If you’re anything like me, you have a growing pile of fabric scraps just waiting to be transformed into something beautiful and useful. Instead of letting those little pieces go to waste, why not turn them into adorable sailor bow hair clips? Not only are they a fun way to use up your fabric remnants, but they also make for cute, customizable accessories that you can wear or gift to friends and family.
In this blog post, I’ll show you how to make easy fabric hair bow clips using your fabric scraps. Let’s get creative and turn those leftover pieces into something fabulous!
What You’ll Need:
- Fabric Scraps: Any fabric you have lying around will work! Quilting cotton, felt, denim, or even t-shirt fabric are great options.
- Hair Clips: You can use alligator clips, barrettes, or snap clips. Choose the size that works best for you or the person you’re making the bows for. I used alligator clips in my project.
- Hot Glue Gun: For securing the fabric to the clip. You can use thread but an inexpensive glue gun will save you a lot of time!
- Fabric Stabilizer (optional): This is especially helpful if you’re using lightweight fabrics and want your bows to hold their shape better.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Fabric Hair Bows
Step 1: Cut Your Fabric Scraps
Start by choosing your fabric scraps and cutting them into rectangles. You will need a main body rectangle and a smaller strip for the center of the bow:
- For 5″ bow: 20″ x 6″ for the main body + 4″ x 2″ for the center strip
- For 4″ bow: 13″ x 4″ for the main body + 3″ x 1.5″ for the center strip.
- You can adjust the size depending on how large or small you want your bow to be.
Step 2: Sew the Fabric Bow for Hair Clip
- Fold the Fabric: Take your larger fabric rectangle and fold it lengthwise.
- Mark Slanted Ends: Measure the same distance from each end on the open edge side and draw a line from the corner of the folded edge to the measured point on the open edge side. Make sure your corner has a small seam allowance.
- Make The Main Bow: Sew along the slant lines and then with 1/4″ allowance along the long edge. Trim allowances and clip in the corners. Make sure you leave a small opening in the center for turning it inside out. If you forget, you can undo a few stitches like I did here! Turn the bow inside out ensuring your edges are sharp and press. You do not need to close the opening – it will be covered by your center strip.
Step 3: Gather The Bow
- Lay the Main Body out as shown in the picture below. Experiment with different placements of the ends! Make sure your center opening is in the center. Since I forgot to leave the opening an unpicked a few stitches here, you can see a little bit of fraying. So please remember to make the opening as you sew!
- Gather In the Center: Start gathering your fabric in the center. As you gather the fabric, make sure it’s not twisted so the bow’s shape remains even and symmetrical.
- Tie the Bow: As you hold the center, wrap several loops of thin yarn or strong thread to hold the shape together. I used very thick polyester marine upholstery thread that I had on hand from another project.
Step 4: Create the Center Strip
Fold the center strip in thirds so that all the edges are not visible from the front and press.
Step 5: Attach Center Strip To Bow
- Position the Center Strip: Lay out the center strip as shown below. Make sure your folds are facing you and are underneath the bow. Measure enough of the end to make your first fold.
- Apply Glue to Center of the Bow: On the backside of the bow, apply glue and fold the strip over once. Hold it in place and let it dry for a few seconds.
- Measure the Remaining Center Strip and Glue: Measure just enough to have a fold and apply glue to the folded edge. Do not squeeze too much glue to prevent it spreading as you apply the bottom section of the center strip.
Step 6: Attach the Bow to the Hair Clip
- Prepare the Clip: Take your hair clip (like an alligator clip or barrette) and determine the best placement based on the shape and size of the bow.
- Apply Glue: Apply a generous amount of hot glue to the clip. Quickly press the bow onto the clip and hold it in place for a few seconds until the glue dries. You can probably sew the bow directly onto the clip, but hot glue is quicker and easier and also more secure.
- Let it Dry: If you used hot glue, let the clip sit for a few minutes to make sure everything dries properly.
Step 7: Repeat and Have Fun!
Now that you’ve made your first bow, it’s time to use up more fabric scraps and create a whole collection of bows in different colors, patterns, and styles. You can mix and match fabrics to create fun combinations, or even make matching bows for outfits or holidays.
Why Make Hair Bows from Fabric Scraps?
Making hair bows from fabric scraps is a great way to:
- Upcycle your leftovers: Instead of throwing away your small fabric pieces, you can turn them into something useful and stylish.
- Create personalized gifts: Homemade hair accessories make great gifts for friends, family, or even for your kids.
- Be creative: You can customize each bow to your liking, experimenting with different fabric textures, colors, and sizes.
- Save money: If you’re in need of hair accessories, making your own is not only cost-effective but also gives you the freedom to match them with any outfit!
Bottom Line
Fabric scrap hair bows are a simple, fun, and functional project that anyone can do – even beginners. Whether you use them for yourself, gift them to someone special, or sell them at a craft fair, they’re a great way to reduce waste and make something beautiful out of fabric scraps. So next time you’re left with small fabric pieces, grab a pair of scissors and get creative with these adorable hair clips!
Happy sewing and upcycling! 🌸
