Russian Hair Flowers / Ribbons

[Paranda Belle]

School girls in Russia and Eastern Europe wear these amazing bows in their hair that look a bit like shower puffs!
http://bbratstvo.com/files/imagecache/user_gallery_big/big50012.jpg
http://club.season.ru/uploads/1229453695/gallery_3693_250_604458.jpg

I want to try and make some to go with an outfit. Does anyone know how they are tied in the hair, how they are made, or even what they are called in Russian so I can google/yandex for instructions? I can read cyrillic and hopefully remember enough Russian to work it out!

There is a thread on the old forum with more pictures: http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=46182

[In2wishin]

They look like they are made from a length of organza that is tightly gathered. Do you sew or know someone who has a machine?

One option (no machine needed): go to you local craft store that has a decent selection of floral supplies. You can probably find some wide organza ribbon there (so you don't have to worry about hemming edges). Take about one meter of the ribbon (I'm guessing here) and hand sew a running stitch close to one edge for the full length. Knot or otherwise secure one end. Pull the other end so you gather it all together, pushing the gathers to the knotted end and rolling it as you go. Pull as tight as you can. Use the loose end of the thread to stitch the gathers together so they stay in place. You can then use the remaining thread to tie it to any kind of hair clip, barrette, bobby pin you have.

Second option (machine needed): buy a small length of organza fabric that is at least one meter wide. Cut into a strip as wide as you want your flower. Hem one edge by folding over twice as narrow as you can and stitching down. you can also try folding a ribbon over the edge and stitching but it can be very putzy. stitch two parallel rows of the longest stitches on your machine about 1/2 to 1 inch from the other edge. Backstitch to anchor one end. Pull up the top threads of both rows to gather, moving and rolling just like the first option. Finish like option one.

I hope this makes some sense. I tried to find a YouTube tutorial but none showed what i mean.

[Macaroni]

Google satin edged organza circles, or satin edged organza tulle.

[Paranda Belle]

Thank you for those ideas. Those instructions do make sense and I do have a sewing machine so I will be trying that out once I find some suitable material!

[Natalia]

I agree it looks like organza. If your nift you can add satin bias tape to your own and gather, then spiral it to make the flower. I dont know what youd attach it too but a small alligator clip seems simple and effective.

[Paranda Belle]

So I found a Russian friend who says they are called "Bant" or in Russian : Банты из лент. Translates as ribbon, but I thought it would have a fun exotic name! There is also a link on how to make them. It's in Russian but most of the pics explain themselves.
Still haven't got round to making one!
http://www.liveinternet.ru/tags/%E1%E0%ED%F2+%E8%E7+%EB%E5%ED%F2/

[Natalia]

So I found a Russian friend who says they are called "Bant" or in Russian : Банты из лент. Translates as ribbon, but I thought it would have a fun exotic name! There is also a link on how to make them. It's in Russian but most of the pics explain themselves.
Still haven't got round to making one!
http://www.liveinternet.ru/tags/%E1%E0%ED%F2+%E8%E7+%EB%E5%ED%F2/

Thanks for sharing the link :)

[2peasinapod]

Thank you for the link! I will have to try my hand at making one of these. I love frilly and girly things, and now I finally have a use for all those mini hair elastics I have lying around! I really only needed a few, but I had to buy about 20 of them. My hair is very thick, but even I can't use that many, and now I know what I'm going to do with the colors I don't wear. :D