DIY Rhinestone Head Jewelry (Free Pattern!)

DIY Dazzling Head Jewelry

This dazzling head jewelry will instantly elevate your look, and you can make it yourself!

In this video, I’ll show you how to create a stunning rhinestone headpiece that’s perfect for belly dance and ballroom dance. It’s beginner-friendly, fully customizable to your measurements, and I’ve got a free pattern for you to make it even easier 😉

Let’s get started!

Get the FREE head jewelry pattern from here!

To make this rhinestone head jewelry, you need these materials:

  • Pattern paper (about 10cm x 60cm (4 inch x 24 inch)) or download my pattern from here!
  • Felt – about 10cm x 60cm (4in x 24in)
  • Elastic – about 20cm (8in) long. Match the color with the felt or your hair color.
  • Rhinestones
  • Rhinestone glue – I like Gem-Tac.
  • Matching color thread

DIY Rhinestone Head Jewelry

Step 1. Measure your Head

First, measure the circumference of your head right here where you’ll be wearing this head jewelry.

measuring your head for the head jewelry

Step 2. Make your Rhinestone Head Jewelry Pattern

Fold your pattern paper in half, and measure half of your head measurement minus 2.5cm (1in) from the fold. And draw a horizontal line.

Measurement on pattern paper for  head jewelry creation

Measure 5cm (2in) down from this line, and draw another line in the same length. 

More measurements for head jewelry

And draw another horizontal line in the middle.

Rough guideline for the head jewelry

So this is the rough guideline for our head jewelry pattern. The fold is the center, and you can draw whatever design you like. Or you can download my pattern from here!

marking the center of the head jewelry pattern

It’s very helpful to have the rhinestones ready when you draw your pattern. This way, you can check and see how wide or narrow each part should be.

Check the rhinestones on the pattern for the head jewelry

I wanted the center part to be larger than the sides, so I used a lot of space closer to the fold, then gradually made the design thinner along the center line. 

I think it looks balanced to have the main motif within 5-6cm (or roughly 2in) from the fold.

Where you should have your main motif for your head jewelry

The nice thing about this rhinestone head jewelry is that you can make a very simple design, and it’ll still look stunning because you’ll be decorating with lots of rhinestones later.

Extend the end by 1cm (3/8in) or so at the end. We’ll be attaching elastic to this part later.

how much do you need on the ends of the head jewelry

Once you’re happy with the design, cut along the outline. It’s easier to cut small areas with an exact knife instead of scissors. 

Use an exact knife in the small areas of the headpiece

Fold the paper at the center again, and trace the shape onto the other side. Cut along the outline, and your pattern is complete!

Copy the cut out pattern onto the other side
Final cut out of the head jewelry pattern

Step 3. Make the Rhinestone Head Jewelry Base

Now, take your pattern and place it on your felt. Trace the shape and cut it out.

trace out head jewelry pattern onto felt

I’m using 1 mm-thick felt here, and this is a fairly sturdy type. I think you can use a little thinner felt because you’ll be applying rhinestones with glue later, which will make it stiffer. But if the felt rips easily when it’s cut, then it’s probably not a great option.

I’ve also heard some people use suede for making this type of jewelry base. Please share your experience in the comments below if you’ve used suede or other materials as a base for this type of project!

Cut out headpiece pattern onto felt

Step 4. Decorate your Rhinestone Head Jewelry!

This is the fun part! Go ahead and decorate the base using rhinestones and rhinestone glue. 

If you’re using stones in different sizes, it’s easiest to place large ones first, then fill the rest with small ones, so you can make sure the larger pieces that stand out are in the right places.

Add rhinestones to felt pattern on the head jewelry

I decided I wanted movement pieces, so I made tiny holes on the base and inserted small jump rings and stones. So cute!

Adding jump rings to the head jewelry

Continue to add rhinestones, and don’t add any decorations within 1cm (3/8in) from the ends.

don't add decorations to the ends of the headpiece

Once it’s fully decorated, leave it 24 hours until the glue dries completely.

Step 5. Add Elastic

Once the glue dries, wrap one end of your elastic with the end of the felt base, and sew them in place. Make sure the elastic can still move inside the loop.

adding elastic to the head jewelry

Repeat for the other end, and tie a knot. Don’t make a really tight knot just yet, and try it on.

tying the elastic ends of the head jewelry

Adjust the elastic if you need, and once it’s at a good length, make a really tight knot and trim off excess elastic.

Cut excessive elastic on headpiece

And your rhinestone head jewelry is complete! It’s so pretty and unique. It’s light, and it stays on your forehead really well! It really adds a touch of professionalism to your belly dance or any other outfits!

Final head jewelry

In case you missed it, you can download my head jewelry pattern from here!

Close-up of head jewelry piece

Are you ready to level up your belly dance wardrobe?

With Sparkly Belly’s All-Access Membership, you get instant access to all my courses—19 and counting, with over 32 designs! Customize each piece to your unique measurements and budget, and create the perfect, professional outfits for your style. Curious? Check it out here!

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And if you’re interested in seeing more headpieces or more elaborate headpieces, let me know in the comments, and I’ll make a tutorial in the near future!

Have fun creating your very own head jewelry, and if you liked this video, you might also enjoy this sparkly bracelet to go with your head jewelry!

DIY Sparkly Bracelet

Thanks for reading, and keep sparkling!

P.S. Pin this image on your costume accessories idea board!

DIY Rhinestone Head Jewelry (Free Pattern!) Pinterest Pin

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