How to make a Japanese Hairpin..

Since I was making a set anyway, I finished off the tutorial I have had in the works for, um, close to two years, lol.

These are fairly simple to make; just a little fiddly and time consuming. But really pretty, imo!

You can click on each picture for a larger view, if you need, though I think they are fairly simple to figure out without it.




To begin: Cut a circle of fabric (I used a gatorade cap, since it was the right size for the result I wanted), and stitch a line of running stitches all around the edge. If you are using a flimsy fabric, like I am, cut another circle of a firmer fabric, and stitch them together at the same time with the running stitch. Use a long line of thread, at least 18 inches, to be used in the next steps.




Put a bit of polyfil in the middle, and pull the running stitches tight, to make a little ball shape.




Bring the needle and thread up exactly through the middle, and bring around and under and through again. Pull tight firmly. Repeat four more times, to make five equal "petals". Bring the needle and thread up through one more time.




String a bead on, and then stitch back down; come back up, through the bead and down several more times, to secure it firmly. Stitch the thread to secure on the underside.




Cut out two circles the same size as the flower out of your leaf fabric. Fold in half and then in quarters, and run a line of stitching along the open edge.



Pull the stitches tight, to gather, and stitch back and forth a couple times to secure. Knot off or back stitch the thread to hold it.



Cut out yet another leaf circle, same size, and a small circle of thin cardboard, big enough to cover the back of the flower without hanging out and being seen from the front. Run a line of stitching around the outside of the fabric circle, and pull tight around the cardboard one, covering it.



I forgot to show it, but here, you arrange the leaves on the back of the flower, in an attractive manner, at the same time keeping the ends so they don't show out from under the cardboard circle that you are going to stitch over the back of everything to cover all the raw ends.




Stitch securely to the back of your hairpin. I would assume you can use whichever kind of hairpin you want. I just happen to like this kind.




Done. :)

Let me know if anything is unclear, or completely unintelligible, lol! I hope you like my tut, and show me if you make one, too!!