I don’t know about you, but when November hits, final exam dates are posted, and I need an umbrella for hail rather than rain, it becomes increasingly difficult to plow through my homework. The pace at which I used to write papers and memorize French verbs is no longer steadfast, and I find myself staring blankly at my Facebook homepage in the pathetic hopes that I’ll somehow find inspiration in my friend’s mobile uploads. So, how do I plan to recharge? By reverting back to grade school. Remember when arts and crafts were a vital part of your school day? Well, I plan on getting artsy-fartsy in the near future, and I’ll clue you in on what I plan to create during my day of creativity…
T-Shirt Headbands
1. Find an old t-shirt (jersey knit works best)
2. Cut fabric into 5 long strips about twice as long as the measurement around your head
3. Stack the strips on top of each other and sew/stitch/glue together at one end
4. Pull on the fabric so its slightly curled at the edges, and lay strips with sewn edge on top and split them into two sections—3 strips on left, 2 on right (you may want to tape the end down to make the next step easier)
5. Now the 5-strand braid…
· First, you’ll work on the left side- take the strip all the way on the left and cross if over the strip right next to it on the right
· Grab the strip furthest to the right of this section (still left) and cross it over one strip to the left
· Now take the middle of all 5 strips and bring it over the right side so that you can start braiding on the right side. Now you have your strips separated into 2 strips on the left and 3 strips on the right
· Now you’ll be mirroring the above steps on the right side
· REMEMBER:when you’re working on the left side or on the right side, start with the strip on the outside
6. When you get to the end, sew/stitch/glue both ends together. Keep in mind that the fabric will stretch, so you may want to make the band slightly smaller.
7. Cover the sewn ends together with a flap of fabric and you’re finished!
“Heart Strings”
Here’s a quick little addition to your dorm room that’s free and easy to make! Just stop by your local paint or hardware store and pick up a bunch of paint sample cards. When you’re home, stack them on top of each other, cut out hearts (or any shape), and string them all together! I had my room painted a few years ago and did this–it took less than 20 minutes!
Classic Tie-Dye
I have a small tie-dye kit in my closet that is just waiting to be used…instead of the cliché t-shirt move, try dying headbands, socks, shoelaces, even men’s boxers. If you must go with t-shirts, why not cut around the neck, or make it cropped? I might cut long strips at the end to create a fringe.
Printed Jars
Here’s an easy way to give your room a nice, warm glow that can also smell good. Find any glass jar lying around, (I’ll probably use a pickle or jelly jar after washing) and wrap them in printed-paper. Place a scented candle inside, and voila! Or, cover them with fabric, and you’ve got a unique place to store little things like pens, paper clips, or candy!
Happy crafting!