I didn't intend to do a third part to the summer hair
accessories series, but I found this old rose elastic thingy
among my hair accessories earlier this week and it was
one of the more formal handmade things I've worn in my hair,
so I thought I'd share it with you all. I didn't have any black
silk satin (which was what I used for the original one - thicker
than regular satin, has a more matte sheen and used in
formalwear, generally) but I found some inky-black corduroy
scraps that would do for a slightly more casual version.
Here's what you need:
- 2 pieces of fabric - each 9" x 2.25" (the ones in the picture are far bigger than that, sorry - I was experimenting)
- Two circular calyx-shaped pieces of green fabric - mine were about 1.75" diameter and cut with a random number of sepals (the pointy things)
- One double-leaf shaped piece of green fabric - each of my leaves was about 1" long.
- A long piece of elastic hair-tie, or black garter elastic- the length doesn't matter.
- Thread and a needle
- Craft glue.
Note: For the calyxes and the leaves, I used some synthetic suede scraps I've had for a hundred years. It reminds me of the stuff they put on billiard/pool tables, but less radioactive-colored. You could use wool felt or anything that doesn't fray.
Step 1
Step 2
- Fold down a corner of the folded edge, and then fold a bit of the short edge over that. This is the middle of the rose bud.
Step 3
- Thread a needle, knot the thread, and sew down your fold, at the unfolded edge of the fabric strip.
- Begin making a loose roll around the folded bit, stitching along the bottom. Of course you should use thread of a matching color, not, say, white thread on black fabric like I did. My weird thread color choice is purely for visibility in the photos.
- The top of the rose bud should be loose and irregular. It is the bottom of the rose bud that will be tightly gathered. So like this:
Not like this:
This is not a rose bud - this is sushi.
Which is what you will get if you roll too tightly.
So try not to.
Step 4
- When you get to the end of the strip, tuck the short edge inwards and fold it down towards the bottom of the rose bud and stitch.
- Made two small slits about 1.4" apart in the center of one calyx.
- Slip the double-leaf through the slit, right sides of leaf and calyx facing.
- Locate the middle of the length of elastic.
- Slip the elastic through the loop on top of the leaf and position the calyx-leaf at the mid-point of the elastic.
- Glue to secure.
- Flip the calyx-leaf-elastic assembly over, and spread glue on the wrong side of the calyx.
- Place rose bud centrally on the calyx and wrap the sepals (the petals of the calyx) around the bottom of the rose bud. Hold for a few seconds to let glue dry.
- Make another rosebud from the other strip of fabric.
Step 9
- Make another pair of slits in the other calyx.
- Thread the elastic through the calyx and tie both ends of the elastic together in a knot.
- Position the calyx as close to the knot as possible.
Tie a ponytail!
If you are younger than 20, you may also wear it on
your wrist when not in use, a la prom night.
This is a variation in Thai silk.
I love the two-toned sheen of Thai silk.
You can also make two smaller, separate elastic ties
Happy tying!
OK, I am really done with the hair things now. Really.
I have lots of pictures of clothes to post over
the next few days, so drop by again soon!