Hairwraps and sewing help

[hippiemom2]

I am living in the Bellingham area and was wanting some hairwraps. If any mommies out there live in the area and have the skills for good quality, permanent wraps then perhaps we could work something out.

Also, I was wondering if anyone out there had a pattern for twirly dresses. I don't know what else to call them. Dresses you can dance and twirl in. Perhaps, an example would help. Check out hippieclothes.com. I want to make some for myself but am a beginner at sewing and would need some sort of a pattern.

Thanks for any help you can give.

Shelbi

[jjquilter]

What is a permanent hair wrap? Do you mean a scrunchie? I just made a 'twirly' skirt for a friend's child...

I have a pattern for a skirt from the seventies that is what you're looking for, I think. I'm not willing to part with it, though. You should scour garage sales for vintage patterns and fabric.

jj

[hippiemom2]

Hair wraps can be permanent if you do it with good materials. If you don't know a hairwrap is getting some hemp and beads, and bells to wrap around your hair and to attach the bells and beads.

I have tried garage sales but haven't found what I am looking for yet.

I am looking for a dress patterns for the hippie chick dresses that you can twirl in while dancing.

Do you know of the philosophy when in doubt twirl?

Shelbi

[simonee]

Hairwraps are easy to make yourself. Just practice on a few pieces of string. The most important part is making sure that the strings are tied very tightly at the top, and then when you wrap the strings down you have to stay pretty tight but not too much. Really, a little practice gets you a long way.

I used to make the multicolored ones on the street, with little beads in them. They lasted 3 to 6 months, depending on hair length. It's a great thing to do with a friend ~ you make them for each other, and drink lots of tea in the meanwhile. Good ones take about 30 mins each.

From what I saw on the hippieclothes site, it seems that you can easily cheat a little, i.e. make a dress without a pattern. You can make a top by using a fave shirt as a pattern, and cut short sleeves as part of the front and back panels (so basically you'd cut two T shapes). Or, if that's too much work, just cut an existing shirt short and use it.

The skirts are easy to make. Measure how wide it will be (the circumference of the bottom of the shirt part), and multiply by 3 or so. That's how much fabric you'll need. You gather the fabric on top, either by using elastic or by running a thread through it and tightening it to the correct length, and then sew the gathered skirt onto the dress top. Essentially, the bottom of the skirt will be 3 times as big as the top, which leaves you plenty-a-room for some major twirling

[hippiemom2]

I can do hairwraps as well but have a difficult time doing it on my own head. I tend to leave spacing within my wrapping so I just need to find a kind sister who is willing to do one. I had a wrap done at a show in Tennessee and it lasted 3 years. Whenever my hair would grow out, then I would just have someone wrap that portion. I don't know what the sister did to make it last that long.

As far as the dress thanks for the tips. I am so new to sewing that I thought it might be easier to have a pattern. I am still trying to figure out this sewing thing. I wish I had paid attention when I went through home ec. those many years ago.


Thanks,

Shelbi

[XM]

Try putting a card up at the Co-op, or maybe the library... there's go to be someone who knows how to do wraps and would be down to swap them with you! I don't know how to do them (and I am 2 hours south of you) so I am really of no help, sorry!

XM

[reilly's momma]

you could post in the trading forum to see if anyone has a pattern that would help you & if anyone near you does hair wraps

[frodo]

do you know how to make a broomstick skirt? you need enough light cotton fabric to wrap around your waist at least twice, the more fabric yoou have, the fuller the skirt will be. measure enough waistband elastic to go around your waist once. make a casing at the top for the elastic, and thread it through using a safety pin. stitrch the ends of the elastic together, and close the casing. hem the skirt at any length you want.

then, get the skirt wet, bunch it together at the waistband and hem, stretch it out to its full length, and twist it up till it doubles over upon itself. let it dry like this, either air drying, or, if you must, tying it up so it stays twisted and tossing it in the dryer. (ka-klunk, ka-klunk, ka-klunk!) untwist it when it is completely dry, and it will have a lot of wonderful swirly krinkle-pleats, perfect for dancing.

these skirts were popular about 8 or 10 years ago. i have about a million of them.

[hippiemom2]

Sounds like something I might actually be able to make. Thanks for the tip. I am trying to start with something easy and move up from there.

My husband said cool sign on name.

Peace,

Shelbi