How to Make Fabric Bows : Easy Tutorial for Large & Small Bows
If you're as much of a Pinterest-lover as me, you'll know that bows are having a big moment in home decor. In the last couple of years, I've been seeing big oversized bows, made from beautiful fabrics like linen and organic cotton, hanging on cottage doors and beautiful antique wardrobes.
But these bows can set you back quite a bit, with some being sold for as much as £95. Well, I knew as soon as I saw this trend that I could make my very own DIY fabric bows for much less money, using some fabric scraps around my house!
That's one thing that I love about this project. These bows are a lovely way to turn fabric scraps into a piece of decor that you'll love for years to come. I made some of these bows last year for Christmas (one of which always lives on top of my Christmas tree!) that I know will be re-used year after year.
Today I'm sharing how to make a beautiful fabric bow of your very own.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this project suitable for beginners?
If you're a beginner, this is a great little sewing project to have a go at. I've laid out a few simple steps below, and all you really need to be able to do is sew in a straight line.
Where could I use my bow?
You can use this bow for just about anything! They look great hanging on a front door or on a wall, on top of the Christmas tree or as a Christmas wreath bow. You could even make smaller versions to add to gifts or use them as hair accessories by sliding metal hair clips through the centre loop.
Can I change the size of the bow?
Yes! Simply scale the measurements of the three rectangles needed for the bow up or down to the size you need. Here are some suggestions for different sizes of bow:
Large bow (eg for decorating a door or hanging on the wall)
45cm x 90cm, 40cm x 120cm, 5cm x 15cm
Medium bow (eg for the top of a Christmas tree)
30cm x 60cm, 25cm x 80cm and 4 x 14cm
Small bow (eg for gift wrapping, fabric hair bows, hair ties or hair accessories)
15cm x 30cm, 12.5cm x 40cm and 4 x 8cm
What kinds of fabric can I use to make my bow?
This project would work well with quite a wide range of different fabrics, but light to medium weight woven fabrics like cotton and linen will work best. I think these look particularly good in gingham or plaid fabric!
How much fabric will I need for a bow?
How much fabric you'll need will depend on the bow size - a small bow could be made with a piece of fabric that's less than half a metre while a big bow like the large size given above will require a metre of fabric while the smaller sizes could get away with less.
I'm looking for free fabric bow patterns - is there a pattern for this project?
I haven't made a pattern for this project because the bow only requires rectangles and is easy enough to cut by simply marking the rectangles onto your fabric. If you think a pattern would be helpful, drop me a message on Instagram and I'll see what I can do!
How much time will I need to sew a bow?
It depends a little on your sewing experience, but most people will find this takes less than an hour. The most recent bow I made only took 15 minutes!
How can I attach the bow to my Christmas tree?
You can thread a little velvet ribbon through the loop in the center of the bow and tie it to the tree. If you're attaching the bow somewhere outdoors, you might want to use something a little stronger, like a zip tie.
How to Make a DIY Fabric Bow
Supplies
This list of supplies is for a medium-sized bow (around 40cm tall) - of course, if you plan to make a larger or smaller bow it may require more or less fabric!
- 1 metre of fabric
- Thread
- A pair of scissors/fabric shears or rotary cutter
- Needle for hand sewing (optional)
All seam allowances are 1cm. (That's a quarter inch seam allowance if you're in the US!)
Instructions
1. Cut three rectangles of fabric. For a medium bow, they will need to be 30cm x 60cm, 25cm x 80cm and 4 x 14cm. If you want to make the bow smaller or bigger, try using the measurements suggested above.
2. Take the 30 x 60cm rectangle - this will become the 'bow piece' at the top of the bow. Fold it in half lengthways (so the longest sides are together), and with right sides together. Sew along the long edge. Press and turn to the right side.
3. Cut a piece of quilt batting the size of your sewn rectangle and place it inside the rectangle. Now fold the rectangle again so the short sides meet and the previous seam you sewed (ie. the wrong side) is facing out. Sew along the short end. Press and turn right side out. Place this piece to one side for later.
4. Next, take the 25 x 80cm rectangle - this will be your tail piece - and fold it in half lengthways and then widthways with right sides together. Cut a smooth curve on the loose ends. Open the last fold you did and then sew all the way along the curves and the long side, leaving a small gap in the middle. Turn the piece right sides out through the gap, and press well.
5. Now take the smallest rectangle - this will be the center piece - and fold lengthways with right sides together. Sew along the short edge, press and turn to the right side. Carefully fold and press the raw edges under, so you have the center band. Place the bow piece on top of the tail piece and thread the center loop over the tails and then over the bow part.
6. Make sure that everything is sitting in the right place and then, if you'd like to, add a few hand stitches through the middle of the bow to hold everything together. I haven't found this is necessary but it will help keep everything in place. That’s it - your bow is complete!
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