HOW TO make a boutique bow using the figure 8 method

Today we will be creating a small boutique bows using the figure 8 method. 
These are 2.5" and oh so cute. 
Let's gather supplies... 

You need:

• A glue gun with glue sticks
• A measuring tool
• scissors
• button thread and needle
• a lighter for heat sealing
• A lined alligator clip. CLICK HERE on how to line a clip
• 2" of 3/8" ribbon to wrap the bow
• (2) 20" pieces of 7/8" ribbon of your choosing. I am using ribbon from Trendy Owl today. You can find her information by CLICKING HERE.  

1. Line your clip. Cut your ribbon to 20" and heat seal ends. 
   
2. Find your center and crease
   
3. Measure in 2" on each end. You can choose to either firmly crease so you can see your marks or simply use a pen as I am doing in this tutorial so you can easily see.
   
4. Bring your first side in lining up your marks.
   
5. Fold your other side in lining up your marks again. You will now see a pretty figure 8.
   
6. Find the center of one side of your figure 8 and fold it in. Continue and fold in the other side directly on top.
   
7. You may choose to place a pin to hold your center in place now. 
   
   
   
   
8. Push your ribbon through the front of the bow and do a running stitch, ending with your needle coming back through the front. You should have 4 stitches all together. 
   
9. Pull and wrap your thread around 3 times.
   
10. Tie off your thread and trim excess. 
    
    
    
    
11. Trim your ends and heat seal. I like the angled look on these but you may prefer the V cut. Its up to you. 
    

Any questions be sure to comment below or come visit us in the I Like Big Bows chat group! I would love to see you post your creations.  

Until next time, 

JoJo Siwa Bow tutorial

Jo jo bow

https://youtu.be/8iFVjkm964Q

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).

How to make twisted boutique bow with 16mm grosgrain ribbon.

How to make a twisted boutique bow with 16mm grosgrain ribbon

Think Bowtique has all your hair bow making supplies and Craft ribbon online right here in Australia.

This is my first twisted bowtique with 16mm grosgrain ribbon so I have guessed the lengths.This bow is about 9cm wide. You can play with your lengths until you are happy with the finished results.

I started with a length 45cm folded in half and put a pin to mark the center.

Take one end of the grosgrain ribbon and bring it around to form a loop. With the center of the ribbon on the center of the pin.

Do the same with the other side to form a figure 8. I decided to use 2 colours, this will also make it easier to see how it’s made.

 Fold your first loop over to form 2 loops

Do the same to the other side. Now it is important the you have 2 straight lines of grosgrain ribbon as the picture on the back.

 This is the front you have a X.

Through the front of the bow push a needle to give you 2 ridges and 1 valley.

  This is the back, keep the 2 straight lines. Also my needles looks off. I think the point of the needle should have been a little to the right so it is straight on both sides. It was very hard to push the needle through all the layers.

  I like to use crochet thread to tie my bows, I wrap the thread so one it sits on opposite sides of the needle tie double loops and pull tight, turn over and do the same than 1 single knot.

  I then like to pull the thread through and tie it off. This way if you pull on a loop it will not come apart.

 

Make a spike bow

Now to make the spikes. You will need at least 5 piece of grosgrain ribbon. I used 7 x 10cm. Fold in half cut on the angle and seal with a flame. If you use a burning tool the 2 sides will glue together.

 Lay out your spikes how you want them to look. I find if I lay them on my mouse pad they don’t slip as much.

Now pick them up. I hold down the center with my thumb and slip my finger under the back to pick up.

Feed your need through the same as the bow.

Here’s a pic of the ribbon with the double loop to tie.

Pull through your need to tie off.

Here is the spike bow. If some of your spikes are out you just cut and reseal.

Now for some secrets. If you want your bows stiff and crush resistant. Spray with ironing startch. Place them like this in a cold oven 110 for 25mins. DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE OVEN AFTER YOU HAVE GLUED THEM.

 Make a surround bow

For the surround. I used a 9mm 47cm length of grosgrain ribbon fold in half, pin than fold each of the side in half and pin. You will have 4 even lengths.

Take one end and bring it around to form a loop. The ribbon will sit next to the pin on the outside. Then fold the next pin around and sit on the other side of the pin. Hot glue in place as you go.

Do the same until you have 4 loops. I have sat the pins to help show where to sit your ribbon.

You should have 4 loop like this.

Sit your bow inside your surround loops. Adjust until your happy and then pull one side down and hot glue in the middle.

Add a blob of hot glue to your spikes center place your bow with surrounds on top. Make sure your center on bow sides. Then add grosgrain ribbon to the center.  Attach hair clip to back

Here is a side view, you can hot glue your surround to the side if you wish. You can Bling it by adding a rhinestone button center or maybe a small bow on the side with a flatback rhinestone or flatback pearl.

Updated post on how to make a twisted boutique hair bow

I have tweaked how I make this bow view my latest post how to make a twisted boutique hair bow.  I think the new method is much easier.

This is how I make my bows. I am not saying it’s the best, try it and see if it works for you.  If you would like to share this post please link back to us and use 1 photo only. DO NOT COPY THE WHOLE POST.

 BUY GROSGRAIN RIBBON AND CRAFT SUPPLIES

At Think Bowtique we sell the finest quality hair bow making supplies at the best price possible right here in Australia.

Have fun creating.

https://thinkbowtique.com/blog/how-to-make-twisted-bowtique-bow-with-16mm-grosgrain-ribbon/