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:

.

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

.

.

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

.

.

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

.

.

.

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

.

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.

.
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