Cut costs on buying bows for yourself or your daughter by making your own to match all your outfits.
In terms of measuring ribbon, 2.25 ribbon measures approximately 2 and ¼-inches wide. This type of ribbon is one of the largest sizes used in creating hair bows. Due to the large width, you have to be careful when you make a hair bow from this ribbon, as you do not want the bow to appear larger than the head or the person who will wear the bow. The large size of 2.25 ribbon makes it ideal for simple bows made from simple ties commonly performed for shoe laces and waist bands in dresses.
Instructions
1. Choose a metal or plastic barrette large enough for the person or animal you wish to make the bow for. You want to ensure the barrette will hold the appropriate amount of hair for the person or animal, so try placing the barrette to ensure it measures the correct size.
2. Unroll a 3-feet long section of the 2.25 ribbon from its roll and cut both ends with 45-degree angle cuts. This angled cut should prevent raveling, but for further protection, coat the ends of the ribbon with fingernail glue, using a small paintbrush from a child’s art set to apply the glue.
3. Cut another 1-foot section of the ribbon and protect the ends again using the fingernail glue. Open the metal barrette and remove the bowed spring piece from the barrette and set it aside. Apply hot glue to the top of the barrette and wrap the 1-foot section of ribbon around the piece to cover most of the barrette’s top part.
4. Tie the 3-feet long section of ribbon into a simple bow, like those you tie on your shoe laces. Pull each loop of the bow out to the desired length. Work carefully to make each loop in the ribbon the same size.
5. Apply hot glue to the back of the knot on the ribbon bow. Center the bow over the ribbon covered barrette top and secure the bow to the barrette by holding the bow into place until the glue dries.
6. Cut a 1-foot long section of thread in the same or similar color as the 2.25 ribbon. Wrap the thread around the outer edges of the ribbon knot and around the ribbon-covered barrette piece. Secure the ends of the thread with a knot on the back of the barrette piece. This helps to prevent the bow from falling off the barrette, should the glue come loose later.
7. Reassemble the barrette by replacing the metal spring piece back into its proper fittings inside the barrette. Close the barrette once you get the spring piece back into place.
8. Trim the ends of the ribbon down to the desired length or trim one side to make both ends equal in length. Reapply the fingernail glue to the ends of the ribbon to prevent fraying.
Tips Warnings
Instead of angled cuts at the end of the ribbon, you may also angle both edges of the ribbon to make a v-shaped at the ends.
You may also make more than two loops on the bow, but be careful not to make the hair bow too large with too many loops.
