Tutorial: Ponytail Covers

I have been trying to come up with little gifts to give to some co-workers that I love to work with. Unfortunately, my budget is tight when it comes to the 20+ women that I work with. So using the wonderful internet, I found an idea similar to what I'm about to show you. I wish I could remember exactly where I found it - but alas, that link is gone. :( If it's you who came up with this idea, please let me know so I can credit you!

No-Sew Ponytail Covers

If you are new to patterns, please read through the entire pattern before you try it - that way you know what you're supposed to end up with!!!

You'll need the following:

Button Cover Kit*

Button Covers* - make sure you purchase the ones WITH wire loops on them - not flat backs.

Scissors

Extra Fabric **

Ponytail Holder/Rubber bands***

About 5 minutes - tops!!!

*Both of these can be found at your local fabric store - or see one of my favorite online stores -www.craftersvision.com - you will have to purchase the same size kit as the button covers for it to work. I'm using 1 1/2" button covers in this tutorial.

**If you do not have 'extra fabric' or 'scrap fabric' because you do not have 'fabric' in general, you can always go to your local fabric store and purchase what you like. Each cover will only require a small amount of fabric - so fat quarters are plenty. If you live local to me - feel free to tell me your needs and I will give you some - I have plenty! ALSO an idea - find an old t-shirt or dress shirt that you like the pattern of and use it!!

***I like the Goody Ouchless because they are thin enough to go through the button cover loop.

Now grab the white part of the button cover kit and your fabric - you're ready to go! Put the fabric pattern side DOWN on top of the white part of the button cover kit, making sure that there is some overlap with the fabric.

Now put the button cover down into the white part. You can see the overlap of the fabric over the white part.

Now cut around the white part, leaving enough overlap.

This is what it should look like when you're done cutting.

Now push the fabric into the middle, trying to make sure that there's not too much fabric in the middle. If you need to - cut some more of it out - but not too much. Remember you'll be putting the back on soon and something needs to be under it for the fabric not to come off the button cover!!

Now grab the button cover - with the wire loop facing up and put on top of the button cover - but don't push down all the way yet!

Grab the blue part of the kit and push the back cover on to the front of the cover. If you need to - put it on a hard surface - like a table - and push down on the blue part. Sometimes you 'feel' a click. You'll understand when you try it.

It'll look like this when you're done. Notice how you can see the fabric all around the back cover? This means you did it right. If you can't see fabric all the way around, chances are you need to go back to the previous step and push a bit harder.

Now you can just pop the button cover out - it'll look like this - fabric nice and tight over the cover.

Now flip it over and notice the wire loop. See it??

Grab your rubber band and squeeze it through the loop like below. This is why it's good to have thin rubber bands.

Now you're going to pull the rubber band half way through - and then put one half of the rubber band through the other half, like this.

Now pull that rubber band tight so it looks like the picture below.

Now you're done. That's it. Easy wasn't it?

Put the rubber band on the hair - and you've got a pretty styling accessory!!