DIY Plain Napkin to Hand Painted Bandana and 4 Ways to Style

Straw hats, market bags, and bandanas- is there anything more summer? I’ve been on the hunt for a modern bandana for our upcoming trip to Japan and couldn’t quite find what I was looking for. There are some gorgeous ones out there, but excuse me for not wanting to pay $50 for essentially a sweat mopper. And then I saw this linen napkin on clearance from West Elm.

The trick here is to find a thin thin thin napkin somewhere between 19×19-22×22″ for bandana or 35×35″ for a scarf. A lot of napkins fall just shy of this number, but don’t be afraid to be the weirdo in the store tying napkins around your neck for testing.

You’ll Need
napkin
brushes + fabric paint
clips + cardboard
iron

Steps
Iron and clip your napkin to a piece of cardboard. Make sure to keep it taunt. Practice a few designs and then get to painting! Follow the paint directions for drying and setting times.

I love how it turned out! I’m tempted to frame it in the off season like Brittni’s Tea Towel Art Hack. And what good is a new, super cute bandana if you don’t know how to wear it?

As a Necklace
Roll from a folded triangle into a thin strip. Tie like so or a simple reef knot to keep the edges neat and in place.

As a Big Ole’ Bib
This one really let’s the pattern shine! Tie two ends behind your neck and arrange it to your liking.

Casually Tucked
Fold into a triangle and pin to the inside of your pocket.

Tie Back
My favorite way to wear it so far! Roll from the standard, folded triangle and tie to the the back of your straps.

I love how the Tie Back is the least fussy but a fun surprise element to the summer uniform. Which way is your favorite?