miffys world: Miffy's No Sew Fabric Flower Hairclips

Why not! Here's how you do it.

You will need:

Heat n bond Ultrahold. (This is the key to the no-sew part of the flower!) You will find this at a haberdashery store – bricks or online. It is made by Thermoweb. Heat n’ bond is the product name and the ultrahold is in the red pack. It is fabulous! Buy some.
Hair clips – you will find these at a large haberdashery or a craft store.
Fabric scraps – a few coordinating patterns
Button – either a covered button kit or a cute button. Here I have used covered ones because I love the effect. You can buy a little kit with 5 buttons for around $3.
Sharp sewing scissors. Not the kitchen chicken shears and not the kids paper safety scissors. Good scissors that are only used for cutting fabric are a really useful investment!

Freestyle draw 2 flowers onto the paper side of a piece of the Heat n’ bond.

I like to use 5 ‘petals’. I make my main flower about 8 - 10 cm wide – that is about 3 – 4”. Have a doodle first and you will surprise yourself. For inspiration - Unniko, the quintessential freestyle flower design from Marimekko.

I use a crayon or lead pencil to get some 'grip' on the paper. I then play with the shape I create as you can see in the picture.

You won’t see it as this paper film that gets peeled away. Draw a second flower - smaller in size and will give the clip its layered look. I know this is simple to some - but to other people - this is the step that stops people from doing something like this. As you can see from Marimekko - less than 'perfect' IS the point!!

Select your fabrics and place the flower shapes over the fabric – on the reverse side of the fabric & iron with a dry heat.

Use 2 different and coordinating fabrics. I like to use a nice print on the back of the flowers too. You see this when it is in the hair and it gives a really nice finish. Iron for a few seconds only and don’t get any of the Heat n’ bond on your iron or board cover as it is an adhesive and it will make a mess. Trust me on this!

Once the piece is cool, cut out the flower. Here is the tip for easy ‘fussy cutting’... move the flower shape around in your hand – don't move your scissors around the shape! Much easier and a great finish rather than trying to manoeuvre sharp scissors around a small curve. Check the shape from the front of the flower and trim until you are happy.

Peel off the heat n bond paper. Underneath it will be milky looking - or kind of shiny – this is the adhesive that we will adhere some more fabric to!

Place your cut 'gummy' flower shapes onto the reverse side of your coordinating fabric. Then iron the flowers to adhere. Make sure the flower fabric print side is right side up or you will make a huge mess with the adhesive!

After the fabric cools and has some 'body', cut out the flower again.

This time you are cutting the 2 layers of fabric. If you do this on your lap whilst watching tv, be careful not to cut through your clothes. Don’t ask me how I know about this…!

Now we have our flowers ready to attach.

If you are using covered buttons , select a coordinating fabric scrap and cover your button. If you are using a standard button then,

Secure your button to your top layer flower with a few stitches. Then attach the second layer through as well. No need to change thread. Just keep adding the layers to attach! (I know this negates the ‘no – sew’ aspect – but sewing on buttons is good for you!) I use a double thread.

If you are using the flowers for hairclips, then attach the clip securely now. Once again, no need to cut the thread and restart - just keep sewing through the layers. This way you can keep your ends neat too.

Voila! Congratulations, you have made a lovely little flower hairclip.

There are lots of uses for your gorgeous hairclips…

A flower garden with a tongue poking garden fairy!!

To make the tank top, I use single layer flowers and a variety of small coloured buttons around the neckline. I sew into the edge ribbing to avoid holes forming in the knit fabric. I also sew them so they are slightly bunched together for a ruffled effect.

These flowers can be sewn to a coordinating fabric hairband. There are some great tutorials for these at Blue Bird Studio and here for Heather Baileys. There are loads more out there. I have also been clipping the hairclip to Darcy's existing headbands. As seen in the photo at the very top. She loves doing this! It allows a very independent 5 year old some accessorising action that she can create - as opposed to putting on a necklace - which still needs Mummy's help.

Of course, you could use a brooch back - available at craft and haberdashery stores - and sew the flowers to the brooch back instead of a hairclip and wear it as a brooch, attach it to your handbags, etc!

Loads of possibilities. Go forth and sew your own Fabric Flower Garden.

By the way, you still time to enter my 'And what's not to love about a giveaway?' giveaway! More here...

Comments

Wow - thank you Louise for being so generous with your gorgeous hair clip tutorial. With four little granddaughters, I will have such fun creating clips to go with their outfits. By the way, your fabric combinations are so perfect.

Posted by: Robyn Dixon | January 13, 2009 at 08:31 AM

fabulous!! thanks so much!!

Posted by: britt- sparkledvintagecharm | January 13, 2009 at 12:20 PM

This is a great tutorial!

Posted by: Rebecca | January 13, 2009 at 05:37 PM

Wow these are gorgeous. What a great idea!!

Posted by: Bec | January 13, 2009 at 05:58 PM

Oh, I forgot to add, I've been REALLY enjoying your playlist. I've kept it going as I've been getting the kids' dinner ready, and we've all been clapping along to Ben Lee, playing air guitar to Hoodoo Gurus, and robot dancing to Devo :D

Posted by: Bec | January 13, 2009 at 06:32 PM