Friday 7 June 2024

Girl Bands [A DIY Tutorial]

Rose went to a craft fair and tried on a headband. It was an animal print fabric, with a little knot on the top. She looked gorgeous, and she really wanted it. But it cost £14. Mummy Liz suggested she should see what Grandma could do. I searched on line, and found a number of video tutorials and DIY patterns. I bought a pack of simple hairbands, and a pack of 6 polycotton squares. Here is my template, cut from a cereal packet.
The tie is a strip 1½" x 8" cut to a point at each end.
The main band - 16" long, 1½" at each end, and 3" in the middle. You will see the pattern is half length, you need to place it on the folded fabric. Cut two pieces of each shape
Right sides together, sew round the edge of the tie.
Turn out and press. Sew up the gap neatly
On the band, right sides together, sew just along the LONG edges. Turn out, press. Now slide the band through the tube, and tuck in the raw ends at each end. make pleats to gather up spare fabric.Sew across neatly by hand.
Now tie the tie round the centre, pull tight  [Fold in spare fabric on the top of the band - this loose fabric adds to the effect] Hold tie in place with a few stitches on the underside.
I polished off half a dozen in an afternoon. The girls were delighted, and took the spares back for their friends.
If the fabric is fine and floppy, the use iron on lightweight interfacing on just one of the two tie pieces, and on one piece of the band strips[the upper strip] Total cost about £1 per band, and I have lots of fabric, and a loads of bands leftover.






27 comments:

  1. They turned out great! Grandma to the rescue again . Where did you get the squares? I buy my hairbands at Home Bargains, 6 for 79?

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    1. I found a pack of six animal print squares on A**z*n for about £8. But you do need to check details, They vary in size, colours & quality. And i wanted at least 18" so could cut a strip without a seam

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  2. Ps you should put some in your shop?

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  3. They look very stylish! I like knot headbands. X

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  4. Straight on to Etsy-you'll make a small fortune!

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    1. Perhaps could make some mini ones for the mice who are moving into the shop after the summer...

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  5. Gorgeous girls in their headbands. I wore something like this during Covid when I didn’t have my hair cut for two years but never thought to put a hair and inside-duh! Another idea for your online shop?

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  6. What a clever Grandma! They look great and you can see the girls are thrilled. That seems a lot of money when compared to your make but I guess the person selling them had to factor in all expenses plus hire of the stand at the craft fair and travel costs then to make a profit on top. Regards Sue H

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    1. I imagine a raft Fair in Greenwich can command high rates for a stand. My neighbours, who have a mobile catering van was quoted £3000 for a pitch at Glastonbury. They decided against it

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  7. Susan From Across the Pond7 June 2024 at 10:25

    Clever project! I can't get over how big Rosie has gotten. Where does the time go? Both of the girls' smiles melt my heart. They look like girls who know they are deeply loved by parents and grandparents.

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    1. We are so blessed to have four lovely grandchildren

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  8. They look lovely, worth every penny of £14!

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    1. Not sure hard-pressed young Mums would agree!

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  9. I expect you to be super creative and the headbands are terrific but I had the biggest grin when I read that you cut the pattern from a cereal packet! JanF

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    1. Cereal packets are just right for making small patterns. They aren't too hard to cut up, and they are durable

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    2. Cereal packets are just right for making small patterns. They aren't too hard to cut up, and they are durable

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  10. First time I read this I couldn't see the pics on my ageing iPad but now I can - how clever you are , the headbands are really lovely.
    Alison in Wales x

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  11. Oh that's lovely that you even made enough for the girls to share with their friends!

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    1. I made one with each of the fabrics and let them choose their favourites. When I suggested Rosie might like to pick one for her best friend, they asked if they could take the others for friends in London too. I love that they are so generous

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  12. Those headbands are lovely! And your granddaughters are so generous, too.
    I didn't get notifications of this and the next post and I was wondering if you were taking a short break from blogging after returning from your vacation. Off to catch up on your blog posts!

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    1. No I'm still blogging daily,but blogger is not sending notifications

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  13. Lovely headbands. I can see why the girls love them so much. Pretty and made especially for them by Grandma.

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