Get Ready for Derby Day . . .

Hats are the Tradition of the Kentucky Derby! Decorate with Fresh Flowers.

​Set the tone at Derby Parties this year with a fascinator. I created a hairpiece of yellow Roses, Lily Buds, and Baby’s Breath. Fresh leaves are taped, wired, and looped to create a bow. The hairpiece is attached to a satin covered headband with fishing line.

 
          You Will Need:
                   Satin Headband
                   Sewing Needle
                       (with a large eye)
                   Fishing Line
                       (I used 91m,10#)
                   Selection of Fresh Flowers
                   Wide Leaves
                   Floral Wrap Tape
                   Wire - # 26 and #22
                   Waterproof Floral Tape

I began this fascinator by preparing the headband. Take the fishing line and thread the end of the line through the needle. Do not cut the line from the roll. On the inside of the headband, catch a piece of the satin and make a stitch. Make a second stitch and create a knot to secure the fishing line to the headband. Remove the needle from the fishing line. Cut excess from the knot. Do not cut the fishing line from the roll. Set the roll of fishing line, attached to the headband, aside.

I use light green floral wrap tape, and wire the blooms. Use #26 wire for the fresh blooms. Chose the largest bloom to center the hairpiece. I used a large rose bloom. (Wire the rose the same as the carnation in the Bunny Corsage Post of March 15, 2018.) I wired yellow lily buds in various stages to compliment the rose. I also created rose buds by rolling rose petals with the floral wrap tape and wrapping with #26 wire then floral wrap tape. Set aside.

Create the bow loops by taking a leaf and attach a piece of #22 wire to the back of the leaf using waterproof tape. Fold the wire in half and secure the ends with #26 wire. Wrap the wire with floral wrap tape. I made 5 loops for the bow. Wire 2 pieces of straight leaves with #26 wire, wrap with floral wrap tape. Set aside.

Assemble the hairpiece beginning at one end. I start by taking a straight piece of leaf and placing a rose bud on the center. Surround with a cluster of Baby’s Breath. Add a lily bud, surround with more Baby’s Breath. Aline with rosebud and leaf. Add more Baby’s Breath. Place a loop for the bow with the lily bud. Surround the large Rose bloom with Baby’s Breath, wrap with floral wrap tape. Add a loop for the bow, to the top of the rose bloom, wrap with floral wrap tape. Add another loop for the bow, to the center of the rose bloom. Cut the ends of the wire and wrap with floral wrap tape. Set aside.

Repeat the beginning with the other piece of straight leaf. Place a rosebud, surround with Baby’s Breath. Add a lily bud, surround with Baby’s Breath. Add a bow loop next to the lily bud, surround with Baby’s Breath. Add more clusters of Baby’s Breath to this end. Twist the end of the last bow loop, so that it lays to the bottom of the Baby’s Breath cluster. Wrap with floral wrap tape. Cut the ends of the wire and wrap with floral wrap tape. 

Place the end of the assembly of the leaves and buds behind the assembly with the rose bloom. Use a piece of #26 wire to tightly secure the two pieces together. Mold the hairpiece so that it follows the form of the headband.

Place the headband under the hairpiece. Holding the roll of fishing line, wrap the line around the hairpiece and headband, beginning at the stitch. Continue until reaching the other of the headband. At the end of the headband, pull excess line from the roll. Cut fishing line, thread the end through the needle. Make a stitch in the satin on the inside of the head band, making sure that headband is held tightly to the headband. After several small stitches, create a knot. Cut the excess fishing line from the knot. 

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For best results, create your design the day before. Mist the hairpiece with water and place on a bed of Easter Grass. Insert into a plastic bag and blow the bag like a balloon. Secure the bag to make it air tight. (I fold the bag and staple the fold.) Place the bag in a cooler overnight. Do Not allow it to freeze. Enjoy!!