How to Make Girls Barrettes With Ribbon

Transform regular hair clips into colorful barrettes.

Girls weaved ribbon barrettes were a stylish sensation made popular in the 1980s. These decorative, simple-to-create hair clips can be made in various colors with just a few supplies from a craft store. Ribbons in two or more colors are weaved around the bars of a basic double bar barrette to form a striped pattern. Leftover ribbon at the end of the weaving process is left to form tails that can be decorated with beads, buttons and other small embellishments.

Things You'll Need

• 1/8-inch ribbon
• Double bar barrette
• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Hot glue gun
• Hot glue sticks
• Beads and buttons (optional)

Instructions

1. Measure and cut two pieces of 1/8-inch grosgrain or satin to a length of 36 inches. Choose a different color for each ribbon. Ensure that the ribbon is reversible – meaning that they look the same on both sides.

2. Overlap the first piece of ribbon over the second piece of ribbon. Line up the ends so only the top color is visible. Both ribbons should now be treated as one and will be weaved together as one.

3. Lay the barrette on a flat surface with the double bars facing upward. Insert the doubled ribbon through the unopened end of the barrette. Pull the barrette to the center of the doubled ribbon.

4. Hold the ribbon on the right side of the barrette between your thumb and forefinger. Weave the ribbon across the right bar and beneath the left bar. Both ribbons should now be on the left side. Do not twist the ribbons.

5. Take the other ribbon and weave it across the left bar and under the right bar in the same manner. The weaving process should now create an X with ribbon on the right and left side again.

6. Continue to alternate the ribbons down the length of the barrette. A striped pattern should present itself as the double colored ribbons are weaved around the bars of the barrettes. Pull tautly as you weave the ribbons.

7. Complete the final weave by leaving all the pieces of ribbon on one side of the barrette. Tie a knot with the ends of the ribbon to create a tail. The hanging ribbon ends can be left at the same length or cut to various lengths.

8. Add beads or buttons to the ribbon tails if desired. Tie small knots at the ends of each ribbon tail to prevent the beads and buttons from sliding off. Add a dab of hot glue to each of the knots to secure them in place.

References

• Wrights: Braided Barrette