Going Pink for a Cause

One Day, as many bloggers as possible, painting our blogs P I N K
for an incredible cause "Breast Cancer Awareness".

Pretty in Pink

A fabulous friend brought over this fabric for me to have fun with.

Here it is in a single layer.

I used my rotary cutter and cut off about a 4-inch strip cutting from selvage edge to selvage edge. Once done, I cut the length of the strip in half.

I read recently about being able to use a sewing machine to make gorgeous ruffles.

Set your tension all the way up (mine is at 9). Use a long running stitch - I set mine at 5 mm.

Take your strip of fabric and fold it in half. I chose to sew mine along the folded edge.

A trick I learned in a sewing class a while back was that when ruffling, lay your hand against the back of the machine so the fabric pushed against it as it runs under the presser foot. This will add to the ruffling effect.

Here is the ruffle hot off the sewing machine. Trim your threads and heat up your hot glue gun.

Use small dabs of glue (be careful it does tend to seep though mesh or sheer fabric and that glue is hot, hot, hot) and roll the fabric up forming a flower.

It should look a little something like this. Cut out a circle of felt and hot glue it to the back of the flower. Lastly, hot glue a pin back.

Another option is to use the ruffle flowers to make a cute headband.

I first attached mine to the elastic headband using Fabri-Tac. Then I cut out a double circle of felt and attached both flowers and the headband to the felt also using Fabri-Tac.

You can even embellish them by sewing beads or pearls into the flowers. It took me all of about 20 minutes to make both items.

This project linked up at:

I Heart Naptime

Fabric Headband

Here is a super quick tutorial for a fabric headband. Start with a piece of fabric that is 19" x 4 1/4" for an adult. For a child cut the piece of fabric about 16" x 4".

Fold the fabric (right side in) along the length of the fabric. Along the cut side (not the side with the fold) run a straight stitch about 1/3" from the edge the entire length of the fabric.

Once completed, turn the fabric tube so the right side of the fabric is facing outwards.

Now use your iron to flatten the tube so that the seam is at the side edge and almost unnoticeable whether you turn the fabric either way (up or down). I know, the ironing board cover is hideously ugly. Hopefully soon I take a moment to re-fashion a new and more fashionable one.

At each end of your flattened fabric tube, tuck in about 1/2" of fabric. You are hiding the raw edges of fabric.

Make sure the folded edges are even and then use your iron to press the ends flat.

Time to insert elastic into one of the ends of the headband. I like to use cheap elastic headbands that I buy at our local dollar store. You can use whatever you have on hand. Use about 3" of elastic (or measure the headband on your head and determine how much elastic you need).

Sew a straight stitch along the edge of fabric. Sew back and forth over the elastic an extra time to be sure it is secure. Do this at both ends of the headband.

Done. This project is great for using up fabric in your stash. I like to use up my favorite cotton remnants that I buy just because they catch my eye - which is exactly what I used for the headband I made today. It doesn't cost much and doesn't take much time at all...maybe 15 minutes.

Thanks for stopping by!

This project is linked up at:

Big Daisy

The fam is on vacation this week in sunny Orlando, FL. I wanted a ginormous yet cute daisy for my daughter to wear in her hair. I might actually borrow it too :) So here is a quick tutorial on how to mount a store-bought flower onto a clip.

First make a coordinating ribbon-covered clippie. Check out my link here for a tutorial. Set the clip aside.

Take your store-bought flower and pop the top off of the stem. Next remove the plastic "cap" under the flower that holds the flower together.

Grab a pair of pliers. Snip off the plastic stem that holds the layers of flowers together.

Use Fabri-Tac glue and put a thin layer of glue between each layer of flower and also between the top layer of the flower and the plastic center of the flower. Make sure you only put the glue in the center area of the flower and not on the petals.

Lastly, spread a medium layer of Fabri-Tac onto the top of the clippie and press onto the back side of the flower. Use several plain alligator clips to hold down the ribbon-covered clippie to the flower. This helps the glue to set nicely. Remove the clips in an hour or so. Then allow the Big Daisy to finish drying.

My muse...I mean model for the day is my sister. Even adults can wear these clips well. Enjoy!

'

 

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:

Mop Top Headband and Pony-O

Last week I was busy making this layered twirl dress with my good friend and sewing mentor, Carly of Sewing and Design by Carly...

and had these fun leftover scraps of knit that I had to find a way to use.

You may have figured out how much I love to make hair pretties. Clippies, headbands, hair scarves, ANYTHING.   Yep, definitely can whip up a few headbands and pony-o's with these great scraps. If you have old t-shirts or other knit items in your "donate" box, these scraps will work great too.

I used the selvage edges that I cut off of the skirt bands from my dress above. Then cut into some small pieces of leftover fabric.

The pieces measure about 1/4" wide and about 3 inches in length for the smaller Mop Tops and about 5 inches in length for the bigger Mop Tops.

Cut, cut, cut and pile them up. I didn't count exactly how many strips I used. More = a bigger fluffier puff and less = a flatter thinner puff. The measurements do not need to be exact. Be sure to set one strip of knit aside for later use for each Mop Top you make.

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Once you are happy with the size of your pile, get out some elastic thread. If you don't own elastic thread, you can buy it in the notions section of your friendly local sewing store. You can also improvise by using embroidery thread, very thin ribbon or maybe even very thin elastic. Cut off a 5-inch piece.

If you are making a Pony-O...

Pick up your pile of knit scraps and set it down in the middle of the length of elastic. Grab an elastic ponytail holder.  Tie a double knot around the knit pile of strips and through the pony-o. Turn the pile and elastic over, bring the elastic ends and tie a double knot again.

Clip off the long ends but don't clip too close to the knot.

Now it's time to pick up the one strip of knit that I had you set aside a little earlier and tie a double knot with it over top of the elastic you used to tie the Mop Top. 

Cut a small circle out of coordinating felt (about 3/4 inch in diameter). Cover with a medium layer of Fabri-Tac. Then press the felt circle onto the underside of the Mop Top to cover the knot of the single strip of knit and to also cover the pony-o where it attaches to the underside of the Mop Top. 

Done! How easy was that?

If you are making a headband...

Pick up your pile of knit scraps and set it down in the middle of the length of elastic. Tie a double knot around the knit pile of strips.

Turn the pile and elastic over, bring the elastic ends together and tie a double knot again. Clip the ends of your thread but don't clip too close to the knot. Take one strip of knit that you set aside earlier and tie a knot on top of your piece of elastic thread that is holding your Mop Top together. Tie a double knot. For my headband, I made two Mop Tops. I wanted it big and full.

Cut out a small circle of coordinating felt for each Mop Top. Cover one side of it with Fabri-Tac. Set aside for a minute.

Grab one (or two) Mop Tops and flip them upside down - or - the part that you want to be the top should be laying on your work surface. Lay your elastic headband across the bottom of one or both Mop Tops.

Then finally lay your felt circle(s) on your elastic and Mop Tops. Push down with your fingers so that the glue adheres the elastic, felt and Mop Top(s) together.

 

Let dry a few hours. Wear with a smile.

Cute, cheap and FUN! I love making something out of scraps that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Revise my previous statement...cute cheap, FUN and green. Love it!

Thanks for popping by today! If you aren't yet a follower of my blog, now is the time. A giveaway is coming soon to my Bucket of Buttons Followers. 

This project is linked up at:














Blue Cricket Design and Sugar & Spice and Everything Nice at 733


The Mop Top Headband was FEATURED at: