DIY Hair Bows for Beginners

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If you have daughters under the age of 10 like I do, JoJo Siwa and the JoJoBow is a thing in your everyday life. When I was a girl my mom was a DIY queen and we went to school every day in complicated up-do’s resplendent in DIY bows. While I hate doing hair, I can 100% get behind crafting a few adorable hair bows to match my girl’s wardrobe staples. Combine that with the prospect of spending $10 on a single bow and my frugal little heart went on a ribbon buying spree. 

You’ll need a few basic supplies if you want to join me in all my DIY hair bow glory. There are oodles of choices out there for places you can get your supplies. We have some lovely independent fabric shops in the seacoast; Portsmouth Fabric Co, Exeter Handkerchief Co., Merri Stitches in Portsmouth, The Fabric Garden in Rochester, and JRenee Designs in Rye. You can shop chains like JoAnn’s Fabric, Michael’s Crafts and Hobby Lobby both online and in-store. There are also oodles of specialty places online such as ribbons.com and theribbonretreat.com.

[typography font=”Homemade Apple” size=”42″ size_format=”px”]Materials[/typography]

Start with ribbons of various widths. You will also need: a ruler,fabric scissors, a hot glue gun, and glue sticks, metal alligator clips, or french barrette clips, a needle, thread, and any other buttons or sequins etc you want. 

in order to make your own bow you ill need a few simple materials

Below are three beginner bows. They provide high-impact with a minimum of ribbon wizardry. 

 

[typography font=”Homemade Apple” size=”42″ size_format=”px”]Flower Loop Bow[/typography]

Simple and sassy the Flower Loop Bow can be made as I did with a single ribbon or several complimenting ribbons. For a fuller flower you can increase the number or width of the ribbon.

one of my favorite DIY hair bows is the flower loop

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]1.[/typography] Choose a thin to medium width ribbon. Start with four ribbon pieces of equal length. If you want a four-inch bow you will need four pieces of eight-inch ribbon. A three-inch bow will need four pieces of six-inch ribbon.

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]2.[/typography] Measure halfway down each piece of ribbon and put a small mark. Take 2 pieces and cross them at the halfway mark and secure with a generous dab of hot glue.

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]3.[/typography] Cross diagonally with a third then fourth piece at the halfway mark and secure with glue.

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]4.[/typography] Starting with the bottom piece of ribbon, fold the tails into the center and secure with glue. Follow with the second, third and finally the fourth set of tails, gluing each layer well.

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]5.[/typography] Either glue or sew a button or other notion in the center to hide your seam. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]6.[/typography] The final step is to apply glue to the barrette and press your finished bow firmly to it. 

Tip: If using an allegator clip use a pencil or stick to seperate the prongs when gluing otherwise they will get stuck together.

 

[typography font=”Homemade Apple” size=”42″ size_format=”px”]Mini Clippy[/typography]

The Mini Clippy is the simplest and cutest hair clip to make. I usually make this one as a pair. 

this mini DIY hair bow is adorable 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]1.[/typography]Start by selecting your thickest ribbon to be your base bow. Cut a piece twice the length of the finished size of your bow (for a 4-inch bow cut an 8-inch piece of ribbon). Next, select two thinner ribbons and cut a piece that is 25% shorter than the first piece. ( So if your first piece was 8 inches the second will be 6 inches. If your first piece was 4 inches the second piece will be 3 inches) 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]2.[/typography] Lay the ribbon design side down on the table. Measure to the halfway point on the ribbon and put a small mark with a pencil or chalk. Fold the ends into the mark and secure with a dab of hot glue. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]3.[/typography] Stack the ribbons loops in a pleasing arrangement then glue them together. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]4.[/typography] Either attach a button in the center or cut a small piece of ribbon loop it around the center of the bow and glue it in the back. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]5.[/typography] The final step is to apply glue to the barrette and press your finished bow firmly to it. 

 

[typography font=”Homemade Apple” size=”42″ size_format=”px”]Tails Down Bow[/typography]

For this bow, you will need a one-inch ribbon and a thinner accent ribbon. You will also need a needle threaded with all-purpose thread and knotted at the end. 

your steop by step directions for a diy bow

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]1.[/typography] Measure two pieces of your base ribbon twice the length of your bow size (6-inch bow, 12-inch pieces of ribbon) and a third tail piece 2 inches longer than your bow width (6-inch bow means an 8-inch tail). Cut the tail piece at an angle and seal against fray with a lighter. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]2.[/typography] Measure halfway down a piece of base ribbon and put a small mark. Fold the ends into the mark and pinch in the middle. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]3.[/typography] Take your needle and thread. Push it through the pinched portion of the bow and pull it through until the knot catches. Wrap the thread snuggly around the center three or four times and tie off. Repeat with the second piece of ribbon. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]4.[/typography] Pinch the tail in the middle. use the needle and thread to secure the fold. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]5.[/typography] Arrange your ribbons with the two loops on top and the tail on the bottom and the sewn centers lined up. Then sew the three together by drawing the needle through the center, wrapping it three or four times and tying it off.  

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]6.[/typography] Cut three pieces of accent ribbon the width of your bow and seal the ends against fray. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]7.[/typography] Use two of the accent pieces to form a crisscross on top of your bow. Secure with hot glue. Then wrap the third piece around the center, trim to fit and hot glue into place. 

[typography font=”Butterfly Kids” size=”24″ size_format=”px”]8.[/typography] The final step is to apply glue to the barrette and press your finished bow firmly to it. 

What do you think? Are you ready to break out the hot glue gun?