How to Make Ribbon Barrettes With Alligator Clips
Little girls have long worn ribbons barrettes in their hair for decoration. Make a delightful bow from a rainbow of ribbon, or adorn the top of your bow with an artificial flower, an ornamental button, a plastic heart or any personal touch you choose. Ribbon barrettes are so easy to make that you will want one in every color for every outfit. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Ribbon
- Needle and thread
- Scissors
- Lighter
- Alligator clip
- Fabric glue or hot glue gun
Instructions
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Make a Ribbon Barrette with an Alligator Clip
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1
Thread a needle and knot the end of the thread. Cut six pieces of 9" ribbon and insert the threaded needle through the middle of the ribbon without pulling it through.
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2
Bend one end of the ribbon over and insert it halfway down the needle with the needle sticking out of the ribbon. Do the same with the other end completing a figure 8. If you are using ribbon with a print on one side you should only be able to see the design on the top of the loops at this point. Repeat until all nine pieces are figure 8s and are on the needle. Fan and adjust the ribbons into an attractive bow. Make a few stitches through all layers of ribbon in the middle to secure the bow. Set this layer aside.
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3
Cut five pieces of 8" ribbon and repeat step 2 to create the second layer.
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4
Cut four pieces of ribbon 7" long and repeat step 2 to create the third layer.
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5
Cut four pieces of ribbon 6" long and repeat step 2 to create the fourth layer.
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6
Stack up all layers from largest to smallest and fold them in half. Insert (from the backside) a threaded needle, knotted in the end, halfway through in the center of all the ribbon layers to hold them in place. Adjust the layers by fanning them until your bow looks perfect. Hold the layers in place and make a few stitches through all the layers to secure them. Make a knot to secure the thread on the back of the bow.
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7
Hold the alligator clip open and apply a bead of fabric glue or hot glue to the clip and attach it to the back of the bow making certain to center the placement of the clip.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You can embellish your bow by gluing a small pom pom, plastic charm or plastic jewel to the center of the top layer of the bow.
Use caution when using hot glue to avoid burning your fingers. Keep you fingers away from the point of the needle when guiding it through the layers of ribbon.
