Small Layered Bow Tutorial

This is a pretty simple bow to make...once you get the hang of it :) You will get frustrated if this is your first time but don't give up you can do it, I promise :)

I used 4 different colors and sizes of ribbon
1 alligator clip
string or thread
Hot glue gun
scissors
lighter

I cut my first ribbon at 27 inches

 I fold the cut ribbon in half and mark my center with a pencil.

Take one end of the ribbon and bring to the center line you marked so that it looks like this

Do the same to the other end. You will have now made a figure 8 with your ribbon.

Take the top of the figure 8 and bring it into the center. Make sure it is centered. 

Do the same with the other end. 

Here is the tricky part. You may end up doing this step about 2985692385629835280 and want to pull your hair out! The easiest way to explain this is pinch the middle together. lol

Okay try this...it works for me. Place your pointer finger in the middle pressing down kind of hard so that the bow doesn't move. Then use your thumb and middle finger to pinch. 

Thumb and middle finger in action!!

So you have the ribbon in between your fingers...good job. Previous to starting I cut  some thread that I will use to tie my ribbon with. So just make sure you cut some thread or string and have it ready to use.

DON'T LET GO OF THE PINCH TO TIE THE STRING!!

Use your free hand to shimmy the thread between your fingers. Loop it around the center pinch twice before knotting. Now I use my free hand and my mouth to do this step. Maybe it will work for you too! :)

Pinch is tied now cut the extra string off

Ribbon #2 

I cut the 2nd ribbon at 8 inches 

Ribbon #3 

Cut at 8 inches as well

I have laid the ribbon out and stacked it they way I think looks best.

Once again I am going to pinch the center and tie it up.

Tied the pinch and cut the extra thread.

Place a nice drop of hot glue on the middle of ribbon 2 and 3 and place our bow on top

I had some leftover korkers laying around thought I'd add to the top of my bow

I hot glued the korkers to the top bow

I cut a 5 inch piece of ribbon and tied a knot. This ribbon will hold all of our bow together 

Put a small drop of hot glue in the center and place knot. Don't cut the tails of the knot we will use them in a few.

I have a naked alligator clip that I am going to cover in ribbon and hot glue to the bottom side of the bow.

My clip is covered and glued and now I am going to glue down the tails of the knot. Pinch open the clip and glue the tails of the knot

Cut any extra ribbon from the knot tail and heat seal with your lighter.

We are ALMOST DONE!!! YAY! 

To cut the tails of the bow. I usually eye ball it and cut them down to where think it looks best. You don't want them too long though it will look silly :) Cut in a "V" shape 

Cut all tails and heat seal with lighter. I like to finish my bows off with Stiffen Stuff. It is a fabric stiffener it is pretty amazing you can find it at Hobby Lobby in the stencil and gorilla glue section. Only about $7 and it keeps your bows from flopping over and wrinkling :)

You did good!!!!! Enjoy your bow.

 :)