Grosgrain ribbon bows

[figment41]

does anyone know how to make grosgrain riboon stiff so it can look like curling ribbon. I am trying to make a hair barrette for my DD birthday party and saw them in a store. Now I can not figure out how to make it stiff but not as hard as a rock. In th store when you pulled on the ribbon you could straighten it but it would bounce right back into the curl.

TIA

 

[thebeesknees]

Cut a long length of grosgrain ribbon. Dip it in vinegar, then run your fingers down the ribbon to get the excess vinegar out (you just want the ribbon to be damp, not dripping). Use a wooden clothespin to secure one end of the ribbon to a dowel (the smaller the diameter of the dowel, the tighter the curl - I use 1/4"). Twist the riboon diagonally around the dowel until you get to the end and clothespin the end. Set it on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven at 250 degrees for about 20 minutes until dry. Let cool, then remove from the dowel. Cut into the length you choose. I heat-seal the end of my ribbon by moving it quickly near a candle flame (you will see it melt just a tiny bit and it will not unravel this way). BTW, the vinegar smell disappears when the ribbon is baked, so you don't need to worry about the smell.

 

[PixiePlanner]

I have made these for DD. Has saved us a ton of $$!

Use 1/4-inch diameter dowels to wrap the ribbons around. The dowels must be short enough that they will fit into the oven. For best results, use grosgrain ribbons of any width according to your desired result.

Attach one end of the ribbon to one end of the dowel with a clothespin. Wrap the ribbon around the dowel carefully, making sure the ribbon is straight, even and not twisted as you wrap. Wrap until the entire dowel is covered with wrapped ribbon, cut the ribbon, and secure this end with another clothespin.

Place the wrapped dowels onto a clean baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees F for approximately 25 minutes. Monitor the baking process carefully. Your kitchen will smell like a dryer. Remove from the oven, allow to cool and carefully slide the ribbons from the dowels.

FYI, I used bamboo skewers with the tiny "baby" size ribbon. Very tight curl but cute as an accent.

 

[figment41]

Do you have to soak the skewers or dowels so they don't catch fire or is the heat low enough not to have to worry??

Thanks I am so excited to try this and I am going to try to make the tutus also.

 

[thebeesknees]

Heat is low enough I've never had a problem with scorching on the dowels. Have fun! It gets addicting!

 

[minniebeth]

Awesome!! Thank you so much for posting this! My DD LOVES hair ribbons and this will save a ton of $ on hair accessories!
I'm not so crafty when it comes to these things though, so...do you mind me asking how you all attach the ribbons to the barrettes when they are done being curled?
Thanks so much!

 

[figment41]

Nothing says crafty like a GLUE GUN.

That is what I will be using I don't if there is an easier way though. If your child has very fine hair you can add apiece of thin felt and it will stay in their hair better

 

[disneymarie]

Any one have pictures.
Do they look like the curls on Bday package wrap?

 

[tadamom]

I've never used the vinegar but when I finish mine I spray Aileen's craft ribbon spray on them.

http://www.ilovetocreate.com/Produc...6cd585&c=3c24986f-4b11-4c00-8ccd-32c28f089b61

 

[thebeesknees]

This may sound funny, but I use a spaghetti spoon (claw? whatever it's called!) to make my bows. I put a piece of dental floss across the bottom the spoon, extending well beyond the sides. Then, I lay the ribbons I want to use in the spoon and tie the dental floss in a VERY tight knot to hold them together. Then I can tie it (with the long ends of the floss) onto a barrette. I use hot glue to position the bow at the ends of the barrette to make sure it's completely covered. The floss holds it in place as I glue it. If you use enough ribbon, you can't even see the knot you made to hold it all together.

 

[mama2mulan]

I love making hair bows for my daughter! I use the instructions for all different kinds of bows from two different sources.

One is Girly Things. http://www.girlythingsbows.com/korker_bows.html
They have written instructions for every bow know to man.

And the other is a youtube video from Hairhardware.
http://www.youtube.com/user/HairHardware?view=videos
She has a bunch of different instructions for you to watch. It is nice to see someone actually do it while describing it.

I hope this helps. But be careful it becomes addicting after a while.

Julie
Me DH DD(7) "the tomboy who won't wear bows" DD(5) "the bow addicted princess"

 

[mama2mulan]

This may sound funny, but I use a spaghetti spoon (claw? whatever it's called!) to make my bows. I put a piece of dental floss across the bottom the spoon, extending well beyond the sides. Then, I lay the ribbons I want to use in the spoon and tie the dental floss in a VERY tight knot to hold them together. Then I can tie it (with the long ends of the floss) onto a barrette. I use hot glue to position the bow at the ends of the barrette to make sure it's completely covered. The floss holds it in place as I glue it. If you use enough ribbon, you can't even see the knot you made to hold it all together.

This is a brilliant idea!
I use a hair clip like the ones used by the hairdresser but I bet this works equally as well. I'm off to dig around my utensil drawer and try it out. Thanks for the tip.

 

[heathies2]

Ok so I was standing in Michaels looking at all the 1000's of ribbons and did not find one titled Grossgrain.


Is this normal ribbon that you find in the fabric store? Please help!

 

[NotUrsula]

It's Grosgrain (grow-grain). This is the less dressy-looking fabric ribbon that has a slight horizontal ribbing pattern on it; you can feel the ribs if you run your fingernail down the ribbon.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Ok so I was standing in Michaels looking at all the 1000's of ribbons and did not find one titled Grossgrain.


Is this normal ribbon that you find in the fabric store? Please help!

look online, search grossgrain bows or some variation. I really like ribbonandbowsohmy,tabbywabbyribbons, and ribbonunlimited. I can't remember which one but one of them has cute disney ribbon. Ebay has a store oh my gosh goodies that is very good as well. I order mine online and find good quality at better prices, many places will sell kits that match up the ribbon for you. I usually get 3-4 times the yardage for a good price. You can also purchase hardware like hairbands, clips, and headbands are great prices too much much better than Michaels prices. In fact I stoppe buying hair bands anywhere else! I can get 50 hairbands for around $4-6 or less, that would cost a small fortune at Target!

 

[heathies2]

Thank you everyone. I have started the addiction!

 

[santa's surpriz]

Thank you everyone. I have started the addiction!

great and yes it is addictive! now I can officially welcome you to the "I spent how much club?" !! It adds up quickly!

 

[squirrel]

Does anybody remember the thread a while back with all the neat Disney characters made out of ribbon? They were made into barrettes.

I forgot to write down the instructions and want to make Stitch for my niece.