Abaya Do: flowers on your shayla;how to sew your own hijab

Don't leave half your hair hanging out. Then it's just a shayla, not a hijab.

DO make your own shaylas if you can't afford the designer ones [like I can't]. When I first saw this pic I had the bright idea to go buy some silk flowers. I found some nice ones at the dollar store and at local craft stores. Then when I got home, I took a plain black shayla like this one http://www.sunnahstyle.com/product_info.php?pName=plain-wrap-hijab-black&cName=hijabs-wrapsshaylas for $10.99 USD, wrapped it the way I would normally wear it, and marked with white chalk where I'd like to sew on the flowers so that they would show when wrapped, and not be some bulky thing beneath the material. Then I got to sewing.

I popped out the plastic center of the flower that holds it together, discarded it, and then took the different rounds of petals and reformed them over top of the places on the shayla I had marked with chalk. I stitched them on with a few simple stitches so that they were secure with a colour of thread that matched the colour of the silk flower. Never mind the string underneath doesn't match the shayla's black---I've got a trick for that. Then, I take out some silver-lined seed-beads and a beading needle, and I sew three-five beads in the center of each flower I've sewn on. If you want to do alot of little flowers this is time consuming but the big flowers pictured above? Not so long. In the bigger flowers, I like to put a few swaroski crystal beads. Pretty:D When you've put flowers all the places you want them, just take a black permanent parker, and colour the threads that show underneath. Viola! You have a shayla that looks like it came of a Dubai runway for less than $20.00 Canadian. Which is less than US$.

Comments

Im very good at arts and crafts too, I may try to buy some things and be creative and make a nice hijab. your so creative. Actually so I am I, I just never tried with clothes or things like that. You have inspired,inspired muslimah! LOL
Jamaican Hijabi said…
Assalamu alaikum Sis, thats a great idea MashaAllah, thanks for sharing :)
A said…
That's a great idea, to spice up a plain black shayla!
However, I prefer not to sew flowers on my abaya.
Jamilah said…
Can you upload a pic of the one you made?
Melissa said…
That's a good idea. I like to take plain shaylas and sew pretty lace and ribbon on them.
Fatou Thioune said…
as ssalamu alaykum i think flower on hijab is too much. would look like those gitan divinators
Bahrain Fashion said…
Heyy...
I will be writing a post about abayas in my blog!! and I love how saudis where the abaya, especially when they come to Al Aali Shopping Complex in Bahrain. They're so glamorous!!
;) Visit my fashion blog

www.bahrainpoise.com
Pixie said…
Jamilah: in one of the how to wear hijab vids that I haven't posted I have the flower shayla I made on one of the manequin heads so stay tuned:D BTW, great book recommendation. It is helping me.
Pixie said…
Habibti it can be done with tiny flowers not great giant big ones as well:D
Pixie said…
Bahrain Fashion: would love to see your posts on abaya fashion.
Pixie said…
Inspired Muslimah: yay, another do it yourself girl:D
Pixie said…
Jamaican Hijabi: afwan sis.
Pixie said…
Ayan: I always make a matching abaya and shayla but I used little flowers on mine, not big ones. THE big ones would be too much. Keep to plain black with the big flowers shayla:D
Pixie said…
Melissa, did you post pics of the ones you made?
Ammoorraah said…
ahh I AM SOOOO doing this already!!! mashaallah im glad u posted this, i just go to joann fabric or walmart wherevers cheap and get bouquets of fake flowers, pick em off and tack em on!! (not really tack) but i am an aspiring designer and loved this idea!! im starting with an overhead abaya (trust me not too much flowers lol) keepin it nice simple n elegant!