Over-sized hair bows are all over the high street this season and you can jump on the trend with this easy tutorial! Hair Bows are an effective way to add colour and or prints to an outfit with a simple clip!
Choose from a light drapey fabric such as silk, satin or rayon.
In this tutorial Sarah Taylor – Simply Sewing Technical Editor shows you how to create hair bows out of your own fabric choice so you can co-ordinate with your garments. This technique is a quick and easy way to make lasting hair bows.
What you’ll need:
Use a 1cm seam allowance. With right sides (RS) together, pin and sew the long edges of the Bow to create a tube.
Turn the Bow through to the RS and press with the seam centred on the reverse.
On the back of the Bow, bring the two short edges to the middle and pin in place.
Using a wide zig zag stitch, sew the two short edges in place.
With RS together, fold the 36cm square in half diagonally, to form a triangle. Pin and sew around both sides, leaving a 5cm gap for turning through.
Trim corners and turn through to the RS. Use a point turner to push out the corners.Then press carefully.
Ladder stitch the opening closed.
Measure along the longest edge to find the central point and draw a line from the tip of the triangle to this point.
Thread a hand-sewing needle and sew a line of basting stitches on this line. Once you reach the end, pull the thread tight to gather the fabric, but keep the needle attached.
Continue hand basting through the centre of the Bow, then pull tight to gather again, placing the Bow on top of the Tails. Wrap the threads around the middle a few times and secure with a knot.
Take a plain crocodile clip and attach the back of the clip to the back of the bow using a hot glue gun. Keep the clip open as it dries.
With RS together, pin and sew the long edges of the Centre.
Turn the Centre through to the RS and press with the seam centred on the reverse.
Wrap the Centre around the bow. Open the clip and make sure the Centre is between the jaws. Sew with RS together trying to get as close as possible.
Trim the seam allowance to 3-4mm.
Turn the Centre so that the RS is facing out and the seam is on the inside, between the jaws of the clip.
Add some extra hot glue to secure.
Sewing your own hair bows is not only a beautiful, practical way of creating your own matching accessories. It’s also a mindful activity that helps you to appreciate your garments and give them some extra love.
Once you’ve got to grips with the technique we promise you’ll want to make more bows!
Making hair bows is just one form of sewing. Head over to our best sewing books to buy in 2024 article to discover the best books to buy and study to improve your sewing, dressmaking and pattern drafting skills.
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