While bandanas may have been the neckwear of choice for cowboys, railroad engineers and farmers to keep dust and sweat off the face and neck, the homespun colorful square is still to be admired for its vibrant charm and versatility. This iconic cloth has its dark side, used at it were by bandits and outlaws of old to partially conceal faces or by modern-day city gangs looking for group identity. Fabric sold on the bolt can be found printed in bandana style paisley or patch prints. Although red paisley, closely followed by blue prints are the traditional classic favorites for bandanas, they can be found in all colors of the rainbow. The bandana, like its Americana counterpart - blue jeans, has withstood the test of time.

Morsbags Grocery Sack
Go ‘green’ to your grocery store with your own fabric grocery sack. Those pesky thin plastic grocery sacks may eventually be a thing of the past. Make your own using colorful bandanas. Let Morsbags.com show you how.

Ragdoll Style Bear/Kitty/Doll from NightGardenDolls.com – free instructions. Perfect to make out of bandana fabric.

Cool Ties – Instructions from Families Online Magazine describe how to make a cooling neck band that uses just one bandana or cotton fabric and some polymer crystals that absorb water, can be refrigerated, then gently tied around the neck for instant portable personal cooling.

Bandana Carryall/Tote
Place two bandanas, right sides together. Sew all around three sides 5/8" or 1/2" from edge. Sew a coordinating lining and insert wrong sides together if you wish for added strength to the tote. Fold remaining open top edge down all around about 1 1/2" or 2" from top to create a casing. Sew a straight stitch at the edge but leave a 1/2" opening to allow for the insertion of a drawstring. Turn the carryall right side out, press if necessary and add your choice of drawstring.

Bandana Bedroom
Just two bandanas and one 14" pillow form come together to make a great colorful throw pillow. Make several bandana pillows; cover the bedroom light switch with bandana fabric; make a padded message board with just two bandanas and coordinating ribbon trim; use several bandanas folded into triangles and draped overlapping over a curtain rod for a curtain valance – all come together for a charming way to bright up a teen’s bedroom in favorite colors.

Small Appliance Covers
Drape a bandana over any counter top appliance for an instant appliance dust cover; hold loosely closed if desired with a few decorative pearl head pins or corsage pins for quick kitchen cover ups. Bandanas work great for sewing machine or serger cover ups too.

Bandana Table Napkins
Bandanas are come-as-you-are, ready-made and perfect as table napkins. Just one bandana placed in a bread basket brightens any table and easily coordinates with the bandana table napkins.

Sew happy, sew well.

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