Making hair bows

1. Cut ribbon to 29 inches. This makes approximately a 4-inch bow. After you make a few this size, you can make larger or smaller bows simply by cutting longer or shorter lengths of ribbon.


2. Fold the ribbon in half lengthwise and finger press this crease.


3. Turn up cut ends approximately 3 inches and finger press crease. These will be the tails of the bow and can be cut later to exactly how you want them.



4. Fold ribbon in half again and finger press crease.


Now to fold the bow. 

5. Starting on left-hand side, bring 1st fold to 2nd fold at a 45 degree angle.


6. Bring 3rd crease on top or 1st crease at a 45 degree angle.


7. Bring 4th crease UNDER 3rd crease at a 45 degree angle.


8. Bring final crease on top of previous crease at a 45 degree angle.


9. Bring threaded needle from back to the front through in the center through all creases.


To crease the bow.

10. Take thread over the top of the bow and behind and with thread dangling, start to pull the thread to make the crease in the bow. 

11. Wrap thread around the bow several times, shaping loops as you pull thread tight and secure thread in the back.

You have just tied the bow. You may have to pull and shape the loops at this point, but as you make more bows, you will see just which loops need a little coaxing.


The center of the bow.

12. I use a ¼ ribbon for the center. I do NOT buy ¼ ribbon to match the bow. I simply cut a 6-inch strip of remaining ribbon to approximately ¼ inch and use the same method as the tales to seal the cut side. 


12. Tie a loose knot in the center of the ribbon – don’t pull it very tight.


13. Put a dot of hot glue on the center of ribbon and attach the loose knot on the hot glue.


14. Hot glue the clip to the back of the ribbon.


15. Pull one end of center tie over the clip and hot glue and trim.



16. Pull the remaining end over the tie and hot glue and trim.



17. Cut ends of tales the way you want them to look and apply Frey Check lightly to the cut ends.


18. If ribbon seems limp, I spray with spray starch and shape as the starch dries.

With a little practice, these bows are adorable and get so easy to tie. 

Hints: I use 1 ½ inch ribbon which to me looks the best. 
Printed ribbon is best to learn with as you can tell exactly which side is which.
I use hot glue but fabric glue can also be used. It just does not “grab” like hot glue does and also does not dry immediately like hot glue.

S