I am really excited about today's post. Claire is a friend that I made while living in Cape Town. She is super talented and well known for her beautiful hair accessories.
Here we go:
Make this exquisite vintage Alice band
using bits of trim found in haberdashery or fabric shops. Better yet, rummage
through your gran’s sewing box to find all sorts of treasures to embellish
with!
Use colours like ivory and off-white for an
olden-day feel. And if you use coloured satin ribbon for the hairband, stick
with pale lavendars and lilacs, or light sea greens and translucent honey
yellows.
Made
by Claire of Bella Chiara
Claire started Bella Chiara just over a
year ago as a hobby making bridal accessories. She has recently jumped the
corporate ship and has plunged into the fascinating world of making pretty
things for brides for a living. She’s opening up her own studio in a Victorian
house in Woodstock, Cape Town. Part of a lively hub of all things bridal, she
works alongside jewellery and wedding dress designers in the same house.
You can visit her website here:
Step 1
Materials needed:
Plastic Alice band (or satin covered one if
you can find in a colour you like).
50cm of satin in chosen colour to cover
Alice band, 22mm wide (very important that you get this exact width, no
smaller).
Needle and thread in chosen colour for
Alice band.
Bits and bobs of lace, crochet and satin
ribbon to make roses from and decorate.
Decorative binding or velvet to line the
inside of covered Alice band.
Beads, pearls and crystals to embellish.
Small piece of veiling (optional).
Step 2
Take
the satin ribbon you will use to cover the plastic Alice band with, trim the
edge with a sharp scissors, and burn the end lightly, just enough to seal the
threads and prevent them from unravelling.
Step 3
Cover
Aliceband with satin ribbon. Stitch together as tightly and neatly as possible.
Stitch along the full length of the Alice band until fully covered. Trim and
burn the other end as in step 2.
Step 3.1
Fold
over the ends and stitch closed.
Step 4
Now
select bits of lace and interesting trim to decorate the covered Alice band.
Step 5
You
can make pretty flower shapes from lace and crocheted ribbon by rolling the
ribbon and sewing it together as you go. Once you have the desired size, trim
excess ribbon with a sharp scissors and sew closed very well to prevent the
ends from unravelling
Step 6
Position
and sew little bits of lace, crochet flowers, pearls and crystals in a cluster
just off center on the Alice band. You can add as much or as little
embellishment as you like.
Step 7
You
can also add a touch of veiling. Cut a piece of veiling into a triangle shape
(one with a 90 degree corner). Stitch the veiling on the underside of the Alice
band. It will naturally take a rounded shapeas you sew along the one side.
Place the 90 degree corner towards the end of the Alice band
Step 8
You
can experiment with feathers and pre-made fabric roses as well.
Step 9
Line
the inside of the Alice band with decorative ribbing or velvet. Remember to
burn the edges lightly and sew using small, neat stitches. Make sure that the
ribbing or velvet that you use is only 10mm wide.
Step 9.1
A
closer look at how to sew in the ribbing.
And you're done!
