Pleasing Little Miss Independence

I was about to design a bow for my daughter to wear for our Fourth of July celebrations, but now that she is 6 (going on 20) I figured I’d better consult with Little Miss Independence first to avoid one of those last-minute battles.  (You know the ones that start 30 seconds before you’re scheduled to walk out the door?  Good times.)

Anyway, I was lucky enough to find an adorable Bandanna Print Hanna Andersson dress on eBay that we both love for the holiday… whew!  After careful consideration, she requested a woven headband incorporating all the dress colors, and decorated with some pre-made red velvet flowers she found in my embellishment stash.  “Hmm…” I said, “I don’t usually use velvet in the summer”.  “Mom, they’re a perfect match!” And so they are (aside from being velvet).  So we embarked on the creation of a mutually acceptable, made-to-match, woven headband.

We settled on solid Navy and Capri ribbons, as they are the primary colors in the dress, along with a patriotic Red, White and Navy stripe – perfect for the holiday.  The completed weave came out pretty, though a little busy, so I tried to talk her out of the red flowers once again.  Since she would not hear of it, I decided to clump them all together rather than spread them out.  The end product is pretty cute and by some miracle – pleased both of us!  “It doesn’t even look like you made it!” she said, thrilled.  (This was supposed to be a compliment.)

Not sure how to make woven headbands?  I’m a do-it-yourselfer by nature and I typically figure out how to make things through trial-and-error, but woven headbands had me totally stumped.  I bought #1 Woven Headband Instructions from Devon at NoBowNoGo.com over a year ago, and was very pleased with her comprehensive and detailed directions as well as the many different weave patterns she outlines.  If you plan to make more than a couple, her instructions are well worth the modest price, and I highly recommend them.  I’ve been making these for my daughter, friends and customers for over a year and they are always a hit.

Wishing you and your family a peaceful Independence Day weekend!

7/5 UPDATE: I whipped up a pair of matching flops at the last minute.  What a fun outfit!

No Perfect Color Match?

Lots of designers are happy working with a limited palette and using the best color that they have on hand for their accessories.  This is a perfectly rational approach.  For better or worse, I am just not wired that way.  I want my custom, made-to-match accessories to really match.  I will go to great lengths to achieve this.  From a business perspective, you need to weigh your approach: customers love perfection, but how much are they willing to pay for it?  I often spend way too much time hunting down the just-right ric-rac and perfect embroidery floss – time I will never be adequately compensated for.  Find the right balance for you and your customers.  If you are crafting for yourself – your opinion is the only one that matters – anything goes!

I love a true color match, but it isn’t always easy, so here are some tricks to consider:

• First, check both Schiff and Offray brand grosgrain for a close match.  Don’t forget to check out their retired colors, many are still readily available through resellers.  (Tip: If you only stock one brand, at least buy a color chart for the opposite brand, so that you can compare the colors and find the best alternative within your stock).
• Check stripes, prints and dots if there isn’t a perfect solid.
• If you are insistent on grosgrain, consider one that isn’t 100% polyester.  Schiff makes grosgrain ribbon in a Rayon/Cotton blend (their Pattern #705) that is available in different shades.  Keep in mind, though, that these grosgrains have more sheen, and perform differently, too.  For example, you cannot use heat to seal them (they don’t melt like polyester) and they do not hold up as well to water.  They are still a good choice for, say, a bow center.
• Try taffeta, velvet or ruffle ribbon if grosgrains fail you.
• Try other trims to bring in the difficult color – ric-rac, lace, rosettes, buttons, flowers, marabou, heat transfers and other embellishments often do the trick.  (Stick to items intended for apparel, as these will meet flammability regulations.)
• Consider buying another item in the same or similar fabric as your outfit, and using the fabric in your accessory design.

When all else fails:

• Use a few similar shades next to each other, so that visually they produce the desired color effect.
• Layer a sheer ribbon over a grosgrain (appropriate for dressier designs).
• Limit the difficult color to only a small portion of the product if no good match is found (like the center knot on a bow).
• If debating between two close, but not perfect colors, go with the more muted, or softer color.  A color that is close but too bright/harsh will tend to clash or stand out, while a softer color is more likely to blend, and the imperfect match go unnoticed.

See a few examples of these techniques below:

Free Hair Bow Instructions Now Available

Want to try your hand at making my popular Posh style hair bow?  My free instructions are now available for download in a new e-book tutorial.  Everything you need to know to make this bow in four different sizes is included!  Just click on the image below to download the .pdf file.  This pretty, classic bow is so easy and versatile, you will be creating your own variations in no time!

While I’ve been making bows forever, this is my first attempt at writing instructions so please let me know what you think.  I plan to write several more and would love to incorporate your suggestions into future efforts, so don’t hold back!

click e-book image to download .pdf

Ribbon Flowers for Easter

I thought I’d post the ribbon flower clips I’ve made to match my daughter’s Easter dress. The outfit is from Janie and Jack’s 2008 Sweet Coral Reef collection, which I managed to catch on clearance. I picked up a cheap straw hat, removed the minimal embellishments it came with, and replaced them with my own. I wrapped and hot glued a 7/8” grosgrain ribbon around the hat and clipped on two grosgrain flowers, which are attached to alligator clips. This way, she can wear the flowers on the hat, and when we remove the hat, she can wear the flowers in her hair (though they also look cute clipped to her sweater!).

