How to Make a Cheer Bow

How to Make a Cheer Bow

My oldest daughter started cheer competitions this year.  She has never been interested in competitive teams before, so this was something new.  I realized very quickly that if you are going to cheer competitively, you MUST have a specific cheer bow.  AKA, a HUGE bow on the top of the head.  Every competition we went to, they were selling cheer bows for $15-$25.  To me, that is crazy.  I know there are lots of people out there that would gladly pay for the bow just so they don't have to make it.  I'm not one of those people!  I love a challenge and I love to do something new.  Let me tell you how I made this one!

Supply List:

1. 2 1/2 to 3in ribbon
2. 1 1/2in ribbon
3. 3/4in ribbon
4. zip tie
5. glue gun
6. heat 'n bond (optional)
7. hair band

I found the ribbon at JoAnn's, there is a small section with cheer bow ribbon(it's not with all of the regular ribbon).  The 3in ribbon is the most important size, the others can coordinate with the large ribbon.

Cut the ribbon to 30 inches.  This is the perfect length for cheer bows.  Cut the heat 'n bond to the size of the two smaller ribbons.

Iron the heat 'n bond onto the ribbon.  To keep the ribbon from burning, it's a good idea to put a piece of fabric over the ribbon.  Iron the fabric (with the ribbon under) being sure that the heat 'n bond adheres to the ribbon.  The reason for using heat 'n bond is so that there is no need to pin the ribbon together.

 Place the medium size ribbon over the large ribbon.  Be sure to place the ribbon right in the center and iron them together.  Zig zag stitch along the inside ribbon.

Fold the ribbon in half (WST) at the end of the ribbon.  Clip the end at about a 45 degree angle to create the "V" shape at the end of the ribbon.  Repeat on the opposite end.  (If the smallest ribbon you are using isn't thick, go ahead and attach it before cutting the ends.)

Use a flame to seal the ribbon edge.  Just pass the flame near the ribbon to slightly melt the edges.  This process keeps the ribbon from fraying.

Repeat the heat 'n bond process with the smallest ribbon.  Zig zag stitch the small ribbon onto all ribbons.  Clip the ends to match the larger two ribbons.

 Mark the center of the ribbon by folding it in half, end to end.  Cross the ribbon making sure to line up with the center mark.  Starting at the center point of the ribbon and the point where it crosses, begin gathering the ribbon at the center.

 Once the ribbon is pulled together and gathered, use the zip tie to secure the ribbon together.  Don't tighten the zip tie all the way, zip it loosely so you can be sure the ribbon looks nice and is in the right place.  Once you like the position of the ribbon, zip the tie as tight as it will go.

Clip the end of the zip tie off.

Hot glue the hair band right on top of the zip tie.  Be careful not to get glue all over the ribbon.

With the bow facing up, use a small piece of ribbon to create the center tie.  Hot glue one end to the hair band area, wrap the ribbon around and hot glue the other end on top of the ribbon.  Again, don't use too much glue because it will ooze out and look bad.

 The finished ribbon looks something like this.

 And it's even cuter when it's on a pony tail!

busy busy busy ...

I'm busy orking on some new patterns ... a Easy Cap Sleeve Tee, in toddler and girl sizes (most likely 2-14) ... and a double layer ruffle skirt ... in NB-14 sizes.

You can get instructions on the bow on the shirt here ... I just cut a 2" wide strip of fabric, serged around the ends and used that as my "ribbon".

Bow Templates

I've created a download full of templates for making bows in TWELVE different sizes and 3 different types of bows. Check out the complete templates HERE.

BOW INSTRUCTIONS

Single Loop with Tails Down

Double Loop with Tails Out

Pinwheel with No Tails

Bow - Single Loop with Tails Down

This is by far my favorite, and easiest way, to add some interest to clothing that I make for my daughters. I add them to necklines, sleeves, the sides of pants, skirts, belts, socks (shown above) ... you name it. Cute and Easy ... what could be better?

1. First decide what size bow you would like (this is the final width of the bow) and cut the length of ribbon. My template guides can be found HERE. (The bow in the following instructions is made with 5/8" ribbon and using the 3" wide template).

2. Second FOLD the ribbon in half and press the fold to create a crease -- this is the center.

3. Align the center crease in the middle of the template guide.

4. Fold one tail of the ribbon over the template, aligning the top of the tail with the bottom edge of the opposite tail.

