How To Make A Bow From Fabric or Ribbon.
How to make a bow from fabric or ribbon. Making bows for your sewing project, is a simple, but charming accent to a variety of garments or home decorating projects. There are different ways of how to make a bow depending on how you will use your bow. I will show you how to put your bow together, for different purposes.
Bow with tailsWhat You Will Need.- Fabric of your choosing the amount of fabric depends on how big you would like to make your bow, and how long you would like your tails to be. - (Optional Lining) Interfacing, tulle, or some kind of lightweight stiff fabric, if the bow fabric is flimsy. You need the same amount of optional lining as the bow fabric, as well as the same amount for the tails. - Sharp Scissors. - Pins - Measuring Tape or Long Ruler. - Thread in the same color as your bow fabric. - A sewing machine, unless you are sewing by hand. - A hand-sewing needle if you are sewing by hand. Step 1. For the bow: Cut a piece of fabric of your choosing, that is four times the length of one side of the bow and two times the width (plus a seam allowance.) For instance, if you would like the finished bow to be 6 inches wide x 3 inches deep, you would cut your fabric strip 12 inches long x 6 inches wide, plus a seam allowance. See photo below.
If you are working with a fabric that is soft or flimsy, and you would like your bow to be crisp, then cut, in the same dimensions as your bow fabric, either a piece of sew in interfacing, fine tulle, or a piece of stiff scrap fabric, such as organza or crisp cotton. Something light weight, which will also give structure to the bow. If you choose this step: After you cut your fabric place the stiff fabric lining on the wrong side of your bow fabric, and hand or machine baste the pieces together.
Step 5. Find the center of the rectangle and fold both ends of the rectangle to the center. Pin in place.
Bow With Tails Omitted You do not have to make the tails if you do not want to. Simply jump to step 9. Then finish your bow.
Step 6. For The Tails: Depending on how long and wide you would like the tails to be, cut a strip of the same fabric as your bow. In this case, I will have the tails hang 8 inches down and I will make the tails 3 inches wide. Therefore, I will cut the strip 16 inches plus an extra 3 inches for the middle, (you will see why when I assemble the bow) remembering to add a seam allowance, so a total strip length of 19 inches plus seam allowance and the width will be cut 6 inches, plus seam allowance. (Optional Lining is cut the same length and width as the tails, plus seam allowance.)
If you choose the optional lining for your tails, place the lining on one side of the fabric now and hand baste or machine baste in place. Stitch along the seam line, on the long edge first. Then measure two inches in from the edge and place a pin or mark that spot. Stitch your end seam diagonally from the mark to the other end leaving a 1" opening at one end, and clip the corners to remove bulk.
Step 9.For The Centre: Cut a 2& 1/4" x 4 & 1/2" piece of fabric from the bow fabric. With right sides together, stitch ONLY the long edge leaving the ends open. Turn the fabric piece to the right side, then fold the ends in by 1/4" and press.
Voila, this is how to make a bow and how it looks from the front and back. 
How To Make A Bow From RibbonHow to make a bow from ribbon is done the same way. When I make a bow with ribbon, I use the same procedure; the only difference is I do not use a sewing machine to create the bow.You can use fabric glue or hand stitch the bow. The reason I choose to not machine sew a ribbon bow, is because the ribbon is usually too narrow and it becomes frustrating and mostly unnecessary. Leave how to make a bow and return to the home page. |
Note: Seam allowance should be 1/4", or 3/8". A seam width larger than this will create bulk.
