Stacked Bow with Four-Strand Round Braids

This stacked bow with four-strand braids barrette provides just the right accent to your Western wear. The red bandanna stands out sharply against dark hair; if you're a blonde or a redhead, you might want to try a different color -- maybe light blue.

When making this stacked bow with four-strand round braids, use two wooden beads.
This stacked bow will add a touch to any outfit.

Continue reading to learn how to make this beaded hair barrette.

What You'll Need:

Bandanna
Craft wire
10" leather strip
1-1/2" concha
Two wooden beads
Four plated beads
2-3/4" barrette

Step 1: Cut two strips of material from the bandanna, one 12" x 3 -1/2" and the other 9" x 3-1/2".

When making a stacked bow barrette, glue the ends of each strip of material to form them into two loops.

Step 2: Glue together the ends of each strip of material to form them into two loops.

When making a stacked bow barrette, wrap craft wire around the center of each bow.

Step 3: Pinch together the center of each loop to form a bow. Wrap craft wire around the center of each bow to secure it.

Step 4: Place the small bow on top of the large bow and wire them together at the center. Fluff out the loops of the bows as needed.

When making a stacked bow with four-strand braids, fold the leather strip in half.

Step 5: Fold the leather strip in half. Insert the looped center through one of the holes on the concha and back through the other hole. Put the loose ends of the strip through the loop and pull to tighten.

When making a stacked bow beaded barrette, secure the beads with a glue gun.

Step 6: Put the beads onto the leather strip as shown, securing them with glue.

Step 7: Glue the concha onto the smaller bow.

To complete the stacked bow with four-strand round braids, glue the barrette onto the larger bow.

Step 8: Glue the barrette onto the larger bow.

How to Create Four-Strand Round Braids

Step 1: Gather up the hair on one side of the head from the front hairline to the ear. Divide it into four equal strands. Cross the inside left strand over the inside right strand.

Step 2: With your right hand, reach behind the two inside strands and grasp the outside left strand. Bring the outside left strand behind the two inside strands ...

Step 3: ... and back over the inside right strand. In essence, this makes the outside left strand and the inside left strand switch places.

Step 4: With your left hand, reach behind the two inside strands and grasp the outside right strand. Bring the outside right strand behind the two inside strands and back over the inside left strand. In essence, this makes the outside right strand and the inside right strand switch places.

Step 5: Continue braiding in this way, bringing the outside strand behind the two inside strands and then back over one of them, until the braid is long enough to reach the crown. Fasten the braid at the crown with hairpins.

Step 6: Repeat this procedure on the other side of the head. Secure the two braids together at the crown.

Step 7: Divide the hair that's left over from the braided sections into four strands. Braid this hair using the same technique. Secure the braid with a coated band.

The best is yet to come! Continue to the next section to find out how to make a best-yet barrette.

For more fun crafts and activities for kids, see: