Jumbo Hair Bow Tutorial

Supplies you will need:
Mix of or either 2 1/4″ Ribbon & 3″ Ribbon

Now silly me also forgot to order matching center ribbons…so don’t forget that!! Luckily my insane amount of ribbon I have was either a close or actual match to what I needed but you will need to order coordinating colors in either 3/8″ or 7/8″ width to cover your middles, I will show you both.

Other supplies for this tutorial include:
• A piece of cardboard (like a side of a box will do)
• Needle & Heavy Duty Thread
• Scissors (and don’t use your nice craft ones on the cardboard!!)
• Glue Gun
• Clips of choice I used 60mm French Clips for mine, my daughter has thin hair I would use 80mm for thick hair and 3/8″ ribbon to line it with.
• Measuring Tape
• Lighter

So the “XL” template I have used in the past measures 7″ and makes about a 5″ bow, which could be used for these. In fact for the 2 1/4″ ribbon I prefer using the 7″ template but for the 3″ ribbon, I wanted something a bit bigger…remember I said we are going big!
I’m going to start off by showing you how I make my templates, it’s easy and if you have some cardboard laying around (like I always do!) then it’s free!! This 9″ template will create a 7″ finished bow.

Start off with a piece of cardboard, measure out 9″, I drew a line and then cut.

Measure the middle (4.5″) and then cut a slit down the middle. Then trim off any excess cardboard off the top, it doesn’t need to be super tall mine probably measures about 5-6″.

Cut your ribbon at an angle and heat seal it with a lighter.

Place your ribbon end over your 2nd half of template like this:

Wrap around twice, the 2nd time ending on the opposite side of template. Place a pin in the middle down your opening that you cut. Cut your ribbon at an angle again and heat seal.

Carefully slide your ribbon off your template, making sure your pin stays in place. Bring the inside loops up and the outside down to form a small “X”, we don’t want to spread these loops out as much as some of the other bows I’ve made.

Grab your needle and thread, sew down the middle, weaving in and out so that you see your ribbon from top view 2-3 times. This will give your bow nice creases and help it lay nicely.

Pull your thread tight and wrap it around the center 3 times. Pull your needle from the top to the bottom after and knot the thread in back a couple times.

Grab your french clip and line the back with 3/8″ ribbon, the color doesn’t have to match as you will not see it when the bow is worn.

Attach to back of your bow, I like my opening of clip to be placed on left, but you can place either way.

Attach your center ribbon starting in the back, attaching underneath the clip mechanism. Bring around and glue other end again in back. For this one I used 3/8″ ribbon. But, I prefer the look of the 7/8″ ribbon in the middle with a knot (you can see my group photo for examples).