Make accessories that are more decorative than regular hair elastics.
Make a flamboyant hair bow from layers of short pieces of ribbon. You can customize the hair bow to make it as flamboyant or sedate as you would like and make the ribbon from as many or as few layers of ribbon as you would like. Make a colorful hair accessory from layers of different colored or patterned ribbon or make a neutral accessory from layers of the same colored ribbon.
Instructions
1. Cut 8 pieces of 1-inch-wide ribbon to about 6 inches long apiece. Use four different colored or patterned ribbons. Cut a V from each ribbon end to make ribbon tails. You should now have two different pieces of each colored or patterned ribbon.
2. Lay the identical ribbons on top of each other to make four piles of two. Make a wide X shape from each pile. Sew a stitch through the middle of each pile to keep the shapes.
3. Stack the piles on top of each other and fan them out to spread the ribbon ends around in a circle. Sew 2 stitches through the middle of the ribbons to keep them in place.
4. Cut 8 pieces of the 3/8-inch-wide ribbon. Make each piece about 8 inches long. Shape each piece of ribbon into a figure 8 and sew a stitch through the center where the ribbon ends connect.
5. Pile the shapes on top of each other and arrange them so the loops are fanned out in a circle. Sew two stitches through the center of the pile to join the ribbons. Pile the joined shapes on top of the pile of straight ribbons.
6. Cut a piece of 1 1/2-inch-wide ribbon to about 10 inches in length. Tie the ribbon into a bow. Place the bow on top of the figure 8 ribbons and sew stitches through all layers to join.
7. Spread some hot glue on the top of the metal or plastic barrette and press the joined bows down firmly on the clip.
