How to Make a Hair Bow

A hair bow seems like a small addition to your hairstyle, but it makes a big difference. You might have a huge collection of them on your bathroom counter to choose which one will add that extra pizazz to your outfit.

Yet how many times have you found a hair bow that almost matches what you want to wear but is not quite exactly a fit? Now you can make your own no-sew hair bow!

You choose the size of your hair bow. You might want a bigger bow for a fancier occasion yet a smaller bow to tie around your ponytail while running errands. The perfect size for you will not be the same perfect size for your friends or kids. Ah, the beauty of DIY hair bows!

You can also choose from hundreds of fabric patterns or ribbons that compliment your wardrobe just the way you want them to. You might want cotton fabric for a simple hair bow or flowy ribbon to create a cheerleader hair bow.

This DIY hair bow puts you in control of the size, material and pattern of your creation.  

Supplies Needed

• Red Fabric
• Hot Glue Gun/Sticks
• Needle and Thread
• Hair Ties
• Ribbon (¾ in or 1 in)

Optional: 

• Safety Pin (for holding the fabric when pulling through from inside out)
• Lighter (for frayed edges on fabric)

How To Make a Red Hair Bow

Step One: Cut and Hand Stitch Red Fabric

For this craft, I am using red fabric that is cut to be 8” X 6”. If you’d like a smaller or bigger bow, adjust your fabric dimensions accordingly. Fold the fabric with the inside out, hotdog style. Hand stitch along the bottom.  

Once you are finished hand stitching, pull the fabric through itself so that it is no longer inside out. If you find your fabric to be exceptionally wrinkly, press it with an iron. Place the fabric down with the stitch directly in the middle. 

Step Two: Fold the Red Fabric and Accordion Fold the Middle

With the stitching in the middle across, fold the right and left sides into the middle. The sides will have a small overlap when they meet in the middle. This overlap is necessary.  

You will then scrunch the fabric from the top of this overlap to the bottom of the overlap, also known as an ‘accordion fold’. As you see the bow starting to form, make sure both sides of it are even. 

Step Three: Hand Stitch the Accordion Fold and Attach the Hair Tie

Once you have the accordion fold, use your thread and needle to hand stitch a few times through the fold. Then wrap the fold a few times with the thread before tying it off with a knot. 

Place your ribbon and start to hot glue it on one side of the accordion fold. Before wrapping the rest of the ribbon around the accordion fold, place the hair tie down and hot glue it to the accordion fold.

Once the hot glue has cooled, wrap the rest of the ribbon over the fold and through the hair tie until you hot glue the end of the ribbon down. 

How To Make A Cheerleader Hair Bow 

Supplies Needed 

• 3 Inch Wide Ribbon
• ¾ Inch Wide Ribbon (this will be the ‘middle piece’) 
• Scissors (strong enough to cut zip tie)
• Zip Tie
• Hot Glue Gun 
• Hair Tie

Step One: Cut, Prep and Position the Three Inch Wide Ribbon

For this craft, I used 29 inches of the three-inch wide ribbon. You can use anywhere between 28 inches-32 inches to have a similar size bow as what we create today. Lay the ribbon out. 

Cross the two ends over each other like so. When crossing the ends, maintain balance with the length of the cross overs and the top part of what will become the bow. This will prevent the bow from having imbalanced sides as you continue. 

Step Two: Scrunch Middle of the Hair Bow, Hold In Place With Zip Tie

Remember the accordion fold from the simple red bow? You will do this same fold with the cheerleader bow. In the middle of the bow, slowly scrunch the top and bottom together, maintaining an accordion-like fold of the ribbon as you scrunch.

Once it is scrunched, place the zip tie beneath the bow. Enclose the zip tie and pull it until it is tight around the accordion fold. Cut off any excess zip tie. The zip tie will hold the scrunch for you from here on. 

Step Three: Hot Glue The Middle Piece

For this craft, the ¾ inch ribbon is our middle piece. Cut six inches of this ribbon, then tie a knot in the middle of the ribbon. 

Place the knot on the front of the bow. Hot glue the knot down over the zip-tie. Not only does the knot on the front of the bow look nice, it also hides the zip tie beneath.

After the hot glue has cooled, place the hair tie on the back of the zip tie scrunched area, and hot glue it down. Once that has cooled, wrap and glue the rest of the ¾ inch ribbon down.

You may either keep wrapping the ribbon over the front knot or cut any excess off if you want the knot to be seen on the front. 

You can leave the ends of the ribbon as they are or cut triangles like in the photo to add some flair! 

For more amazing no-sew craft ideas check out these easy fabric flowers and these pretty butterfly hair clips.

FAQ