project: christmas wrapping gift topper headband

How's the shopping and gift-making coming? How about the Christmas Wrapping? Today's Craft a Song of Christmas tune is one that you might not know by name, but there's a good chance you've heard it on the radio. Apparently, it's THE most requested Christmas song! (And I happen to know that it's Kim's favorite!) So, step back to the 80s, and get ready to make a gift topper that becomes a headband once the packages have all been opened and the paper tossed in the recycling bin...



Here's what you need:

Wool Blend Felt (I used BenzieBazaar felt - see note below)
Embroidery Floss
Wide Elastic
Tracing Paper
Needle
Scissors
Christmas Wrapping Bow Pattern PDF

A Note on Wool Blend Felt: This December, all of my felt projects are using felt provided by BenzieBazaar. I am seriously smitten with this felt! It's almost, almost as lovely as 100% wool, but at a fraction of the cost. By purchasing the Glitter and Glass collection, plus a small piece of Purple and Seaside, you'll have all that you need to make all of the small felt projects this month (at least six ornaments and two gift toppers!).



Trace the bow onto tracing paper (tissue paper will also work), then pin it onto felt. Embroider through the paper and the felt. Back stitch works well for this. Stitch the face with french or colonial knots and a back stitch smile.



When the stitching is done, carefully tear away the paper. If there are any bits of paper stuck under your stitches, you can remove them with a needle or tweezers.




Trim around the bow, leaving a border of about 3/8 inch. Cut a second piece of felt in a coordinating color, following the same shape as the first, but making it slightly larger.



Cut two slits in the back piece of felt. They should be just large enough for your elastic to slip through.

Cut a piece of elastic that is long enough to fit around your recipient's head with a bit of stretch, and a small amount of overlap. All heads and elastics are different, so there's no one right length for this! To fit my head, I cut a 20-inch piece of elastic.

Slide the elastic through the slits (make sure you have the elastic loop on the back and that the embroidered front will match up correctly), then stitch the overlap together with some Xs, or on a sewing machine.



Stitch the front and back pieces of the bow together with running stitch all around the outside.



Now you're ready to wrap!




Stretch the bow around a package, and be sure to let your giftee know that it's meant to be worn after it comes off the box! (It would be sad for it to get tossed on accident!)

The bow is a bit on the large side, almost like a fascinator, which I love because it makes me feel fancy! If you're making this for a child, you might want to shrink it just a bit so their face doesn't get hidden.

Oh, and did you notice that mine is made in not-so-Christmasy colors? That's intentional so that it can be worn all year. Any time is good time to wear Christmas Wrapping!