Tutorial: Vintage ‘Alice in wonder’ hairband

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:

www.bellachiara.co.za
Or keep up to date by going to her facebook page here: 

www.facebook.com/BellaChiara.Accessories

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!