How to Make Cheerleader Pony Os

Choose ribbon in colors that coordinate with the cheerleading uniform.

By attaching ribbons of varying widths and prints to a ponytail holder, you can create a cheerleading Pony O. While Pony O is a brand name for an elastic ponytail holder, you can use any brand of ponytail holder to create these cheerleading ribbons. Just like the streamers of pompoms accentuate cheerleaders’ hand movements during cheers and dance routines, the streamers of Pony Os emphasize cheerleaders’ head movements.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Thread
• Scissors
• Needle
• 20-inch-long-by-2-inch-wide piece of ribbon
• 20-inch-long-by-1-inch-wide piece of ribbon
• 20-inch-long-by-1/2-inch-wide piece of ribbon
• 1-1/2-inch-long-by-3/8-inch-wide piece of ribbon
• Cigarette lighter
• Elastic ponytail holder
• Hot glue

Instructions

1. Measure out a 36-inch piece of thread and cut it with the scissors. Push one end of the thread through the eye of the needle and pull the thread through so there is an equal length of thread on both sides of the needle. Knot the ends of the thread together. Set the threaded needle aside.

2. Pass the short ends of each of the pieces of ribbon quickly through the flame of the cigarette lighter to heat seal the ends.

3. Place the 2-inch-wide piece of ribbon flat on a smooth work surface, with the right side facing up. Place the 1-inch-wide piece of ribbon centered directly on top of the 2-inch-wide piece of ribbon, with the right side facing up. Place the 1/2-inch-wide piece of ribbon centered directly on top of the 1-inch-wide piece of ribbon, with the right side facing up.

4. Fold the entire stack of ribbons in half lengthwise and crease the fold. Unfold the ribbons and lay them flat again. The creased fold marks the center of the ribbons.

5. Pick up the stack of ribbons near the center fold, using the pointer finger and thumb of your non-dominant hand. Pick up the threaded needle with your dominant hand.

6. Insert the tip of the needle through the middle of the center fold, coming up from the bottom of the stack of ribbons and through to the top of the stack. Pull the thread all the way through until the knot rests against the back of the bottom ribbon.

7. Continue holding the stack of ribbons together with your non-dominant hand and use your dominant hand to tightly wrap the thread around the stack of ribbons, going over the top of the stack around to the back and back over again. Wrap the thread around the stack of ribbons as tightly as possible three times, so the ribbon pinches together in the center. Drop the needle, and allow it do dangle from the stack of ribbons.

8. Pick up the ponytail holder with your dominant hand and place it on top of the thread-wrapped segment of the stack of ribbons. Hold the ponytail holder in place with the thumb of your non-dominant hand so that it stands up in an "O" shape. Grab the needle with your dominant hand and wrap the thread around the part of the ponytail holder that is touching the ribbons and around the center of the stack of ribbons three times.

9. Stick the tip of the needle through the elastic ponytail holder in the place where it is attached to the ribbons. Pull the needle and thread through the ponytail holder, and pass the needle through the loop of thread before pulling the thread tight. Stick the needle through the ponytail holder again and pass the needle through the loop of thread again. Pull the thread tight to knot it. Cut and discard the excess thread.

10. Place a dab of hot glue over the ponytail holder in the place where it is attached to the ribbons. Pick up the 1-1/2-inch-long piece of ribbon and press one of the short edges of the ribbon into the hot glue. Wrap the 1-1/2-inch-long piece of ribbon around the front of the stack of ribbons and back around to the dab of hot glue. Press the end into the hot glue, adding an additional dab of glue, if necessary. This will conceal the thread that is wrapped around the stack of ribbons.

11. Allow the glue to dry before wearing the Pony O.