As mentioned, our daughter has started to like headbands. This is a “twist” on a 80′s classic (you know the kind– from work out videos…), using the autumn colours of rust and gold. Materials Fabric Sewing materials (machine/thread) Optional Safety pin Ribbon/cord Beads Elastic Dowel Directions Rip (make a snip with your fabric scissors to get you started) or cut strips of fabric. We folded them over length-wise (good sides facing in) and then sewed the edges so when we turned them inside out, the edges would have a less rough feel. However, this step is optional. When you turn your “tubes” inside out, you might find a safety pin (attaching it to one end and moving it through) helpful for this. We found a piece of dowel to push it through worked for us, along with small pulls of the fabric out of the centre of the tube. (If you have any tips for this kind of thing, we would love to hear them! I will admit- this step is a bit time consuming if you decide to go with the more polished edge. It may require an adult to do it– perhaps while they are watching their favourite show!) Tie a knot together with all your fabric pieces, ribbon etc. and begin to braid. For children learning it is sometime easier to pin this to a surface such as a pillow, tape it to piece of cardboard or have an adult hold it. (Sometimes having the child repeat something like: “Left to the middle, right to the middle, left to the middle” as they braid helps them to stay organized with the process. My sisters and I practised learning to braid with shoe string licorice- thanks mom!) Add any embellishments you like (e.g., beads etc.) on your cord or ribbon. Knot them on. When you are done, secure the end with a knot. Tie the two knotted ends together and trim off any excess fabric or sew a bit of elastic to both the sides (or perhaps inside one of the longer tubes to hide it as we did) to make your headband adjustable. Purpose Learning to braid (developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination etc.) Safety Notes Have an adult use a sewing machine or based on your age and abilities, use it with direct supervision and guidance. Beads can be a choking hazard for children 0-3 years of age or those who tend to put things in their mouths. Headbands can be strangulation hazards. Be sure to remove them for play (e.g., on the playground etc.) Please like & share: Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Name* Email* Website Comment Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.
