How To Draw A Cheer Bow

I love a good craft,*and lately I've been all about making bows. So, I decided my daughter's team needed behemothic cheer bows. And, considering I've learned the importance of research when it comes to hand-making stuff, (seriously, y'all can salvage loads of cash with a simple google search) I tried to observe out how to make the perfect cheer bow.

Well, I ended up at the yellaribbon site. Get information technology? Cheerleaders yell—so they wear yellaribbons? I'm non going to lie… I love a good play on words. They have the ultimate cheer bows in that location. They're sparkly, shiny, and sure to give your girls 1000% more pep.** Y'all can see my favorite one hither. I did an internet search for "how to make a yella ribbon" and when that didn't turn up anything… I realized I was going to have to teach myself. Now I know how to brand the cutest cheer bow ever, and I wrote up this little tutorial (aside: did you know they call them "tuts" on craft sites? Why practise I hate that and then much?) and you will too.

***Don't forget to click the pictures to see a larger version***

Why yes, yep internet–I am aware that my daughter looks like a tiny dazzler queen hither, but she really loves cheering… and then I just pretend not to notice.

Start, nosotros demand to cut the ribbon.

Now, it's time to sew the ribbon together.

Don't put the ribbons on top of each other. Instead, lay them side by side and utilise a piddling zig sag stitch to catch the edges of both ribbons. Yous'll have to play with your auto a bit to come across which setting is best, only I had mine set at 1.5 for both settings. This step isn't an absolute necessity, but these are cheer bows, and the terminal thing you desire is for them to break apart mid-competition.

Don't worry that they'll be all wonky looking when you're finished.

Merely attempt to keep the stitch as straight equally you can and grab both ribbons. Information technology doesn't have to be perfect–we'll comprehend the front part with fabric later–merely the stitch will bear witness on the back of your bow, so don't go crazy or anything.***

Iron your new giant ribbon.

This is my favorite part–which is weird, considering commonly I hate ironing.

Okay at present information technology's time to add the awesome.

Lay out the super shiny material you've chosen for your cheer bow.

(Hint: most cheerleading compatible companies utilize Mystique Spandex**** on their uniforms- and so if you tin't observe something to match at a craft store, y'all tin probably detect an exact lucifer online.)

At present, you take two choices here, you tin either iron Estrus'north Bond Strips to the dorsum of your spandex and cut them out, or you tin iron a big piece of Rut'n Bond and and then cut out the strips.

I suck at the rotary then I needed the guide the pre-cut strips provided for me–but you tin can practice it either mode.

Lay them down on the back of your shiny material and fe them on.

Now yous only have to cutting out the strips. (I did several at a fourth dimension then I didn't waste a lot of material.)

(Don't panic, I didn't turn into a dude or anything–he'south only better at cutting direct lines than I am.)

It'southward time to iron on the strips.

Y'all don't want to put your iron directly on the spandex, it might melt. And then use a towel or cheesecloth in between. Information technology doesn't accept to be fancy–you lot're just trying to keep the fabric from ruining.

Practice them ane at a time!

And do it a piffling piece at a time because spandex stretches when it's hot–it likewise gets Mode hot super fast, and so BE CAREFUL! When you're done with i side, it should wait like this:

At present, you tin can flip it over and iron the heck out of it.

I had my fe set to cotton fiber, and it worked just fine–even with the ribbon that had the ironed on dots. Yous want to brand sure it sticks really practiced, because in a infinitesimal we're going to be squishing things matter all over the place, and you don't want it to come apart.

Cutting the ends into fish tails.

I recommend folding information technology over similar this:

And cutting at a diagonal.

They should come out pretty even.

Run a lighter along the edges to prevent fraying. I've tried several different methods (fray cheque, wood burner, etc.) merely I always get back to the lighter. Just be conscientious not to cook your spandex besides much.

At present, fold your ribbon in half and put a dot in the very middle with a pen or a marker.

Only be careful not to let it drain likewise much. (My fingers look crazy weird in this flick–what gives?)

Nosotros're going to use a template to make the loops, but y'all don't have to.

These are so easy to make. Merely take a piece of cardstock and cut information technology to 7″ 10 x″ then cut a tiny strip in the middle. It just has to exist large enough for you to meet the dot you made.

Now, fold the ribbon over and slide information technology off the template.

One time you've done that, squish your ribbon together.

At present, when we put the zip necktie on, it already has a memory of how it's supposed to wait.

Wrap a zip tie effectually the eye and pull it half way tight.

Leave enough room then you tin movement the ribbon around to shape the bow. If you mess it upwards, simply cut off the goose egg tie and start all over.

Once you take the bow looking exactly how you want information technology to, employ pliers to pull it super tight.

Brand sure the big role ends upward on the back of your bow, toward the bottom–that style it won't evidence through anywhere.

Cutting the end of the zip tie.

This is what your bow is going to look like, so if yous don't similar the shape, then don't employ any glue until you're satisfied.

At present, we need to hot glue the ponytail holder.

Now, accept near iv inches of 7/eight″ ribbon.

Heat seal the ends and tie a little knot in the center.

Hot glue the heart knot to the front of the bow.

I e'er do this office first so I don't accept to worry about the knot catastrophe up at the incorrect spot on the bow.

Utilize as much hot gum as you lot can without information technology squirting out the sides and making a large mess to wrap the ribbon around the bow.

Do the lesser first, then the top–that way you won't accept the edges sticking out of the height of the bow–it will be on the lower back where no ane can see information technology.

Hither's the finished bow!

Don't forget to make some for the rest of the team–you don't want your daughter to be the just one with a totally awesome super cute cheer bow, now do you?