A few weeks ago I had the honor of photographing Amanda's baby and one of the headbands we used for her shoot was this curly ribbon bow.
It reminded me that I used to make these all of the time and even taught classes on them. You know, back in the olden days.
So I thought I'd show you how.
Curly Ribbon Bows are unbelievably simple to make and almost fool proof.
Here's what you'll need:
1/4" grosgrain or satin ribbon. I just buy the inexpensive kind by the roll at the craft store. You can mix and match and these are a great way to use up left over ribbon too.
1/4" wooden dowels. I got these at Michael's, ten to the package and precut in twelve inch lengths. You can also purchase the longer dowels from the lumber store and cut them in lengths that fit into your oven. (Yup, you'll be bak'n these puppies).
Hair barretts. These are 2 1/2" long
and I've taken them apart to make attaching the ribbon easier. Just be sure to pay attention how they came apart so you'll know how to put them back together. (Ask me how I know that this is important).
26 gauge wire, also available from the craft store. I use wire to "sew" the ribbon to the barrett since it's strong and easy to use. You will need about 20" of wire for each barrett.
You'll also need binder clips or clothes pins to secure the ribbon to the dowels.
Here's how I make them:
Secure the ribbon to one end of the dowel using a binder clip or clothes pin and wrap the ribbon side by side - not over lapping - until you get to the other end of the dowel. Cut the ribbon from the roll and secure. It takes about nine twelve inch dowels worth of ribbon for one bow.
Place wrapped dowels on cookie sheet and bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let them cool completely. The ribbon curls from the heat. There is nothing applied to the ribbon other than heat to make them hold the curl. Think of the dowels as mini curling irons.
Remove the clips and carefully remove the cooled ribbon from the dowels.
Trim the funky ends by cutting the ribbon at angles
then cut into four inch lengths at angles.
Begin by sewing the 20" piece of 26 gauge wire through the two holes at the latch end of the barrett.
Be sure to keep the wire away from the closure part of the barrett and end with the wire on top of the barrett.
Working from the top side of the barrett on the end that you have connected the wire, bundle three 4" pieces of ribbon by stacking them on top of one another and attaching them to the barrett by wrapping them with the wire at the center of each bundle.
Wrap the bundle to the barrett and then wrap again, wrap another bundle to the barrett, then wrap again. One wrap attaches the ribbons to the barrett and one wrap just secures the previous bundle. Pull the wire tight after each wrap.
It takes about nine bundles of three stacked ribbons to cover the top of the barrett.
When you reach the other end of the barrett sew the wire into the hole at the end. Knot to secure and cut away excess wire.
Even out the ribbons (you can slide the wire a bit at this point). Notice all of the ribbon is on the top of the barrett.
With a hot glue gun, glue a small piece of ribbon to cover the wire on the under side so it looks all neat and tidy.
Replace the hinge and tension clip.
The bows can be attached to headbands or clipped directly into the hair - if she's lucky enough to have any.
Encourage one another,
Here's another idea.
The same technique but with with strips of tulle mixed in with the curly ribbon.
It looks like a marshmallow cloud doesn't it?
