Zipper Petaled Flower Headband

Alright! I LOVE zippers. If you've been following me for a while or if you check out my tutorial page you will see that it's full of projects using them! I have made a few versions of a zipper flower. But here is why I LOVE this one. It looks real. Well as real as a zipper can look when comparing it to a flower. No cheesy gathered petal sections with swirls in the middle. This one looks like a rose would look all wrapped up nicely like a zipper... okay I'm blabbing...on with the show...

First off you'll need the base of a headband so check out my tutorial here. Then grab yourself a 20 inch coat zipper. That means that the teeth will either be silver or gold. Then start by separating the zipper sides and removing the zipper pull. See the little slit in between the first teeth of this zipper? That's the secret. Make a little snip and you can take the zipper pull right off. Then using a small flame run it over the slit to prevent it from fraying. Then you will make a pleat using your fingers just like so.

Don't mind the nail polish. But really. When you are a crafter that's just what happens. I can't seem to ever have them all the way painted and I would way rather craft than take the time to remove the polish. Take your needle and thread and put in a stitch to secure the pleat.

Then start winding the zipper around in a circle. You want the end of the zipper to kind of tuck in with the first loop around. Stitch in place as you go. 

Keep winding in a circle and stitching until you get around once more. 

Now we want to start creating the look of petals so we will start to pleat and go in a triangle. Remember put in a lot of stitches to secure in place.

From the back side it will look like this.

Just keep wrapping the zipper around creating points on each side. The points will get more distinctive as you move farther away from the center.

Just keep on going.

When you get to the end of the first side of the zipper tuck the end underneath and stitch it in place so you can't see it. 

Stitch it very securely in place. 

To start the next zipper side simply fold over the edge of the zipper until the teeth are at the edge. Continue where the other side left off and stitch in place. 

Continue to sew it in peaks around a triangle shape until you have completely used the zipper. Tuck the end underneath and securely sew in place. 

This is what the front will look like. 

The three dimensional look of the petals is incredible. 

Such a fun, flirty, sassy, ans sophisticated flower. 

Okay, enough swooning. Grab a piece of felt and cut it into a circle to fit on the back and sew the soft side of a velcro piece onto it. 

Then sew it to the back of the flower, or you can be lazy like me and hot glue it. 

Then you can put it onto your headband. 

And sport around your new cool hair accessory. 

Trust me, they are so fun, you'll want one in every color! 

They also look great tucked back by that pony tail or on a crocheted beanie! 

They even look fabulous pinned to a cardigan!

Stay tuned later this week for another zipper flower tutorial! Next time it will be more of a messy look! And remember Saturday will be a HUGE link up with all of your headband tutorials! You'll want to link up for your chance to be featured! You all are so wonderful!!! I LOVE seeing what you create!