How to Make Baby Hair Bows

No matter the age of a baby, parents may feel that a tiny hair ornament is the perfect accessory to dress up an outfit. Knowing how to make a baby bow means your child can accessorize with a hair bow to match every outfit.

Simple Ribbon Hair Bow

1. Cut 2 3-inch (7.62 cm) lengths of 1-inch (2.54 cm) wide ribbon; for a good effect, use 2 different but related ribbons. For example, you might use 2 pink ribbons - one with white polka dots and one with small stripes. Cut a 3-inch length of a complementary 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) wide ribbon.
2. Make a loop of one of the wider ribbons, overlapping and gluing the ends. Repeat for the second 1-inch wide ribbon.
3. Stack the ribbon loops on top of one another, holding them flat in the middle. Wrap a small rubber band around the center of the stack.
4. Cover the rubber band with the 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) wide ribbon, gluing the overlapped ends. Trim off any extra length.
5. Glue a hook-and-loop tape tab to the back of the ribbon.

1. Cut 6 to 8 lengths of 1/4-inch (0.64 cm) ribbon, 2 inches (5.1 cm) long.
2. Hold the ribbons at their centers. Spread them slightly so that they form a circle.
3. Wrap a piece of jewelry wire around the center to hold the ribbons in place.
4. Cover the wire with a small piece of ribbon, gluing the overlapped ends.
5. Glue a hook-and-loop tape tab to the back of the ribbon.

1. Cut a circle with a 2-inch (5.1 cm) diameter from an empty cereal box or from the lid of an empty margarine tub. This will be your yo-yo pattern.
2. Trace your pattern onto the back of a piece of fabric. Cut out the circle.
3. Fold 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) to the wrong side of the fabric all around the circle, finger-pressing as you go. If this is awkward, fold the edges and pin them; then iron the fold lightly.
4. Run a basting stitch around the folded fabric, catching only that narrow edge.
5. Pull the thread to gather the circle tightly.
6. Flatten the resulting pouch so that the gathered edges are at the center.
7. Add some French knots to the smooth side of the yo-yo as flower centers.
8. Glue a hook-and-loop tape tab to the back of the yo-yo.

• If your baby does not have enough hair for the tape tabs to hold, try a super-concentrated drop of sugar water on her head. Unless the bow is especially heavy, this will usually hold.
• Another alternative is to stitch the bow to a piece of colored elastic to make a headband. Cut a commercial elastic hair band down to fit your baby's head and whipstitch the ends together. Or, make a casing from ribbon and thread flat elastic through to make a band.

• 1-inch wide ribbon
• 1/2-inch wide ribbon
• Rubber band
• Hook-and-loop tape tab
• 1/4-inch wide ribbon
• Jewelry wire
• Empty cereal box or margarine tub lid
• Fabric
• Needle
• Thread
• Embroidery floss