Sunday, August 26, 2012

Crafternoon: No-Crimp Elastics Day 1

I'm sure y'all have seen these hair ties EVERYWHERE! I'm sure you've also seen their OUTRAGEOUS price tag. Usually a pack of 4 is more than $10! I've seen them places as expensive as $4 for ONE!?!

I. Think. That. Is. Insane.

It's a glorified hair elastic. Yes, it's pretty and colorful, but eventually will get stretched out or lost just like every other one you've ever had. My friend Hannah and I decided that we just weren't ok with buying them and wanted to do them on our own!

The follow supplies are all you need:
Elastic material, we got these packs from Michaels. Right on the shelf! Didn't have to order them from anywhere special!
This is what it looks like up close. They came in like 7 or 8 different colors, and I snagged all the ones I wanted to try!
Use a REALLY sharp scissor and a far away/distance lighter--don't use a close up one, you'll want the space between your fingers and the lighter (especially if you're wearing nail polish like I am always)!

You cut the elastic to a length you like, and then tie it. The length can be tough to decide since smaller ones will be tighter. If you have hair like me, it's insanely thick and I needed more stretch and extra "circles" to twist my hair through than most people! I found that about 7'' was pretty common. I just used the length from the tip of my middle finger to the end of my palm and used that measurement...so official!


Twist and tie until you get the shape and length tails you want! Once you have those, burn the ends to seal the elastic. (Mom, I know you're going to cringe since we were dealing with fire...) You don't have to put it in the flame, but just close enough. The elastic CAN catch fire, but it never needs to be that close.

(Nail color: Essie's "Cute as a Button"
You can tie it this way, with the tails together by making a simple knot and it will look like this in your hair:

You can also tie it in a knot like you'd tie rope, with the tails apart:
(Nail color: Essie's "Turquoise and Caicos")
It will look more like a bow in your hair:
Also very cute!

Tomorrow's post is a special twist that you can put on these famously no-crimp hair ties! I cannot wait to show you the special change I made to make them SO CUTE! Y'all will FLIP!

xxKatie 

44 comments:

Elle said...

Thanks for the tutorial, I'm definitely going to try this!

Taylor Knittel said...

That is too cute! I'm definitely going to have to try those! It seems like a perfect rainy afternoon project :)

Katherine said...

Great tutorial! I will have to try this soon. :)

Laura H. Garrett Photography said...

What section of Michaels would you find the elastic in?

Miss Southern Prep said...

Love these! I can't wait to try these out one afternoon!

Jessica said...

Hey, Katie! How much was each pack of elastic? I'm sure still way cheaper than buying the ones from the store!

Unknown said...

Soo happy I saw this because I love these hair ties but I totally did not want to pay for them.

Unknown said...

I'd love to know what section you found these in!

twirldawg said...

@Susan they are with the beading supplies.

I made a bunch of these today, they make cute bracelets too :)

Anonymous said...

What is the width of the elastic?

CourtneyLandry26 said...

I am finding it impossible to find the elastic! i've searched michaels, hobby lobby, even looking online with no luck :(

Rebekah said...

Just curious, how well did yours stay tied? Do the knots come undone very much?

Unknown said...

I have gotten 2 in my birchboxes too and cannot fathom spending that kind of money on them. Thanks for the post, I'm going to try this! :)

Chelsea said...

You're a genius! Why didn't I think of this sooner? :)

xoxo
Chels

Daphne said...

I bought my elastic tonight! Any ideas where to get more colors just as cheap?!

Daphne said...

I figured it out - this stuff is called "fold over elastic," and is the stuff they use to trim lingerie, panties, etc.! It's very inexpensive to buy wholesale or even in 5 yd increments on etsy.

Unknown said...

Awesome. Definitely going to try this!

guineakitties said...

You actually used the wrong elastic. The emi Kay's are made from satin fold over elastic. I just thought you migh like to know that. The awesome thing is you can order like 10 yards (1 yard of each color ) on etsy for only like 5$ and shipping

guineakitties said...

