12 minute hair bow…

I know you have an old sweater lingering around somewhere that you don’t wear anymore (for various reasons) and it still just sits.
Am I right? Please tell me I’m right.
If not, go make a run to the thrift store and grab one on the cheap. Anyway, there are about a bajillion things you can do with that old sweater instead of letting it just take up room in your drawer.

Here is one…
The 12 minute hair bow
”What?” you say. Yep, 12 minutes. The time it takes you to pick up the mail or bake a batch of cookies.
12 minutes…that’s nothin’.

you will need:
scraps of sweater
thread
sewing machine
stretchy headband
gluegun

Okay,no more business…let’s get to it!

I cut a scrap about 5 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches
(it can be any size you wish)

I placed right sides together and sewed 1/4 inch seam around 3 of the 4 edges

then I turned it right side out, folded down the open edge (into the center of your now sewn together pieces of fabric) and top stitched 1/4 inch seam around the outside.

Here is a view of two bows I made today to show you how different your bow’s sizes can be.
(from the cutting step to your now sewn together step you’ve used about 7 minutes)

Then I put a dab of glue in the center and pinched like so…

Another dab of glue on the backside and folded the flap down…

repeat for the other side…

Then the tiny bit of fabric you have on the edge…where the seam is…dab one more bit of glue and pinch that back up towards you to finish off the bow.

and repeat for the other side… and there you have your bow. Way to go! You’re almost done!
(You’ve just used 1 minute to glue and pinch your bow)

You will need one more scrap for the tie that measures approximately 3 inches by 2 inches. Like this…

Put a small line of glue down the center on the wrong side and fold the top over to glue down. (about 1/2 inch is folded over)

Then repeat with the remaining side…glue and fold over.
(you’ve just used 1 minute to cut and glue your tie)

Now we just have to finish off your bow. Place a dab of glue on in the center of the top of your bow and glue (folded side down) your tie to the center.

Glue it around the back side so it will stay put.

View from the back side…

Clip any remaining fabric and repeat with the other side of the tie until the back of your bow looks like this…

Then the front of your bow should look something like this…
(only taking 2 minutes to glue the tie to the bow)

Now take your stretchy headband and finished bow…

Place another dab of glue on the back of your bow and glue the stretchy headband to it…

Here’s your final step: Cut a small piece of fabric, just big enough to cover the underside of your bow. Glue it over the headband and on to the back of the bow to secure them all together.

There you go…
(you only used 1 more minute to finish off your hair bow)

Now you have yourself a new headband…OR

you can share one with a littler lover of bows…

What a great use of 12 minutes!
If you think you are NOT crafty, or you have NO sewing skills whatsoever, or even if you do…try this out.
You can do it!
I had NO IDEA how to use my sewing machine a couple years ago…okay, I knew how to turn it on and sew a straight line.
But that is IT!
Do you know how I learned?
I read the manual and I TRIED…that’s it.
So if I can do it…you can do it.
I promise.