Today on Beginner Sewing Projects, I’m going to show you one of my favorite projects. I’m going to show you How To Make Hair Bows – An Easy Sewing Tutorial! Whether you have a girl yourself, have a niece on the way, or have friends with girls, we all know how expensive all those cute little bows and accessories can be. However, today we are going to go over how to make easy and quick hair bows for you to keep for your own little one or for you to gift to your friends and family. If you are a crafter, the best part of this project is you probably have most of the material you will need. This is a great way to use up those scrap pieces of fabric you have been hoarding without any idea what to do with them. With the holidays coming up, you can simplify your gift giving and your budget by sewing your own gifts at home. This little hair bow would be great. You can knock this project out in about 15 minutes, making it a great project to sit down and crank out a bunch on.
As far as supplies, if you can use scrap fabric then this project can be made for pennies. You’ll need some matching thread, some scissors, and a measuring device. I recommend getting a rotary cutter, mat, and ruler as it makes putting your projects together a little easier. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need:
- ¼ Yard of Fabric, or a piece of scrap fabric that is at least 7” x 6”
- 1 yard of crochet trim or ribbon, or scrap trim that is at least 4”
- Nylon Headband
- Or Hair clip
- Matching Thread
- Hot Glue Gun
- Scissors
- Rotary Cutter, Cutting Mat, & Ruler
- Iron or heat press
- Thread Clippers
- Sewing Clips
- Sewing Machine
How To Make Hair Bows – An Easy Sewing Tutorial
Step 1: Cut the Fabric and the Trim
The first step in this how to make hair bows – an easy sewing tutorial is to cut the fabric and trim for the bow. If you want a normal size bow, the fabric should be cut to 7” wide by 6” tall. If you want piggies, you can cut that in half, so 3.5” wide by 3” tall. No matter which size you choose, the trim or ribbon, that will be the middle part of the bow, should be cut to 4” long.
If you do not have trim or ribbon and would rather use the same fabric as your bow, you can do that as well. In this case, you would cut a small piece of the fabric that is 4” long by about 1” wide.
Step 2: Pin and Sew Fabric
The next step is to fold, pin, and sew fabric into the shape of the bow.
Start by folding the fabric hotdog style. If your fabric has a pattern, you are folding the fabric so that right sides are together, or both patterned sides are touching each other. Pin or clip the long sides together.
Next on this how to make hair bows – an easy sewing tutorial, you are going to sew the long side that is pinned with a ½” seam allowance. To secure your stitch, make sure that you backstitch in the beginning and the end of this straight stitch.
After you stitch the long side, you are going to flip the fabric right side out so that the pattern is on the outside and the sewn seam is on the inside. Center the seam so that it is in the middle like the picture shown.
Next, we are going to fold and pin the unsewn sides together. Start by bringing together both unsewn sides of the fabric to meet in the middle. You may want the two sides overlapping just slightly so that both sides are secured when sewn. Make sure that the seam that you sewed is on the inside of the fold.
Using a zigzag stitch, you are going to sew over the unsewn edges, which will secure the bow’s form. Make sure that your zigzag stitch is wide enough to secure both sides of the folds.
Step 3: Adding the Trim and Finishing Bow
Now on this how to make hair bows – an easy sewing tutorial, we will start making the bow shape. Before starting this step, you may want to make sure that you have the glue gun on and warming up.
To create the shape of the bow, you will pinch in the center at the top and bottom. Make sure the bow is even on both the right and left side.
Using the glue gun, place a small dot of glue on the center of the front of the bow. This should be on the cinched part only. After, place the bow face down on the center of the 4” trim with the ends of the trim above and below the cinch of the bow.
If you feel like the trim is to side for the bow you are making you can cut the width thinner or fold it over as I did.
If you are using a hair clip instead of nylon, you could place another small dot of glue on the back of the bow and then wrap the trim around. Another option is to simply tie the ends of the trim in the back in a double knot. Afterward, cut the excess trim from the back of the bow. To add the clip, all you must do is slip the clip under the knot you created. If you put glue down, make sure that you slip the clip in before the glue hardens.
If you Plan on Using Nylon:
If you are using nylon instead of a clip, you will place the nylon on the back of the pinched bow and then tie the trim around the nylon. You can also use a small amount of glue on the back of the bow to secure the nylon to bow.
And that’s it! Now you know how to make hair bows – an easy sewing tutorial! Creating a bow is that simple! The only thing left to do is to grab your cute little model to show off all the bows. You could always change up the bows a bit as well. If you wanted a stacked bow you could take an inch off both sides of the bow measurements to create a smaller bow that can go over the larger bow.
If you liked learning how to make hair bows – an easy sewing tutorial, make sure to pin it to your favorite Pinterest board or share it with friends on social media. If you decide to make this simple project on your own, make certain that you take a picture afterward and tag us on social media as we love seeing the fabrics and color choices that people use!
How To Make Hair Bows - An Easy Sewing Tutorial
Make your own super cute hair bow with this simple sewing tutorial. Make these for a fraction of the cost of buying in-store.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Measure & cut fabric. If you want a normal size bow, the fabric should be cut to 7” wide by 6” tall. If you want piggies, you can cut that in half, so 3.5” wide by 3” tall. No matter which size you choose, the trim or ribbon, that will be the middle part of the bow, should be cut to 4” long.
- Fold the fabric hotdog style. Pin or clip the long sides together.
- Flip the fabric right side out so that the pattern is on the outside and the sewn seam is on the inside. Center the seam so that it is in the middle like the picture shown.
- Next, fold and pin the unsewn sides together.
- Using a zigzag stitch, you are going to sew over the unsewn edges.
- To create the shape of the bow, you will pinch in the center at the top and bottom. Make sure the bow is even on both the right and left side.
- Using the glue gun, place a small dot of glue on the center of the front of the bow. This should be on the cinched part only.
- After, place the bow face down on the center of the 4” trim with the ends of the trim above and below the cinch of the bow.
- If you are using a hair clip instead of nylon, you could place another small dot of glue on the back of the bow and then wrap the trim around.
- If you are using nylon instead of a clip, you will place the nylon on the back of the pinched bow and then tie the trim around the nylon. You can also use a small amount of glue on the back of the bow to secure the nylon to bow.
- Enjoy!