I made these flowers with two layers each: 8 petals on the bottom layer, and 6 petals on the top layer. The larger flower is made with 7/8” wide grosgrain ribbon and measures about 3.5” wide (without leaves). The smaller purple flower is made with 7/8” ribbon for the bottom layer and 5/8” wide ribbon for the top layer, (though I think it may work better if it were all 5/8”, the bottom layer is a little squished). The little purple flower measures about 2.5” wide without the leaves. Attach a couple of ribbon “leaves” to the bottom, glue to a covered alligator clip and get creative with your centers.

Stay tuned for tulips!

How to Make Ribbon Rose Accessories

I’ve recently been making ribbon flowers. It started with the daisies I made to match Gymboree’s Daisy Days collection. Fun! That got me thinking about how prevalent floral prints are in children’s apparel (especially our pretty Hannas!) and I figured I should learn to make more types of flowers. When a client asked me to make a bow to match a sweet blue floral dress, I jumped at the chance to experiment with roses. Here’s what I came up with:And here’s what I learned. There are tons of free “how to make a ribbon rose” instructions on the web, so I have no intention of rewriting them. I found at least three distinctly different approaches. I tried two of them so far.

Tip: Tack Layers for Easy Assembly

Tip: Try a Rotary Cutter

If you’re making lots of bows, consider switching from cutting your ribbon with scissors to using a rotary cutter instead. It makes quick and easy work of cutting ribbon to the exact length for your hair accessory projects. You will require a cutting mat when using a rotary cutter, but both are easily found in sewing and craft shops (and if you use a coupon or catch a sale, you can get them for a song). Here’s what you should know:

• Rotary cutters are basically a razor blade wheel with a handle. You can easily replace the blades when they dull, and they generally last a good while. There are simple and deluxe (ergonomic) models – I have found that they all seem to do the job well, so buy what suits you. If you want to try one out before buying, you might ask a sewing or quilting enthusiast – rotary cutters are a must for quilters!
• I use a 24″ wide self-healing cutting mat in my studio. I recently had to replace a mat that was not self-healing, as ruts formed along my favorite cutting paths and I could no longer get a clean cut. I have been using a smaller self-healing “travel” mat for well over a year now and have not had that problem.

So give it a try – I think you will like it, and post any related thoughts/tips/advice/questions here!

Tip: Heat Transfers

Discover the magic of heat transfers for unique and personalized bows, like this one M2M Janie and Jack’s Little Paris collection. You can use iron-on heat transfer paper to add your own graphics, text or photos to ribbon. Find the transfer paper in your local craft store or online, and choose ink jet or laser printer transfer paper based on the type of printer you’re using, and light or dark based on the shade of ribbon you’re using. Then print your favorite graphics, text or photos from your computer onto the transfer paper following the package instructions. Be sure the printed size will work with the ribbon you are using. Then iron the images onto your ribbon and create a unique bow! Be sure to trim away as much “blank space” from your design as possible before ironing to avoid excessive stiffening of the ribbon. Follow package instructions and expect to do a little experimentation before mastering the process. More examples:

Tip: The Forgotten Fold

Most bow instructions focus on how to create the bow loops, and leave out the importance of the fold. After forming your loops, and before tying, sewing or wiring your bow, don’t just cinch it in the center – carefully fan-fold it for a tidy, symmetrical bow. Experiment with your fan-folds ending up (facing you) or down (facing the clip) for different affects. This will also decrease the height of the bow center, which is important when you are stacking multiple layers.

Made to Match Miracles!

Here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind when making great Made to Match (M2M) hair bows:

• Stock both Schiff and Offray brand grosgrain ribbons for the widest possible color selection. I also pick up additional random ribbons whenever I see a unique color – you never know when it may turn out to be just the thing you’re looking for!
• Match ribbons to clothing in person and in natural light whenever possible.
• When matching a collection (such as a Gymboree or Janie and Jack line), remember that there is often variation of color between fabric types i.e. the raspberry velour may be a slightly different shade than the raspberry cords! Know what outfits you’re matching, and standardize on the color of tops (as opposed to pants and skirts), as they will be closest to the bows.
• Sometimes there is no exact match. In this case, I recommend going with the more muted ribbon color option rather than the brighter option, as it is less likely to appear to “clash”. Another solution is to limit the bad match to minimal accents (consider the center knot). You can also look for ric-rac and other notions/embellishments to incorporate the right color.
• Be sure to match embellishments whenever possible, as using charms, rhinestones, crystals, embroidery, ric- rac, etc. that appears in the clothing to fully customize the hair accessories. They will stand out as spectacular!
• Don’t just match the colors, match the style and personality of the outfit. Consider a modest design for a demure, classic Janie and Jack look, or large, fun bows packed with texture and color for a OOAK custom boutique outfit with spunk!
• If you know the girl you are designing for, consider all of the above, but also keep in mind her personality, activities, and demeanor. Your bows will be beautiful, but they should complement her!

I’d love to hear any additional thoughts from bow-makers, new or experienced! Have fun bowing!

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