How to Make Baby Hair Bows
Learn to make these baby hair bows in this simple tutorial. These are great to make for your own baby, for a baby shower gift or even to sell. Video and cut list included.
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Video Tutorial – How to Make Baby Hair Bows
Sweet Little Homespun Baby Bows
Recently, I tried to purchase some newborn hair bows for my daughters to give my sister at her baby shower. Once I realized they weren’t going to get here in time, I got to thinking they wouldn’t be that hard to make. Since I am well stocked on scrap pieces of fabric and ribbons, I decided to try and make some bows ourselves.
Once my daughters and I got done making them and I realized just how easy it really was, I wondered why I had never made any before for my own daughters. The bows we made were such a sweet and special gift to give to my sister at her shower. They were much more special then some other bows we could have purchased because they were handmade with love.
These baby hair bows will be such a simple but beautiful homemade gift to make for any girl baby showers I go to in the future.
How to Make Baby Hair Bows
List of Materials
- scrap of fabric and ribbon – here are some options if you don’t have any laying around crochet lace ribbon, velvet ribbon, scrap fabric
- nylon stretchy baby hair bands or metal hair clips
- coordinating/neutral thread
- sharp scissors
- iron and ironing board
- sewing machine
- hot glue gun and sticks
Instructions for How to Make Baby Hair Bows
#1 Lace Ribbon Bow
This first bow is very simple and yet so beautiful.
- Step 1 – Cut lace ribbon 13″ long (33 cm).
- Step 2 – Place nylon band through ribbon.
- Step 3 – Make 2 “bunny ear” loops with the ribbon.
- Step 4 – Wrap one “bunny ear” around and under the other bunny ear. Pull tight.
- Step 5 – Adjust bow until it looks good.
#2 Velvet Ribbon Bow
Using velvet ribbon really adds a soft and elegant look to this simple homemade hair bow.
- Step 1 – Cut velvet ribbon 15″ long (38 cm).
- Step 2 – Place nylon band through ribbon.
- Step 3 – Make 2 “bunny ear” loops with the ribbon, keeping the velvet on the outside.
- Step 4 – Wrap one “bunny ear” around and under the other bunny ear. Pull tight.
- Step 5 – Adjust bow until it looks good.
#3 Knot Bow
Even if you aren’t very comfortable with a sewing machine, you should be able to easily sew this bow.
- Step 1 – Cut out fabric 3″ by 7″ (8cm by 18cm)
- Step 2 – Fold in half lengthwise. Then fold in half short ways.
- Step 3 – Cut a rounded edge on the short ends of the fabric.
- Step 4 – Sew right sides together with 1/4″ seam allowance around the edge of the fabric leaving a small opening in the middle. Be sure to forward and back stitch at the start and the end. Cut off extra threads.
- Stet 5 – Turn the fabric inside out so the right sides are facing out. Use a narrow object, like a pencil, to help push the fabric through your opening. Once right sides are facing out, press flat with an iron.
- Step 6 – Sew small opening closed, keeping close to the the edge of the fabric. Trim loose threads.
- Step 7 – Place sewn fabric through the center of the nylon headband. Tie one knot and pull lightly to tighten the knot. Adjust the bow until it lays right.
#4 Fan Bow
This fan bow requires no sewing. Just a little hot glue to hold it together.
- Step 1 – Cut out fabric 5″ x 6″ and 1″ x 3″ (13cm x 15cm and 3cm x 8cm).
- Step 2 – Fold the shorter (5″) side of the fabric top down to the center and bottom up to the center. Iron flat.
- Step 3 – Fold both sides with the raw edge a 1/4″ under two times.
- Step 4 – Then fold back and forth until you have the fabric in a fan shape.
- Step 5 – Fold in both of the longer sides of the small fabric piece so the raw edges are to the middle. Iron flat.
- Step 6 – Take the fan piece and pinch together in the center. Place a small amount of hot glue at the pinched center and take small piece of fabric and glue one side, raw edges facing under to the fan piece.
