Hair Bows - jcaroline creative
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Instructions for Hair Bows

hair bows
Printable Version
Shown above: 3 inch wide hair bows out of 7/8" Apple Green grosgrain and 4 inch wide hair bow out of Neopolitan Too Grosgrain 1 1/2" with 3/8" Brown grosgrain.
Materials Needed:
  • 5/8", 7/8" or 1 1/2" wide ribbon, 6 1/2 times desired bow width (e.g.; for a 3" wide bow, cut 19 1/2 inches)
  • 3/8" coordinating ribbon, 3 inches long
  • 20 guage craft wire (the color doesn't matter as it will be covered)
  • hair clip
  • wire nippers (get them out of your toolbox, or use the smaller beading ones)
  • pliers (again, the ones in your toolbox are fine, but the beading pliers are easier to handle)
  • glue gun or tacky glue
  • Fray check
Step 1:

Cut one end of the 5/8", 7/8" or 1 1/2" ribbon at an angle and carefully apply Fray check. Fray check will show a little, so quickly dab with a paper towel to keep it from absorbing too far up the ribbon.

Step 1
Step 2:

Form the bow in your hands, holding the middle between your thumb and finger. Fold the ribbon into the desired width (in this example, 3") back and forth until 5 layers are created. The more off-center you fold the ribbon, the fuller the bow. (Don't fold it back and forth directly on top of each other.)

Step 2
Step 3:

Cut a piece of 20 guage wire approximately 3" long with your wire nippers. Fold the middle of the bow like a lasagne noodle (fold in half lengthwise and then fold each half in half the opposite way). Wrap the wire around the middle of the bow and twist with pliers until the bow is tight. Once the wire is tight against the bow, stop twisting, as you can twist off the wire.

 Step 3
Step 4:

Clip the end of the wire about 1/8" from the bow and fold flat against the bow with the pliers.

Step 4
Step 5:

Cut the end of the ribbon at an angle to the desired length and apply fray check. Be careful not to get fray check on the rest of the bow.

 Step 5
Step 6:

Apply hot glue or tacky glue to the underside of the bow where the wire is twisted. Press to the top middle of the hair clip. Let set until secure.

 Step 6
Step 7:

Apply glue to the end of the 3/8" ribbon, open the clip and place the end of the ribbon under the top clip.

 Step 7
Step 8:

Wrap the ribbon firmly around the middle of the bow, covering the wire. Place glue on the ribbon under the top clip and adhere the 3/8" ribbon to it. Trim the 3/8" ribbon to the edge of the clip.

 Step 8
Other ideas and suggestions:

As a general rule, the wider the ribbon, the wider you will want to make the bow. For 7/8" ribbon, I made a 3" wide bow. For 1 1/2", I made a 4" bow.

If you like the look of a more tailored bow, fold the ribbon directly on top of each other and make your top loops shorter than the bottoms. That will give your bow more of a bow-tie look.

Printable Version
copyright 2006 j. caroline designs, l.p.