5. Fold the opposite tail ribbon over the template, aligning the top of the tail with the bottom edge of the opposite tail.

6. Using a needle and thread STITCH a running stitch through the center, making sure to go through ALL layers of the ribbon.

7. Slide ribbon off the template and pull on the the thread to gather the stitches.

8. Pull on the thread and wrap around the center of the ribbons tightly, and tie with a knot to secure.

9. Trim ribbon tails (if desired) and heat seal with a lighter so the ribbon won't fray.

10. Finished bow ... isn't it pretty? Now it's ready to glue to a hair clip, or add it to clothing.

11. My preferred method to add bows to clothing is to stitch them directly to the garment using a zigzag stitch [my settings: width: 3-4, length:1.5-2] and to go forward and then backward to secure it. (Shown below added to the neckline on the Shoreline Knit Tank)

Bow - Double Loop with Tails Out

This is by far my favorite, and easiest way, to add some interest to clothing that I make for my daughters. I add them to necklines, sleeves, the sides of pants, skirts, belts, socks ... you name it. Cute and Easy ... what could be better?

1. First decide what size bow you would like (this is the final width of the bow) and cut the length of ribbon. My template guides can be found HERE. (The bow in the following instructions is made with 7/8" ribbon and using the 3" wide template).

2. Second FOLD the ribbon in half and press the fold to create a crease -- this is the center.

3. Align the center crease in the middle of the template guide.

4. Fold one tail of the ribbon over the template, aligning the bottom of the tail with the top edge of the opposite tail.

5. Fold the opposite tail ribbon over the template, aligning the top of the tail with the bottom edge of the opposite tail.

6. Flip template over. Fold one tail of the ribbon over the template, aligning the bottom of the tail with the top edge of the center ribbon.

7. Fold the remaining tail of the ribbon over the template, aligning the top of the tail with the bottom edge of the center ribbon.

8. Using a needle and thread STITCH a running stitch through the center, making sure to go through ALL layers of the ribbon.

9. Slide ribbon off the template and pull on the the thread to gather the stitches.

10. Pull on the thread and wrap around the center of the ribbons tightly, and tie with a knot to secure.

11. Trim ribbon tails (if desired) and heat seal with a lighter so the ribbon won't fray.

12. Finished bow ... isn't it pretty? Now it's ready to glue to a hair clip, or add it to clothing.

13. My preferred method to add bows to clothing is to stitch them directly to the garment using a zigzag stitch [my settings: width: 3-4, length:1.5-2] and to go forward and then backward to secure it. (Shown below added to the neckline on the Shoreline Knit Tank)

Bow - Pinwheel with No Tails

This is by far my favorite, and easiest way, to add some interest to clothing that I make for my daughters. I add them to necklines, sleeves, the sides of pants, skirts, belts, socks (shown above) ... you name it. Cute and Easy ... what could be better?

1. First decide what size bow you would like (this is the final width of the bow) and cut the length of ribbon. My template guides can be found HERE. (The bow in the following instructions is made with 1 1/2" ribbon and using the 4 1/2" wide template).

2. Second FOLD the ribbon in half and press the fold to create a crease -- this is the center.

3. Align the center crease in the middle of the template guide.

4. Fold the tails of the ribbon over the template, aligning the top of the tail with the bottom edge of the opposite tail.

5. Flip the template over and fold the ribbon tails over the template, aligning the top and bottom of the tails with the center ribbon.

6. Flip the template over again and fold the ribbon tails over the template towards the center of the ribbon.

7. Using a needle and thread STITCH a running stitch through the center, making sure to go through ALL layers of the ribbon.

8. Slide ribbon off the template and pull on the the thread to gather the stitches.

9. Pull on the thread and wrap around the center of the ribbons tightly, and tie with a knot to secure.

10. Trim ribbon tails and heat seal with a lighter so the ribbon won't fray.

11. Finished bow ... isn't it pretty? Now it's ready to glue to a hair clip, or add it to clothing.

12. My preferred method to add bows to clothing is to stitch them directly to the garment using a zigzag stitch [my settings: width: 3-4, length:1.5-2] and to go forward and then backward to secure it. (Shown below added to a hair clip, on the Knee High Socks Tutorial)