Fabric Hair Bows

Fabric hair bows can be made from almost any fabric from shimmery organzas or lace to printed cotton or velvet. If you make your own clothes why not make bows to match? These free hair bow instructions will show you how to make beautiful hair bows from small fabric remnants.

Bows are fashionable hair accessories and can be worn for almost any occasion.

These bows are around the size of a bow tie, and in fact they can be used as clip on bow ties too!

Materials

To make a fabric hair bow, this is what you will need:

A rectangle of fabric measuring

A small piece of the same or contrasting fabric measuring or a piece of ribbon

A small alligator type hair clip (sometimes called concord or beak clips)or a small undecorated hair barette

Sewing machine (optional)

Needle and thread

Dressmaking pin

How to make the bows

Take the larger piece of fabric and place it on the table with the wrong side showing. Fold one long edge into the centre. Fold the second long edge in so that it just overlaps the first one.

Now take a short edge and fold it in just past the centre point. Take the second short edge and fold this in just past the cente as well. Pin through all the layers so that the folds can't come undone.

Now stitch a line across the middle of the folded fabric going from one long edge to the other. Make sure you are stitching through all the layers. This stitching won't show on the finished bow, but it helps hold it all together while you make the next folds.

Now take the small piece of fabric and place it on the table with the wrong side showing. Fold one long edge into the centre. Fold the second long edge in so that it just overlaps the first one. Turn the fabric over so that the good side is showing. Pin through all the layers to keep the folds in place.

This next bit is the hardest part of making your fabric hair bow, and it may take a little practice!

Go back to the larger piece you folded already. Turn the bow over so that you can see the best side. You need to make four hill folds across the centre going from one long edge to the other.

Grip these folds tightly, and at the same time wrap the small piece you made around the folds, starting and finishing on the back side of the bow. Turn the last edge under slightly so that you can't see any cut ends. Use the pin to pin the small piece in place.

Now slip your alligator clip or hair barette under the small piece of fabric on the back of the bow.

Finally, hand stitch the end of the small piece of fabric together and remove the pin.

Your finished bow should look something like this!

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