I posted this DIY a while back on my personal blog and I thought I should share it with all of you too.

Remember those laced up ribbon barrettes from the mid-80′s that had long strands of ribbon falling from them?  You know you had a pair. Mine were purple and light purple and I think I often wore them with a pair of mint green (yeah, I said mint-green) linen over-alls that my mom’s friend made for me. I don’t know why I loved them so much (the barrettes, not the overalls); they created the illusion of long hair?, all the cool kids had them?, they were purple?, all of the above? Probably.

Well–I think they’re cool again, especially for two year olds named Georgia, and most definitely your own girlie girls. And if you have a little cutie it’s way easy to make these for them! I modified them a little bit and didn’t use barrettes but these big bobby pin/clips that Goody makes. They stay in my daughter’s hair better and they hold more hair than the old school barrettes did.

All you need is some fabric ribbon…the kind that comes on a spool for about $1 at Michael’s, Joanne’s, or Hobby Lobby and these bobby pins that you can pick up at any drugstore USA.

Cut about a foot of ribbon. Use two different colors.  Put them together and thread them through the top of one side of the bobby pin (when I say top I’ll be referring to the part of the bobby pin that will still show once you put it into your hair).  Start at the front of the bobby pin too–the part that would slip into your hair first.

Pull the ribbon all the way through the top of the bobby pin until it hangs evenly in two sections.  In this picture it looks like I have the ribbon hanging over the part of the bobby pin that would be underneath your hair–it wasn’t, the picture just looks weird.

Bring one section of doubled ribbon under and up through one side of the bobby pin and pull it tight. Then weave it around the other side of the bobby pin from the top and pull it back through to the other side. Continue to do this alternating from one side to the other kind of like you’d do if you were braiding hair.

It’s okay if it looks messy as you work. Just keep pushing the “braid” tighter as you work down the entire length of the bobby pin.  It will look better at the end and it’s okay if it isn’t perfect.

A helpful hint…..I spread the bobby pin apart (like above) and leave my finger in there…..yep….it does kind of hurt…..but this will ensure that you don’t loop the ribbons around the bottom of the bobby pin–which would “lock” the bobby pin and not allow you to open it when you put it into your hair.

When you get to the end you should have about seven inches of ribbon left – tie the two sections in a knot to finish off the barrette.  This will keep the braid tight and give you that truly 80′s flair…you know you want it!

 

Post by Maggie Terryn : Mom Colored Glasses