Bibbidy-bobbidy-bow

I managed to throw out a tutorial about all of it–except for the bow.

But that happens now, my friends.  Right this very moment of blogging history now.

Here’s a pic of the bow on a box.

Let me happily inform you that the bow doesn’t have to be made out of felted wool. Importantly, you should notice that the knot and the middle of the bow are substantial.  Yes, substantial–as in not delicate. (It needed to be a sturdy outside bow.) If you want to use paper (which makes for a cute bow on a gift) instead of material, I would suggest modifying the measurements.  I’ll show you what I mean. In a minute.

Because it was a fairly big bow, I decided to add non-fusible pellon to each piece for support.  I stitched around the edges to secure the pellon to the fabric.

Also, I didn’t use a pattern which will immediately explain why the pieces are not cut to perfection.  Free-hand.  Free-cut.  Amen.

Those are the width and height measurements.

Cut the pieces out and assemble them.

Place the two bow ends on the longest piece.  Attach them.  (I sewed mine on–I’m sure you could use glue.)

Wrap the knot piece around the middle and attach it as well.

At the last minute, I added a piece of fabric to the back of the bow.

Tun-tiddley-tun-tah!

The bow, the bow, the beautiful bow.

Except for this.

When I went back and read the instructions I was confused.

[And I’m the one that made the thing.]

So here’s another attempt.

[I don’t have the foggiest idea how to make a template that’s available for you to print and use.  That is some kind of technological wizard magical-ness.  If the mc-magical-ness is somehow revealed to me, I will quickly share.]

Cut out 4 rectangles from your paper/material. These are the measurements I figured out.  (After you have the general idea, you will be able to make various sizes of patterns.)

1–9 1/2″ x 3 1/4″
2–9 1/2″ x 3 1/4″
3–10 1/2″ x 3 1/2″
4–4 3/4″ x 1 3/4″

The first and second pieces are identical.

For the sake of this little demonstration, I will cut out the pieces in different colors.

For a real and true bow, all four pieces would be the same color/pattern.

[Unless you didn’t want them to be the same–you’re the boss.]

Once you do make a pattern, put it in a file somewhere with other patterns you find online for easy reference. It works for me.

Here’s how to make the pattern for the top two bow pieces.

Grab a piece of paper and cut it to the 9 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ measurements.

[You don’t want to use your paper for the actual bow on this piece unless you want a folded smashed looking edge on your bow instead of a rounded lovely edge.] 

Fold the piece of paper in half.

It should now look like a 5 1/4″ x 3 1/4″ piece of paper.  If it doesn’t look like that, just fold it the other way. 

Mark the fold.  (You don’t want to cut on the fold for this pattern piece.)

[I am aware that the dotted lines look more like inebriated caterpillar tracks than dotted lines.  Marvel at them.  Look at them in wonder.  Just don’t be a meanie-head about them.]

Place the ruler somewhere in the middle at the edges opposite the fold.  Eyeball it.  (You get better at doing that the more you practice.)

Mark your points.  (They will be 7/8″ apart OR 1 3/4″ apart depending on which bow you’re making.)

Using a straightedge, draw a line from the left folded edge corner to the left point.  Same thing on the other side.

Easy, huh?

Now cut on the two lines and unfold the paper.  Your pattern piece should look a lot like the top two pieces in this photo.

[If it doesn’t, just turn on your favorite song and boogie in the kitchen.  Or eat chocolate, I guess. Whatever you do, please try the pattern again.]

Use your pattern to cut out two pieces.  Set those aside.

Here’s how to make the pattern for the tail part of the bow (the third piece in the photo).

You don’t need to grab a piece of paper for this one–we welcome a fold–it will be hidden when we’re done.

Mark two points on the fold using a ruler–or eyeball it.  The points will be 7/8″ apart OR 1 3/4″ apart depending on which bow you’re making.

Using a straightedge, draw a line from the left folded edge point to the left corner.  Same thing on the other side.

Now–look at this next photo and see if it makes any sense to you.

You want to find a central point.  I measured 1 1/2″ up from the edge opposite the fold, and 1 3/4″ from each side–that’s my center point.

Use a straight edge to draw a line from that point to each corner. 

Now cut on the lines and unfold the paper. 

Voila!  That is the tail of your bow.

The pieces are now officially done–you should have four: the two bow ends, the tail, and the knot.

Put them together (using tape, glue, or spit)…

[Not really the spit part.  Just wanted to see who’s reading this stuff.]

…and what have you got?

Bibbidy-bobbidy-bow.

If you have questions please ask them.  I am an answering monster.

And now let us bid adieu to the longest living blog post in the history of seriously.