Fit for a Birthday Princess

The last holiday project I had to complete wasn't really for the holidays, but rather for a birthday.  My niece Roxi was a New Year's Day baby and is now turning four.  She is the third girl in our recent family baby boom of the past few years.  I had made a birthday crown when my niece Teyla turned five, then another for her sister Sophia, when she turned four earlier this year. Now it was Roxi's turn.

I was very conscientious of making them all somewhat different, but the little girls in our family tend to like pink and/or purple.  I bought a no-sew pattern that I thought was cute and that I could handle, but struggled with the less-than-helpful instructions.  I Macgyvered it in order to finish Teyla's crown, so I basically just used the pattern for the crown itself and made Sophie's and Roxi's using my lessons learned from the first go round.

I traced the pattern, which I had copied onto transparency plastic, onto a piece of Heat 'n Bond and ironed it to some Timtex.  I cut it out, then fused the other side to the fabric, leaving some allowance to wrap around to the back side of the Timtex and glue it.  The pattern is for a double/mirror image height that I eventually fold in half, lengthwise, after I attach the ruffle I made out of glittery tulle I bought on a 4 or 5-inch roll at Hobby Lobby (folded in half twice and gathered), using 5 times the length I need to cover.

The original directions said to use ribbon to tie it together.  I didn't think that was secure enough, so, using the kid's head measurement, I made 2 extension flaps out of the fabric (cut about 2.5" x 4-5"),  fused Velcro onto them and then glue to the side of the crown.  Adjustable and sturdy!

At the bottom of the crown I trimmed it with some rhinestone trim from Joanne's and topped that with a black with white dots rose garland from Hobby Lobby.

The rosette is made from a hot pink version of the same print, gathered and hand-stitched to some crinoline for stability, and then bedazzled with a jeweled button and sewn unto the front of the crown.

Lastly, I fold the crown in half and use some wax paper-covered clothes pins, as well as a case of dog food, to hold that sucker together while the E6000 glue dries overnight.

I hope Roxi likes her crown.  I'll try to add a picture of her with it when I give it to her.  One more to go next year, when Emily turns four.

Do you have any things you consistently make for family members?

Posted on Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Friday.