How to Make Beaded Hair Bows

Use a thread color that blends with the ribbon.

Learning how to make your own beaded hair bows gives you complete creative freedom over your hair bows and the hair bows your daughters wear. You can make beaded bows that are the colors you want, the size you want and using the beads you want. Make beaded bows to match outfits, commemorate special events and holidays, or make them for sports teams or in school colors. Don't be surprised when your friends and family members start asking you for these beaded hair bows.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Ribbon
• Lighter
• Gripper clip
• Thread
• Needle
• Beads
• Hot glue
• Hot glue gun

Instructions

1. Cut your ribbon to the length you desire and run your lighter very quickly over the cut edges of the ribbon so the ribbon doesn't fray. The longer the ribbon, the larger the bow will be.

2. Fold the ribbon into sections, folding it down over itself and then back up, working in a slightly zigzag pattern. You want the ribbon to be folded into two sections, side by side, with a 1/2-inch tail exposed on both ends of the ribbon.

3. Pinch the gripper clip to open it and place it in the middle of the folds, holding them in place.

4. Remove the clip. Thread your needle with cotton thread, tie a knot in one end, and make two or three basting stitches, which are simply large stitches, up the center of the bow. Cut the needle off the thread and push the ribbon to the knotted end of the thread, creating the creasing in the center of the bow. Knot the thread to secure it.

5. Thread beads onto cotton thread. Bead the thread to twice the length you want the beads to hang down, cut the thread and tie it into a knot. Make as many of these bead lengths as you like.

6. Take a separate and shorter piece of ribbon. Lay the beaded threads on the ribbon and tie the ribbon into a knot, catching the beaded threads in the knot.

7. Hot glue the knotted ribbon to the bow. Cut the edges of your ribbon into the inverted V shape and very quickly run the lighter over the cut edges.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep small children away from sharp scissors and needles, and keep lighters out of reach.

References

• Make Hairbows: How to Make a Pinwheel Bow