I first made a pair of these oak leaf grips for a friend with very thick curly hair, and she uses them very successfully to hold the front sections back from her face, or pin her hair up. You could also use them to pin up a plait or braid. If, like me, you have fine, straight short hair, a single leaf would work equally well as a pin with an open weave or crochet scarf or shawl.

The oak leaves were cut from copper sheet, and the lines of veins were impressed onto the surface. The leaves were oxidised, then partly rubbed back, allowing some of the copper surface to show through, but leaving some areas with oxidisation. The dark oxidised surface has also remained in the impressions, emphasising the veins of the leaf.

The pins are made of very thick copper wire, and they have a decorative spiral at one end. They have been oxidised to a dark finish. Please note that the pins have a rounded end, and they cannot be pushed through a close weave fabric. They are suitable for open weave knits or crochet only.