Make Dog Bows

You can learn how to make dog bows that are freestanding and use simple fasteners such as latex rubber bands or a child's hair holder.

Basic designs can be adapted for different widths of ribbon and glued or sewn onto each other to make attractive bows that your doggie will be proud to wear!

Designs shown below are the Flatbow, Bow Tie, Pansy and Rosebud.

Are you ready to make dog bows? Then let's go!
(Comet says, "I'll just watch, thank you. Don't put any of those on me!")

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FLAT BOW DESIGN

ESTIMATED TIME

  • Less than 3 minutes for each layer
MATERIALS
  • Ribbon that is twice as long as each layer of your bow (see * under Instructions below)
  • Fabric glue
  • Marking pen or chalk
  • Small piece of cardboard (optional)
ESTIMATED COST
  • Between USD 0.00 and USD 2.00
INSTRUCTIONS
  • Fold your piece of ribbon in half and mark the center line
  • Turn the ribbon so the wrong side is facing up
  • Put a thin line of glue down the center line
  • Fold each end of the ribbon to the center and glue it down
Optional:
1. Use an iron to crease the lines before you use the glue
2. Glue a small piece of cardboard to the middle area and then glue your ribbon ends onto that. Make sure the ribbon covers the cardboard. This will give your bow a little backbone

  • Glue several layers on top of each other to make your final bow
  • *Successively shorter flat bow pieces will give a ruffle effect
  • *Narrower pieces on top of wider pieces give a different effect
  • Glue an ornament on top of the final piece
  • (The Basic Rosebud Design below shows how to make an ornament out of ribbon)
  • Sew a latex rubber band (or hair holder) to the center underside of the bow
Well, you're done! Want some more ways to learn how to make dog bows? Read on...

BOW TIE DESIGN

ESTIMATED TIME

  • Less than 5 minutes
MATERIALS
  • The dimensions given below are what we had available - feel free to experiment with your own sizes
  • 5 1/2 x 1 1/ 2 inch (140x38mm) ribbon
  • Needle and thread
  • Note: Thread need not match ribbon if you're going to glue another design or ornament over it
ESTIMATED COST
  • Between USD 0.00 and USD 2.00
INSTRUCTIONS
  • Follow the instructions above to make a flat bow
  • When the glue is dry, take a threaded needle and wrap around/sew through the center several times
  • There's your bow tie!

PANSY DESIGN

We suggest you read the instructions before you start because different options are presented:

ESTIMATED TIME

  • Less than 5 minutes
MATERIALS
  • Again, you can use what ribbon you have or what you think will look good
  • 3.5 inches of 3/4 inch (88x19mm) ribbon
  • Needle and thread
ESTIMATED COST
  • Between USD 0.00 and USD 2.00
INSTRUCTIONS
  • Start about 1/8 inch (3 or 4mm) from one of the long edges
  • Do an even running stitch about 1/8 inch (3mm) long
  • You will get a somewhat different effect if your stitches are 1/4 inch (6mm) long
  • Or you can alternate short and long stitches to create another look
  • Leave at least 3 inches of loose thread on each end
  • When done, pull on both thread ends at once
  • Your ribbon should bunch up and form 3/4 of a circle
  • Tie the two ends of thread together in a knot and cut off the rest
  • You've made a pansy!
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ROSEBUD DESIGN

This one can be a little trickier so take your time.

ESTIMATED TIME

  • About 10 minutes
MATERIALS
  • 4 1/2 x 3/8 inch (115x9mm) ribbon
  • Needle and thread
ESTIMATED COST
  • Between USD 0.00 and USD 2.00
INSTRUCTIONS
  • Anchor your thread through one end of the ribbon
  • Hold this end in one hand while you twist the ribbon with the other
  • Twist enough so the wrong side of the ribbon gets covered up
  • Keeping even tension and the twist, start wrapping the ribbon tightly in a spiral around the end you're holding
  • Sew through the middle of the ribbon to hold this wrap
  • Wrap another section of twisted ribbon and sew through
  • Keep adding until you're done. Secure your thread
  • Note: If any parts are sticking out, you may be able to sew them back down
It might take a few tries to get this one the way you want it, so don't give up. Just walk away if it gets too frustrating and come back when you don't feel like hacking it into pieces! Jo had to restart hers several times to get the hang of it

Now that you have some basic design patterns, you can experiment and make dog bows in different combinations, at different angles, etc. Go wild - you may surprise yourself!

Did you know you can also make your own ribbon from scrap cloth so you can match your doggie's bows to his or her clothes?Or that besides the designs on this Make Dog Bows page, you can put bows on barrettes? Just go to Learn How To Make Dog Bows

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