Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Mini knots - headband tutorial

Do you remember this tutorial for the knotted headband? I was thinking about it a few weeks ago and decided I wanted to make some mini versions. Because everything is cuter in miniature.

So, follow this tutorial, just like before...

friendship-knot

But use crochet thread instead of strips of fabric. One length of thread should be measured by wrapping it around your head (add a bit extra if you are going to want to tie it) the other piece of thread (the one you'll be using to make the knots around the first piece) needs to be approximately six times as long as the first. Yes, that is very long.

You can vary the width of the finished piece by using more than one long thread (just bundle them together and make knots as if you have a single thread). For visual interest, I made three knotted strips for my headband, in three different widths. I secured them with a bit of elastic at the bottom. I've been wearing it non stop for the last two weeks.

Web
{front & back}

There are a few up in the shop, for those of you who prefer to outsource (and because they are so compact, I'm offering free shipping!). I'm not sure if these will end up being in the shop all the time. To be honest, as much as I love making them, they are very time consuming and my poor hands don't love making all those knots. The first day I made these I went overboard and woke up the next day with swollen finger joints. Take it easy, if you want to make these.

new pieces
{pretty jumble}

Now if I were a camp counselor, I would totally put some kids to work and crank these out nonstop. Kids will do just about any manual labor for a couple pieces of candy. It doesn't even have to be particularly good candy. I once spent an entire afternoon stuffing envelopes at camp and I was paid with 5 Jolly Ranchers and I was pretty sure I'd gotten a great deal. Ah, youth.


*This tutorial is provided for personal use only. Please do not sell this tutorial or create items for re-sale using this tutorial. Tutorial may be re-published only with my permission.

22 comments:

  1. I'd make them for some jolly ranchers :) But I would much rather buy them from you! They are so cute!

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  2. Those are spectacular. I need to start carving time out to do crafts...

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  3. haha good call about candy...my mom used to bribe me with candy buttons, which don't even taste like anything and i was still pumped. i applaud your patience...i don't believe i ever even got through an entire bracelet of this kind of knotting process (let alone an entire headband). so so pretty.

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  4. When I was a child, I used to make little bracelets using this knot. In french, we call it 'perles de lune' (= moon beads), but I have no idea why !

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  5. my little sister and her friend once spent hours in line with me for KROQ weenie roast tickets in exchange for...breakfast. such helpful tweens!

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  6. Yikes! Adorable and small enough so it might work with my hair. Thanks for sharing the directions. Gotta love child labor-especially when it's something they love to do. I would pay little ones for finding special sea glass!

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  7. Oh yes, the mini ones are just perfect.

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  8. Yes, Jessica, I think yarn would work well for these. You would have a thicker knot and a slightly rougher texture, but otherwise it would be the same. (And probably a bit less time intensive, because bigger knots make the process go more quickly.)

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  9. These are like friendship bracelets we used to make! Neat!

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  10. like some other commenters have said, I used to make these kinds of bracelets as a kid-- in summer camp, no less! back then, I had a blast making all kinds of friendship bracelets with all sorts of colors! but I never thought about using that same knotting technique to make a headband. very cool!

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  11. you totally need to run a summer camp - so cute

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  12. So sweet ... and they are so pretty when jumbled up.

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  13. love these!!!!! love frienship bracelets :)

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  14. Wow, these are gorgeous! I'm totally going to try this. I love the picture with the grouping, it's beautiful. I'll be linking as well.

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  15. AAAhhhhh! Totally cute, and I am totally making these for Christmas gifts.

    Also: good use of those elastic headbands that I thought would stay on my head but don't. I can cut 'em up for the bottom part.

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  16. ahhhhhh, this is the first time i've stumbled across your blog... and this was the BEST article to read! i literally laughed out loud at the camp counselor thing. consider yourself followed.

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  17. hi.. i was wondering, the back part of the band, is that garter or just lace? :)

    thanks! :)

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  18. How did you attach the elastic?

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  19. I don't understand how to make them, but they're so pretty!

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