Beaded Hair Pins

My fabulously fun 20-month-old daughter has ringlet curls and every one of the hairs on her head seems to be a different length. While the back of her hair is growing like crazy, the front is just long enough to cover her eyes. Most days she has one ponytail right on the top of her head to keep those curls out of her face. On the other days, we need some "tools" to help us keep her from running into things because she can't see beyond the bangs right in front of her face. So I thought I'd try some hair pins. Truth be told, I love hair pins for me too. So here are my hair pins for all.

To make these pins you can use either type of bobby pins you see here. Keep in mind one of the sides of the bobby pin needs to be straight (not wavy) and this is the side you will bead.

I used stretchy clear beading cord to attach the beads to the bobby pins. I just happened to have some hanging around, otherwise I probably would have used some thin fishing line - we happen to have some of that around too.

Use the cord to tie a double knot in the "u" part of the bobby pin.

Leave at least a 2-inch tail on the end of the cord. Then measure 2 1/2 times the length of your bobby pin on the other length of cord and cut.

Wrap the long length of cord once around the long side of the pin and double knot.

Begin stringing your beads (I use glass beads because they catch the light so nicely). String the length of the long straight side of the pin then take two or three beads off. Wrap the cord once around the edge of the bobby pin where you want your beads. Tie a double knot.

Now you wind the cord around the closest bead and between the two prongs of the bobby pin. Do this between each bead until you reach the last bead back by the "u" portion of the bobby pin where you started. Make double knot. Wrap the cord back around the side of the bobby pin where you have beaded and double knot again. Do this one more time. Finally tie that end of cord to the other end of cord. Double knot. Now you can clip the extra cord making sure not to clip too close to the knot. I left about 1/4" of cord.

Done.

Mine took me about 8 minutes each to make. I would have probably been faster if my fingernails didn't keep getting in the way...and if my daughter didn't dump the tubes of beads...twice. Fortunately I have two sons with perfect eyesight.

My beaded hair pins have been linked up at: