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Tuesday, February 5, 2008

keeping the hair out of my eyes.

last week i was doing some sewing & i found myself constantly blowing at my bangs to keep them out of my eyes. my hair is in this self-imposed, weird stage. my bangs are long, much longer than i'd like. but i'm just not sure what to do with them. i've been attempting to go for that swept to the side bang look, but my bangs just do really go there. i'm not sure if i should go back to the straight bang look, or if i should just grow them out... (although, i think i look kinda boring without bangs. i need them for the little umph! they add to my face.) not able to make a decision, the bangs are now, just in the way. anyway, back to my story. not having any bobby pins on hand (& i can't wear traditional headbands because they just make my head hurt), i ended up tying a piece of fabric around my head, a la 1950's housewife style. later i found myself liking the way it looked & i realized if i'd just sew a bit here & there, i'd have the makings of an awfully cute headband (or ascout, ha ha ha), that wouldn't give me a headache.
so if you're at all interested in making your own super chic headband, here are the instructions: (click on the pictures to enlarge.)
1. cut two strips of fabric. (i actually used two different fabrics, so that mine would be reversible.) you'll also want to measure your head to get an approximation for how long the fabric should be... i cut my fabric 2.5" x 33.5", but i didn't want really long "tails".
2. using a hard edge (i used my fabric ruler), draw a curve (on the wrong side of the fabric) from the midpoint on the 2.5" edge (at 1.25") to the midpoint of your length (for me it was at 16.75"). (you'll want to draw this curve twice, along the top long edge & the bottom edge as well). once the curves are drawn, fold both fabrics in half & cut. does this make sense? basically you just want a slight curve that comes to a point on the short edge... (check out the pictures.)
3. with the right sides of the fabric together, sew (using a 1/4" seam) around the edge of the headband, leaving approximately 2-3" open (so you can turn it).
4. using your fingers, turn the headband right side out.
5. iron your headband, especially along the seams. also really iron at the "opening", folding under the edges of the "opening" & create a good crease.
6. using your sewing machine, top-stitch the entire headband, getting as close to the edge of the fabric as you can... making sure you stitch down the edges of the "opening" so that "opening" is now closed.
7. tie your new creation around your head & your finished!

14 comments:

Natalie said...

SO cute, Kelly - you should make and sell these cuties!

mary plus vince said...

you are so crafty, love them! they are adorable! (and so are those pics! how fun!)

Leslie said...

adorable, kelly! i'm with natalie. put em in your shop & i'll get one. :)

Andrea said...

These are really cute. I am definitely putting them on the sewing list for me and my daughter.

Traci said...

So cute! Love your pics!

Bridget said...

Those are so cute! Regular headbands give me a headache too. I tried again on Sunday just for three hours of church and it was still bad.

The fabric is so cute.

jess said...

I've been meaning to do something like this!

mama jo said...

those are really cute...and like you say...you can wear it on your neck if you get tired of it on your head...

{B}dreamy said...

You.Are.So.Cute! I too sympathize with you and painful, headache inducing headbands. I'll have to give this a go, fo' sho'! *B

Lacie said...

It is so funny you talking about your bangs. I have been tossing around the idea of getting bangs...but I am nervous about the idea of them always being in my face. I think I would want the "swoop to the side" look. Are they really that that bad. I feel kind of boring with the straight no bang look right now. Ohhh, the idea of changing my hair just makes me nervous. bangs are a big deal to me- can you tell that change is not one of my strengths?

Aranne and Dan said...

I totally sympathize with the bang dilema. A few months ago I broke down and cut bangs (after years, and years of no bangs) and I hate them. I pin them back every day and don't even remember what they look like down. REGRET for sure!!! I DESPERATELY need one of your headbands!

April said...

what a great idea, and you look so cute. You are so creative.
Hey by the way, how did you make a button for your etsy business?

Michelle said...

Those are just adorable!

crystal said...

Will you please get your buns over to my house & show me how to do Isabelle's hair like yours???? SO CUTE!