Free How To Make a Boutique Hair Bow! How to make one that won't fall apart & look GREAT!! Here is the Secret tricks!!

Did you ever wonder how do they do that? How can people make such cute bows & sell them for $8.00, $15.00 an $25.00?  You see them everywhere, gorgeous little girls hairbows! Cute little bows to match just about any outfit from Gymboree, Baby Lulu, Euro Brands, Custom Outfits & Holiday Bows!

You see simple basic bows to these fancy elaborate bows. You see little buttons, polymer clay decorations, sequins, rhinestones & all sorts of pretties on hair bows everywhere!!

Here is how to make the Basic Hair Bow...after you master the basic bow-all you have to do is use a little imagination to tackle a more elaborate bow!! Add your sequins, hot fix your rhinestones!!

Supplies that you will need:

Scissors that are sharp

1 1/2 Ribbon Grosgrain works best for starting out-then you can progress to the others & mixing ribbons together

Alligator clip ( I prefer Alligator as it works best for all hair types however a French clip is ok if you prefer)

A Ruler plastic or metal or sewing tape measure so you can measure

crochet or embroidery thread

Hot Glue Gun with Glue Sticks

stick pins to mark your points

sewing thread an needle- have the same color of thread  as the ribbon you are using an have the needed already threaded an ready to go

heat sealer of choice: either a wood burner (my choice) or a lighter or a candle to seal the ribbon

How to make a Simple Basic Hair Bow

Step 1 We will make a basic 5" hair bow so what we will do first is lay the ribbon flat-measure out how many loops you want on your hair bow. I like to have my hairbows to be made with 4  loops so we will add in 5 inches per loop. Plus for the tails I will add in 5 inches for each tail end of the hair bow. So you will count 4 loops plus two tail end ribbon ends =6 X5" inches  ribbon allowance for each will be 30" inches you measure out for the ribbon.

Just so I don't confuse you -Here is another example for a smaller size hairbow:If you want to have only 2 hair bow loops (which is one loop on each side of the hairbow-great for little infants an teeny toddlers) with the tails of ribbon hanging you would add 2 loops plus 2 tail end ribbon ends=4X5"inches ribbon allowance =20"inches of ribbon you need

One more example:If you would like to have a larger hair bow with lots of loops of the same ribbon lets say you want 6 loops (that means 3 loops of ribbon on each side) then you would  add 6 loops plus 2 tail end ribbon ends=8X5"inches ribbon allowance=40"inches of ribbon you would need

I hope this makes sence? You simply add 5" inches for each loop you want for the ribbon on each side of the bow plus the ribbon tail ends. If you want your ends to be shorter than the 5"inches this allows for you to cut at the end of the bow making it to your desired length.

Step 2 After you cut the desired amount of ribbon needed for your hair bow you simply "Pin Your Loop Points" this allows a guide so you can loop your ribbon to make the bow.

To Pin the Loop Points you start by measuring out the first 5"inches as the "ribbon end tail" so you skip that fist point an do not pin but you count 5" inches more from that spot to poke in the stick pin to mark your first point for the loop. You then go 5" inches for each loop for your hair bow an pin with the pin.

Now your ribbon should have two pins if yhou want one loop for a small bow, or it will have 4 pins if you want a bow with 2 loops on each side, or you will have 6 pins if you want a larger bow with 3 loops on each side of the bow.

Step 3 Lets start with holding the ribbon with the very first pin in your hand. Using the other hand simply form a loop by bringing the ribbon up an over to match the other pin right on top. Take the needle with the thread already to go  an begin to sew the loop together ribbon on ribbon, sew it in a basic hand stitch to secure it pull out the pin. If you have more loops simply repeat this step if you have just 2 loops you are done after this step.

Step 4 Take the bow now an squeeze the middle an tie a knot with the crochet/embroidery thread-then take the alligator clip put some of the hot glue on the back an attach it to the ribbon hold & stick. Once it dries take the crochet/embroidery thread an tie the string to the ribbon & the alligator/french clip to secure it again to make sure it holds then cut the string after you knot it.

Step 5 Trim the ribbon ends to the length you want .Use either frey check (which really doesn't seal forever it will wear off ) to seal the ribbon  a better  method to seal Heat Sealing is the best-How to Heat seal-you May take a wood burner across the ribbon edge, a candle stick flame or lighter flame along the edge to seal ribbon.

NOTE: please be very careful with these methods also with a wood burner please read all directions before you use.

Step 6 Take a little bit of glue or use the hot glue gun on the bottom of the alligator or french clip on the underside-take a little piece of skinny ribbon to hide the string around the bow an the alligator/french clip just glue this small ribbon around to secure an hide the string. Pinch with your fingers an let it dry.

Step 7 now you can add some hot fix rhinestones or some glitter glue sparkles or some handsewn beads, buttons or a polymer clay figure

To make a Fancy Boutique bow simply keep making bows an bows then take the string & combine all the bows into one bow with the string tied a few times knotted to secure then hot glue the clip on!

Have fun bow making