Crocheted Flower Hair Clips
Handmade baby blankets always make fabulous gifts, but let’s face it – they take a while to make! I try my best to avoid storebought gifts, though, especially for close family and friends, and so I occasionally explore alternative (and quicker!) handmade gifts, like baby booties and plush toys. My favorite up until now has been Tara Murray‘s birdy rattle (purchase the pattern here or take a look at some of my finished rattles here) but it still takes a little more time and effort than I can squeeze in for a completely last minute gift.
Christmas Flowers
Sunshine Yellow Flower Hair Clip
A few weeks ago, though, I started experimenting with Irish rose style crocheted flowers for hair clips. I made a couple for a baby basket contribution and played around with some varying sizes of yarn to match some other gifts I was working on, but I picked up some really pretty pink cotton thread last week and suddenly I was making all kinds of adorable pink flower hair clips!
So if you’re looking for a really last minute gift for a special little girl, you can whip up a pair of these in about an hour or so.
Here’s what you need:
Omega Rústíca Eclát Non-Mercerized Crochet Thread in Rosa
1.65mm Steel Crochet Hook
Small Button(s) (optional) – I prefer shaft buttons for flowers; these were about 1/4″ across
32mm Hair Clip(s) with 3 Holes
Scissors
Small Darning Needle
Craft Glue (optional)
– – –
Instructions:
Rnd 1: 10 hdc in adjustable base ring (find a great tutorial here), join with sl st to top of 1st hdc. (10 hdc)
Rnd 2: sc in same st, (ch 3, sk next hdc, sc in next) around, ch 3, join with sl st to top of 1st sc. (5 ch 3 sp)
Rnd 3: sl st in 1st ch 3 sp, (sc, hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc) in ea ch 3 sp around. (5 petals)
Rnd 4: ch 1, bpsc around 1st sc of rnd 2, (ch 5, bpsc around next sc of rnd 2) around, ch 5, join with sl st to top of 1st bpsc. ( 5 ch 5 sp)
Rnd 5: sl st in next ch 5 sp, (sc, 2 hdc, 5 dc, 2 hdc, sc) in same sp and in ea ch 5 sp around, join to 1st sc and tie off.
Assembly:
Using beginning tail, begin to thread through back of rnd 1 as to cinch up the center of the flower, but place the shaft of the button in the center of your flower before you pull the tail to cinch it so that you can tighten it around the shaft of the button. If you are using a regular sew on button, simply cinch up the center of your flower to whatever degree you would like before sewing on the button. Secure the button with at least two stitches if possible before sewing your flower to the hair clip. I use three stitches to attach the flower to the clip through the three holes so that it makes a triangle because it seems to be the most stable means of attachment.
Tie off your thread between the flower and the clip and add a small drop of glue for additional security if desired – which is usually a good idea when children are involved! Be sure to allow the glue to dry completely before testing your handiwork so that the glue sets firmly. Wouldn’t want glue in anybody’s hair either!
If you’d like to make a card to attach them to, I’d recommend using fairly sturdy cardstock. The first card I made, I simply cut two slits in with a knife, but I found this dandy little punch at Hobby Lobby that cuts out what looks like an equals sign and it’s perfect for these hair clips! Once closed, they will warp the card, though, so keep that in mind when you’re making it. For a pair of thread crochet sized clips, a card about the size of a business card will do, but I bought some 6×2 inch bookmarks, which will do nicely for at least four clips, I think.
I hope you enjoy making these little hair clips; I know I did! Experiment with the design – customize your flowers, make them special. And have fun! I’d love to see your creations, too, so if you feel like sharing, pop on over to my facebook page and show me what you come up with!
* note: upon review of the pattern, I changed the chain 2 spaces to chain 3 spaces in round 2, which makes it a little easier to work into. I’m also going to experiment with different size hooks (finally bought some more!) so stay tuned for a post about that. -CL
ETA 01/19/2012: Click here to see a comparison of flowers made with four different sized hooks (1.65mm – 2.0mm) as well as three different button sizes.
01/24/2012: You can now download this pattern as a pdf!
CrochEt Cetera by Connie Lee 