How to Make Secure Full Korker Hair Bows

pretty, full and secure!

When I first started making korker hair bows 3 years ago, it was difficult to keep them from slipping out, holding the ribbon together, and attaching the bow securely to a clip or barrette. With this how to, you will learn what it took me many, many tries to accomplish. That being full, secure korker hair bows.

Things You'll Need

• Grosgrain Ribbon 3/8
• Wooden Dowel Rods 5/16 or other depending on the desire sized
• Small craft clothes pins
• Oven
• Wood burner or lighter
• Needle
• Thread
• Hot glue/gun

Instructions

1. Decide what colors, size and fullness you would like your korker hair bows to be.
   Polka dots, stripes and solids of two different colors work well together. Contrasting colors with a neutral mixed in are good choice as well.

2. 

   Prepare your rods.
   Your dowel rods need to be around 18" long.
   You can buy the long ones cut them in 1/2 to save money.
   Remember, you want them as long as possible, to fit in the oven because this will save ribbon.
   Usually 1 yard of ribbon per 5/16 rod but I advise against precutting to avoid waist
   The precut ones are usually only 12" long.
   Always sand the rods well, it makes the ribbon much easier to slide off.

3. 

   Wrap rods in ribbon.
   Start at the top of one and attach a clothes pin.
   Holding the ribbon very tightly spin the rod holding the ribbon in one hand as tension.
   When at the end attach the other clothes pin and cut ribbon.
   * I attach clothes pins as I go down encase I let go of the stick and lose the tension... this will save you a lot of time and hassle

   Depending on the size and fullness of your bows is how many rods you will want to roll.
   Usually get 5-7 cuts per stick and a full korker is usually 18 - 24 korkers per bow.

4. 

   Preheating and cooking ribbon...
   You will need a preheated oven from 225 - 275.
   I prefer 225 for 45 minutes other will do 250 for 30 minutes or even 275 for 15 minutes.
   Everyone is different and so is every oven so you can even test a short piece of ribbon to find the perfect one for you.
   I place mine on foil rather than directly on the rack. Dyes can run sometimes so avoid colors touching each other.
   I have also found that if ribbon has print such as polka dots you will want to cook it for a shorter time to avoid running of spots.
   Certain colors cook faster than others too. Darker colors get stiffer than light colors.

5. 

   Allow ribbon to cool (doesn't take long), and slide ribbon off rod. If you sanded your rods well the ribbon will slide of like silk. Some colors will run onto your stick. I have sticks I use for red ribbon only because you will find it is one that runs.

6. 

   Plug in a wood burner and place on foil. Be very careful and us caution. These get very hot and burn and melt anything they touch. Hold ribbon very firmly on the foil like in picture.

7. 

   Make nice cuts. The longer your cuts the longer your bow. I like to make them in 5 curl strands the best. I count 5 curls per cut. Its not hard and the wood burner seals the ends from fraying. Make sure you cut on foil.

   An alternative is to burn the cut ends of ribbon with a lighter but I prefer the wood burner much more.

8. 

   Once your ribbon is cut, place them out in the order to which you would like them to go in your korker hair bows.

9. 

   Take a a piece of thread, nice sturdy thread, and double it through a needle.
   Make a nice secure knot on the end. Start threading the korkers. The first korker you thread will be the outside of your korker hair bows.

10. 

    Make sure you space them out, and stay in order as you thread them.

11. 

    You will want to use a long needle because as you thread the korkers, you have to hold them onto the needle, until finished.

12. 

    Once you have the desired fullness pull the thread all the way through, Might be tough. I sometimes use a hard surface to push the needle through. I re run the thread through again to make sure it is extra secure and tie off.
    Now your bow is finished and ready to attach to the item of your choice. Usually using hot glue to attach to a clip to the korker hair bows.

Tips & Warnings

• I cook lots of ribbon at one time to save on energy cost

• Please make sure you use 100% polyester ribbon. Cotton or other materials can catch on fire.

• Please use extreme caution when using a wood burner. I have burnt myself on them and they hurt bad.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish