Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Kid’s Craft Contributor, Gillian from the blog “Dried Figs and Wooden Spools”.

If you know me at all, you know I have a little girl who is as girlie as they get. And you probably know that, despite the fact that she is three, she likes her outfits to have accessories and she likes those accessories to match. But since she is three, we loose those accessories a lot, so I am fairly regularly replacing them. Which is a good thing because it gives me a chance to try out new crafty things all in the name of pleasing my little princess.

Last weekend the weather in our town went from winter to spring in a twelve hour period. Friday my son went to school in snowboots and a down coat, Saturday we were all out in the yard in short sleeves digging in the garden. When the good weather continued I decided it was time to pull out the spring clothes which meant it was also time to bulk up the hair accessories. New clothes, new hair bobbles, right. And this time on top of the assorted clips and bows, I also decided to embark on a few headbands.

This one was the easiest and with it’s little blue birds dancing across the top, probably my favorite. Since it’s made from felt there’s no hemming involved and if you aren’t a sewing machine person you could do the whole thing with some embroidery thread and a needle. I’m so pleased with how it turned out I’m already planning to make more colors.

Here’s what you need:

Two pieces of felt in different colors  (The length of a standard sheet of felt was the perfect length for a three year old head, for a longer band, cut the felt at an angle or buy some felt by the yard )

20 inches of ribbon in a color that coordinates with the felt
Scraps of a third color of felt
Contrasting thread
Fabric glue

Cut the bottom layer of felt 2 inches wide and to the length you need. Measure from the top of the ear over the head to the top of the other ear to get the length, and then cut the same length but 1 1/2 inch width of the top color felt.

Trace whatever shape you want for the decoration (birds, butterflies, flowers) onto the scraps of felt and cut them carefully out. Using the fabric glue coat the entire underside of the decorative pieces and glue them just off center onto the top color band.

Position the two bands on top of one another and stitch 1/4 inch in from the edge of the top band down the length of the band on each side.

Cut the ribbon at an angle at the halfway point so that you have two 10 inch pieces of ribbon. Slip the other end of the ribbon into the hole between the two layers on each side of the headband.

Using a decorative stitch if you have it or a straight stitch if you don’t, sew across the ends of the band, securing the ribbons in place.

With the contrasting thread, stitch a few embelishments  (I added legs and beaks to the birds). Snip all threads and tie on. Super cute, super fast and, at least at my house, made totally out of scraps, which is always a bonus.