*emi jays

Desirae said...

Found you on Pinterest...this is amazing & amazingly simple! Thanks for sharing! :)

Marie {Make and Takes} said...

Love this. And they don't kink hair? cool!

Abby said...

Awesome, thank you!

Unknown said...

I went to Michaels and Hobby Lobby and couldn't find it. What section have you found it in lately. Thanks

Unknown said...

I went to Michaels and Hobby Lobby and couldn't find it. What section have you found it in lately. Thanks

Abby said...

Do you remember how much the elastic was? :-)

Unknown said...

I went to Hobby Lobby looking for the elastic material to make these and found that I could fine a three pack already made in the hair bow/flower section for $1.99 and that is before the 40% off coupon that you can pull up and use on your phone on the spot not printing! Thank you for the tutorial but at that price, I couldn't justify making them myself :)

Holly said...

If you are using fold over elastic, Joann fabrics has it in fun prints in their diaper supply section (its actually in one of their aisles in the middle of the store at mine)

Also, I had a great tip I found about cutting ribbon, where you use a wood burner to cut and seal all at once, I wonder if it would work just as well on the elastic? And, bonus, no risk of catching fire.

Kat said...

What was the width of your satin foldover elastic? :D love this project!

Kristy said...

I will be making these for our girlie for Christmas!!! She'll love them!

Zola Spud said...

Just cut up old tights (pantyhose I think you lot call em). I had a pair of gorgeous purple opaque tights which developed the mother of all ladders. I cut them up into 3" rings and I now have enough hair bands to last me a lifetime! They have no metal snaggy bit; they don't grab your hair like elastic does; they look cool around my wrist when my hair's down; you can pop them in the laundry; you can colour coordinate with your wardrobe (depending on which colour tights of your die!); and they're freeeeeeeee!!! x

deb said...

Too cute!

CoryP said...

Love this! Found headbands (that are too small for my head) made from this elastic at Dollar Tree. A 6pack of cute colors = 12 awesome hair ties for a dollar !!! Thanks for the tutorial !
p.s. they also had black & brown, so I had to make those too :-)

Anonymous said...

Love it definitely going to try this!!

xoxo,

aHc

SouthernBelleJoy.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Has anyone come across a way or a website that you order personalized folded over elastic? I thought that would be cute to have a yard printed with your initials on them.

Curious in Whitesville said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
RachaBee Accessories said...

Unfortunately they were a seasonal item and nothing has come in again that's even close in the Michaels I work at. Cute tutorial though, thank you!

Unknown said...

I am wondering instead of melting the ends if fray check or a permanent fabric bond would work.

Unknown said...

You can buy the elastic on etsy the shop name is the splot shop and its 5.00 for i think 3 yards :D

mommy2boys said...

I know some od these comments are old.....but if anyone has stumbled on this recently.......they have this "elastic ribbon" . Some in rolls in the ribbon section at the Michaels I work at......several different colors too......more than just a few feet per roll too.....it would be where the "specialty" ribbons are (the ones with sequins, gold , silver etc.)Good luck

mommy2boys said...

I know some od these comments are old.....but if anyone has stumbled on this recently.......they have this "elastic ribbon" . Some in rolls in the ribbon section at the Michaels I work at......several different colors too......more than just a few feet per roll too.....it would be where the "specialty" ribbons are (the ones with sequins, gold , silver etc.)Good luck

Amy Lafayett said...

I just bought several yards on etsy. I just searched for fold over elastic in craft supplies on etsy. I got 10 yards of solid colors for only 5.99 and 5 yards of printed for 4.99. :) I am happy with that and I don't even have to leave my house!

Sarah Jane said...

Hi!!! I saw that this original post was nearly a year ago. I've been making hair ties and I wanted to see if y'all can direct people to my etsy shop!!!

www.etsy.com/shop/simplysj

Thank you so much!

Samantha Post said...

I LOVE making these! Very fun! Thanks for sharing!