Although the (now-vintage) headbands of my youth served to control and enhance stubborn mousy-brown locks through high school and college, they don’t compare with today’s versions, ones anyone can make with these great ribbons.  The lowly hair accessory has become a statement of color, whimsy, fashion and self-expression. 

Here are some BASIC WAYS TO COVER HEADBANDS WITH RIBBON:

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SPIRAL WRAPPING

• Cut ribbon about twice as long as the band

• Coat both sides of band with permanent glue stick

• Begin wrapping on the inside at one end

• Continue tightly wrapping on angle to other end, pressing into the glue coating

• Fold under raw end of ribbon

• Use a few stitches to secure ribbons that cover the ends of the band

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ENVELOPING

• Use this method for ribbons at least twice as wide as the band

• Cut ribbon 2” longer than the band

• Fold 1” under on both ends of the ribbon

• Fold ribbon in half lengthwise

• Coat both sides of band with permanent glue stick

• Slip band into folded ribbon & secure with a few pins

• Stitch ribbon edges and ends together

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FOLDING

• Use when ribbon is at least 2½ times the width of band

• Cut ribbon 2” longer than band

• Coat inside of band with permanent glue stick

• Position one long edge of ribbon onto glue, 1” extending from each end of band

• Apply permanent glue stick to outside of band

• Fold the1” extensions over ends of band

• Wrap ribbon around edge onto sticky outside of band

• Apply permanent glue stick to exposed underside of remaining ribbon

• Wrap tightly over the edge & press onto inside of band

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ENCASING

• Use when ribbon and band are the same width

• Cut 1 piece of ribbon the same length as the band, and 1 piece 2” longer

• Apply permanent glue stick to inside of band & adhere shorter ribbon

• Apply permanent glue stick to outside and adhere ribbon, allowing 1” extensions on each end

• Turn under raw ends of ribbon and wrap extensions over both ends and stitch

• Stitch both ends together

• If band narrows at the ends, fold extra ribbon to the inside evenly on both sides and stitch

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Love Those Flowers?  Here's how it's done:

Materials:

• Ribbon (MR 28, 1½” wide)…36”     

• Wire:  (KS 18) …8”

• Bead or button for center of flower

• 2 leaves from ribbon (XL16), optional

• Gathered green ribbon (BA08, 3/8” wide)…4”

• Thread to match plaid and green

• Permanent glue stick.

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Flower:

• Center a bead or button on the wire, then tightly twist the wire into a stem

• Cut ribbon into two 18” pieces, prepare both per ILLUSTRATION #1 below      

• Hold the end folds in place with a dab of glue

• Expose the ribbon’s wire at point B

• Holding wire in place at point A, carefully pull exposed wire from B to create gathers.

• Place the stem on the gathered ribbon at point A, as in ILLUSTRATION #2

• Roll ribbon once or twice around the stem, keeping gathers fairly even

• Tack ribbon in place through several rolled layers, keeping gathers balanced and the roll secure as you go.

• Repeat for the second ribbon and finish by checking the rolled ribbon and making any necessary adjustments.

• Carefully tack one end of the narrow gathered green ribbon to the flower’s base

• Wrap it around the wire stem 2 – 3 times, not pulling out the gathers.

• Use a few stitches to secure the gathered band at the base of the flower.

• Pull the remainder of this ribbon flat and wrap it tightly around the wire stem.

• Secure the end with a few stitches and a dab of glue if needed.

• Stitch the 2 faux suede leaves (ribbon XL16) to the stem

• Sew the bloom onto the band where it suites you best.

Blog Posted By: Ellen Highsmith Silver