Bday band

Tags

birthday, birthday present, customised, hair band, kanzashi, kanzashi flower

I’ve made another kanzashi flower hairband.  This time, using these nifty hairbands from Wilkos, it’s a birthday present for someone.  Idea is it goes over the whole head, rather than a ponytail.  I used the same tutorial as before.  Using smaller squares, 2 and a half inch square to be exact, I added the centre from a self-cover button with contrasting fabric.  You may recognise the fabric from previous projects I’ve written about.  I’ll likely have to adjust the length of the band (by measuring and sewing a new ‘join’) so it will fit the head of its recipient.  It’s a birthday present for the same little girl who I made this for previously.  I quite like using matching fabric for gifts when I can.  It gives some continuity.   Next time, I think I’d a) sew 8 petals rather than 6, so there is more even coverage of the flower; b) if I use the same sized button, I’d try using slightly bigger squares (maybe 3 inch) for better proportions.  I got these self-cover buttons from Dunelm (22mm, sold in a pack of 5).

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Hair again…

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80s 90s childhood, scrunchie

Another Friday evening sewing.  Tonight’s project was much quicker than making a handmade flower out of fabric.  But using the same fabric as last week, I made this 80s* throwback:

A scrunchie!

I used to love these as a kid.  I remember my Mum used to make them quite frequently and I’d sometimes help her.  I can still remember some of the scrunchies I enjoyed wearing as a little girl.  My favourite was a slim one made out of purple silk which we picked up in some kind of industrial fabric shop in London.  It was very soft!  I also had one (that Mum) made out of some rather scratchy material which looked great due to its wacky and unusual colours and sparkle, but wasn’t the most comfortable to wear, which my Mum picked up in Hong Kong after a sad family funeral she went out there for.  These scrunchies bring back memories!

I’m not sure how often I’ll wear this one, but I was inspired after reading this article on the Guardian online.  All linked to a new film out- I Tonya.  Well, if scrunchies do defy the odds and make a big comeback, I know where to turn for mine.  Or how to make some more.  You can too, I followed these easy to follow tutorials: here and here.  The first one is quite simple.  At first I liked the little videos that play automatically in the second, but then I must admit they made me feel a bit seasick.  More likely that I’m still recovering from a virus that has wiped me out all week.  Bye for now!

* Late 80s, early 90s

PS Next time, I’m going to have to do a better job of learning how to ladder stitch/ do an invisible stitch to sew up the opening.  I’ve never quite got the hang of it!

At it again

Tags

covered hairbands, hairbands, Japanese inspiration

After my Japanese inspired hairband I made last night, I’m on a little roll.  At the same time as buying my kanzashi hairband in Sapporo, I also bought a present for a little friend. Which I later thought could be replicated by self cover buttons.  A few years ago, when I first got into sewing, I bought a packed of self-cover buttons, and promptly enjoyed covering them with some fabric I’d been using.  Since then, they have been left in my sewing box, abandoned and unused.  So, although I fully intended to get some more and cover with Japanese fabric, I thought I might as well use up the supplies I have initially!  So here goes…

First hairband and the original pack of self-cover buttons.

Then I got out the little present I’d bought in Japan and realised they used two embellishments rather than one.  So I got sewing again and came up with this! Wait for it…Here’s my dual one!  And a collection with my kanzashi hairbands.

I’d better go and get on with my day.  Have a good weekend!

Kanzashiiiii

Tags

hairband, kanzashi

Tonight, I made a kanzashi flower hairband!  The inspiration behind it is a bit of a long story which I won’t go into just yet.  But please see my finished article here:

The blue fabric was some that I picked up from a lovely young family from Church who moved away to prepare for missions work overseas.  It goes well with a big button from an old jacket, in my button box.  Here’s what my collection of items looked like when I started out tonight:You may notice on the table a completed hairband.  This is one I picked up on a long lost trip to Japan a few weeks ago.  I bought it in a lovely little shop in Sapporo Station, before I ventured out up into the cold for the amazing Yuki Matsuri (Snow festival).  Tell you what, the weather here in the UK this week is giving Hokkaido a run for its money!

During my trip to Japan, it was great to see many familiar faces, food stuffs and fashions.  But I also found other things which, though were there before, were new to me.  Such as white sesame tantan men (a kind of white sesame ramen – delicious) and these flower hairbands.  Which I later learnt are called ‘kanzashi’ flowers – and typically adorn ladies’ hair when they wear kimono.  Thanks to these two blogs, I made my own one tonight.  I look forward to wearing it!

Jya ne (bye for now) xx