then over 12 months you may need a 14 1/2 inch long from snap to snap and 7 1/2 inch length from neck to point.
Those figures translate into less than one yard of material. One person has said that two fat quarters are all you need to create these bandana bibs. If you need a lot of bandanas, then go for the yard. If you have leftover material you can always make a matching item for yourself.
Most of the design and colors, etc., are up to you just make sure to buy enough fabric.
How to Make Bandanas From Fabric
The first step is to cut a piece of fabric to the size you want. In this case we will use a 21-inch length. Your actual size will depend on the purpose of the bandana and where you will wear it.
The fabric should be cut in a square shape and the 21-inch size leaves you 1/2 inch seam allowance all the way around. Next, you need to do a rolled hem on all four sides or you can hand sew it with a tough stitch. Don’t forget to cut the corners on a 45-degree angle.
Once that is done, you are free to decorate it as you want. Paint the fabric, tie-dye it, or even add tassels. How the bandana looks when it is finished is completely up to you.
When that step is done, so are you. Just double-check it to make sure there are no loose stitches or other issues you may have overlooked.
How to Cut Fabric For Bandanas
Different people have different methods to cut the fabric for bandanas. One method is to leave the fabric folded lengthwise. Then measure width to width and that should reach about 22 inches. Cut with pinking shears after marking out that measurement.
Try to cut where the fold is. Continue doing this till you have enough material for 6 bandanas (This is from 2 yards of material). The best way to tell you how to cut bandana fabric is to follow the length of wise folds and fold over the folded side to make a triangle.
Now use pinking shears and cut just inside the fold. You can repeat this as often as you have enough folded material to use. These instructions are for larger bandanas and you can always cut smaller ones out of the larger pieces.
You can’t cut larger bandanas out of smaller pieces so make sure you know the size of the item before you start cutting.
Where to Buy Fabric For Bandanas
The bad news is that Wal Mart s either ending its fabric section or planning to end it. That means you have one less place to find material for your bandanas. Other box stores should have the fabric you want and you can still save money.
The good news is that there are still lots of places where you can find the material to make your bandanas. Amazon is one, Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, Joann's, and just about any local fabric store.
If you are a good shopper you should be able to find the right deal for you. Besides Amazon there are a lot of fabric stores on the internet you can try. Their websites will have all the information you need including prices.
The fabric to make bandanas is not a rare or unique material so you should have no trouble finding a good fabric to use.
Cheap Fabric Bandanas Tips
There are always some shortcuts you can use even when the project is as simple as bandanas are. Here are some tips to help you get the fabric you want at the price you want:
- 1. The trick here is to go to the bandana and scarf section of Wal Mart and just buy a very large bandana square and use that. You can do this at any department or box store, not just Walmart.
- 2. Check out Etsy before you leave home. They seem to have almost 5,000 bandana designs as well as lots of fabric to choose from.
- 3. Check out Spoonflower.com. Their materials seem to be designed by individual designers. The price reflects the uniqueness of the product.
- 4. Check your fabric stash. You may have large enough pieces left over from other projects you can turn into a nice looking bandana.
Some Final Words
Bandanas can look good if done well and worn right. These clothing items are not just for gang members but can be an important part of your fashion ensemble. Just use the best fabric you can and make sure it is not too soft or too hard.
There is an unlimited boundary on designs and colors you can use. Let your creativity go when making your bandanas.