- Step 6 – Place nylon elastic over the thin narrow piece. Then wrap the thin narrow fabric around the nylon and the fan piece. Place a small amount of glue to hold it together. Trim any extra of the narrow fabric piece off.
#5 Hand Tied Plaid Bow
To make this hand tied plaid bow, you first make a ribbon out of the fabric and then tie the bow.
- Step 1 – Cut out fabric 2″ x 16″ (5cm x 40cm).
- Step 2 – Fold lengthwise right sides together and iron flat.
- Step 3 – Sew around the edges (1/4″ seam allowance) leaving a small opening in the middle. Cut off loose threads.
- Step 4 – Using a long narrow stick or pencil turn the fabric right sides out. Iron flat and sew opening closed.
- Step 5 – To tie the bow, place the nylon elastic through the fabric ribbon. Make two “bunny ear” loops. Cross over each other and feed one of the loops through the middle opening. Pull tight.
- Step 6 – Adjust bow until it lays nicely.
#6 Petite Velvet Bow
This petite velvet bow is adorable. It can be made with other fabric types as well.
- Step 1 – Cut out velvet fabric 3″ x 4″ and 1″ by 3″ (8cm x 10cm and 3cm x 8cm).
- Step 2 – Fold larger fabric piece lengthwise in half, right sides facing each other.
- Step 3 – Sew only short edges and turn right sides out.
- Step 4 – Tuck in raw edges of fabric. Sew or glue edges together. Iron flat.
- Step 5 – Iron raw edges under on both sides of small fabric piece.
- Step 6 – Pinch larger piece into a bow shape at the center. Then place a small amount of hot glue at the pinched center and take small piece and glue one side, raw edges under to the bow piece.
- Step 7 – Place nylon elastic over the thin narrow piece. Then wrap the thin narrow fabric around the nylon and the bow piece. Place a small amount of glue to hold it together. Trim any extra of the narrow fabric piece off.
#7 Linen Sailor Bow
This large linen sailor bow not only makes an adorable bow for a newborn but also could be added to a hair clip for an old child.
- Step 1 – Cut out fabric 3 1/2″ x 21″ (9cm x 53cm).
- Step 2 – Fold lengthwise right sides together and iron flat. Then fold short wise end to end. Cut ends on a slight angle.
- Step 3 – Sew around the edges (1/4″ seam allowance) leaving a small opening in the middle. Cut off loose threads.
- Step 4 – Using a long narrow stick or pencil turn the fabric right sides out. Iron flat and sew opening closed.
- Step 5 – To tie the bow, starting at one end, wrap the linen fabric all the way around palm. Then tuck long end through opening between pointer and index finger and pull through to other side. Place nylon elastic over that end of the ribbon. Then wrap that same end over and then under the part of the bow your thumb is holding. Pull tight. (See video tutorial for demonstration)
- Step 6 – Adjust bow until it lays nicely.
#8 Large Bowtie Bow
This large bowtie bow would also make a cute bow for an older child as well.
- Step 1 – Cut out fabric 6″ x 10″ and 1 1/2″ x 3″ (15cm x 25cm and 4cm x 8cm).
- Step 2 – Fold lengthwise right sides together and sew along the length of the fabric 1/4″ seam allowance, leaving ends open.
- Step 3 – Turn fabric right sides out. Place seam in the center facing up.
- Step 4 – Fold ends to center, slightly overlapping. Using a needle and thread, sew a loose open stitch along the middle. Pull thread tight and wrap around bow three times before tying off.
- Step 5 – Iron raw edges under on both sides of small fabric piece lengthwise.
- Step 6 – Place a small amount of hot glue at the center of the bow and take small piece and glue one side, raw edges under to the bow piece.
- Step 7 – Place nylon elastic over the small bit of fabric. Then wrap the small piece around the nylon and the large bow piece. Place a small amount of glue to hold it together. Trim any extra of the narrow fabric piece off.
- Step 6 – Using your thumbs push each side of the bow inward to create a puffy bow. Adjust bow until it lays nicely.
Lots of Bows
After making a few bows and realizing how easy it is, I’m sure you want want to get creative and start making all kinds of different bows with different fabric choices.
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