https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/top-hat-band-ribbons-and-giant-kanzashi • Posted by Mildred C.
I had funky aisan-esque fabric that I was using for my outfit (in fact, I have more and will make a bodice or waistcoat in the future...). So I got ribbons in the various colors of that fabric and the teal/hawaian blue of my skirt and made this hatband. I had been at a con just before that with a vendor who sold "kanzashi" (in reality just decorated combs and hair clips). In searching google, I came across an awesome tutorial at http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/kanzashi_tutorial.php and some youtube videos. I did this all with hand sewing, so that's why it took so long. Note- I made this before I joined, so most of the how to are ones that I made afterwards to show the steps. More pics to come.
I had funky aisan-esque fabric that I was using for my outfit (in fact, I have more and will make a bodice or waistcoat in the future...). So I got ribbons in the various colors of that fabric and the teal/hawaian blue of my skirt and made this hatband. I had been at a con just before that with a vendor who sold "kanzashi" (in reality just decorated combs and hair clips). In searching google, I came across an awesome tutorial at http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/kanzashi_tutorial.php and some youtube videos. I did this all with hand sewing, so that's why it took so long. Note- I made this before I joined, so most of the how to are ones that I made afterwards to show the steps. More pics to come.
Measure around the base of the hat (not the brim, but the base that goes around your head.
I'm not positive on the widths, but had 4 widths of ribbon. The widest was gray, next widest was yellow, then electric teal, and the smallest were a set of thin ribbons in royal blue, red, and lime green. I took the three widest ribbons and measured out the length of the measurement in Step one, and added a seam allowance (I did a french seam), and cut. More on the thin ribbons in a moment.
I pinned the yellow ribbon onto the gray so that the yellow ribbon was in the middle of the width of the gray. I then pinned the electric teal ribbon onto the yellow, again so that the teal was in the middle. I then hand sewed the teal and yellow ribbons down along their edges, so they wouldn't flap up.
I then took the royal blue, lime green, and red ribbons (which were the same size), and braided them together until I had a piece the same length of the hat band in process. Then I sewed that down the middle of the electric teal ribbon.
I then folded right sides together and sewed down the seam allowance. I did a french seam so the ribbons wouldn't fray.
I then used the awesome tutorial at http://www.mookychick.co.uk/diy_ethic/kanzashi_tutorial.php to create a large sized kanzashi (but didn't make a center for it) from the brocade fabric.
I created a base for the kanzashi with some scrap fabric of the skirt that this hat band was going with (to let it rest a little away from the actual hat). I just took a long strip and wrapped around into a solid cylinder. I then sewed the kanzashi to one side of the base.
I had a gear with a post, and the post fit through the center of the large watch face. So I put the gear into the watch face and pushed the rest of the post into the base, through the center of the kanzashi. Then I used some embroidery thread to stabilize the gear.
I didn't use the gray ribbon any more, but I used all the other ribbons mentioned before plus some others (silver and gold organza, other colors in the same colors as the inspiration fabric ), and cut random long lengths. I then folded them in half and sewed them onto the other side of the base of the kanzashi. See this pic for a layout after Steps 8 & 9.
I then sewed the kanzashi piece to the hat band, at the seam. I ended up placing another ribbon around the seam to strengthen it against the weight of the kanzashi.
The hat band is just loose enough I can place the kanzashi at almost any point along the hat and just drape the ribbons aound the hat. I usually place it to one side or mostly to the back, but never in the front.