Way to Bow! » hair accessories

Aug 09 Ribbon Colors Matching Gymboree’s All About Buttons

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:57:50 +0000

If you have a better ribbon color match for Gymboree’s All About Buttons line, please post a comment with your thoughts – I’d be especially thrilled to have an exact match for Gymbo’s Pink Pizzazz and Moss Green! Also, feel free to comment with a link to your M2M All About Buttons hair bows or accessories incorporating these colors – I’d love to see your designs.

Nearly extinct. Add Yours.

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:15:23 +0000

If you make or sell products that are negatively impacted by the CPSIA, like me, you are probably tired of writing to your Congressional representatives blogging, tweeting and generally informing the public of what a disaster the CPSIA is for fans of all things handmade and second-hand. Let’s face it, it sucks to be the bearer of bad news, and it can be exhausting (rather like beating your head against a wall) to interact with public officials. I’m not saying we can abandon all that, but here is a welcome change of venue, courtesy of Colleen Jamison at www.TheNaturalToyBox.com:

Email Colleen (see her website above for contact info, or find her at Twitter: @naturaltoybox) a photo of a product you make, sell or buy (yes, you can participate as a consumer) that cannot survive the CPSIA in its current form and will therefore soon be extinct. Include a paragraph or two (or a link to it) about the impact of the CPSIA on you, your household or your business. Every day, Colleen will feature a soon-to-be-extinct product via Twitter, and the group of products and stories will be compiled as a powerfully moving message to lawmakers and the still largely unaware public.

Please take a few minutes to email Colleen your story and product. I sent her a link to this page.

Here is a photo of one of my formerly best-selling hair bows. Imagine the testing cost for all the various ribbon types in this one bow design. Multiply that by hundreds of designs, most available in three to five different sizes, and each of those available attached to a wide variety of clips, barrettes and pony elastics. The possible iterations are endless. Customization, luxurious detail, and a continually growing product offering (based on seasonal fashion trends) were all hallmarks of my business, and are all reasons it is impossible for me to comply with CPSIA testing, certification and labeling regulations.

This excerpt from my February 2009 letter to President Obama describes my situation:

I have had to close my hair accessory business because testing is simply not an attainable option for a small producer of custom products. Congress has made it painfully clear how expendable and insignificant they consider my plight through their profound lack of response to my repeated requests for CPSIA reform. But I believe my situation is representative of thousands, and worth a closer look.

If family integrity is revered at all, the entrepreneurial efforts of mothers providing their families with needed income while home caring for their children should be valued and encouraged, not ignored, disparaged, or regulated out of existence. And it goes well beyond moms like me, working from home. My local consignment shop, a 26 year old family business, has stopped selling children’s items – previously the largest portion of their sales. I’m afraid to sell my own kids’ outgrown clothing, which typically funds their next year’s wardrobe. Our school district and local library are biting their nails, waiting, hoping for reasonable reform before the stay of enforcement expires. Even many domestic manufacturers far larger than myself can’t afford to comply with testing requirements and are on the brink of collapse. Personally, I have lost my disposable income, and with it, my ability to stimulate the local economy. Multiply these experiences by tens of thousands across the country.

And while businesses hobble along, crippled by the CPSIA, close up completely, or operate unknowingly in violation (risking significant liability) Congress deflects responsibility and plays politics with the CPSC. The complete unwillingness of Democratic lawmakers to even concede there is more to the story than big business vs. children’s safety is excruciatingly disheartening to me as a liberal, forsaken by my own party.

The complete letter is here. A week or two ago (about 4 months after sending this letter to the President) I received a card from the White House in response. It thanked me for communicating with the President, but made clear that no one had read my letter yet, as they are very busy.

Thanks Colleen, for your work to amend the CPSIA. It will obviously require a continued and tireless effort on all our parts.

No Perfect Color Match?

admin — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:48:42 +0000

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:

What do you do when you can’t find the perfect match? I’d love to hear your suggestions!

May 09 Ribbon Colors Matching Gymboree’s Mermaid Magic

admin — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:53:50 +0000

FREE Hair Bow Pattern: M2M Hanna’s Whispering Meadows

admin — Sun, 17 May 2009 13:28:48 +0000

This bow is designed to match the soft, breezy colors of Hanna Andersson's 2009 Whispering Meadows collection. The colors may be sweet, the the size is sassy! This bow is an X-Large (about 6" wide) and looks amazing in a big, high ponytail! Have fun making it, or swapping out ribbons to complement your favorite outfit.

Here’s my pattern:

For the bottom layer, cut 6.5” lengths of each:

White grosgrain 2.25” wide
S Banana dot grosgrain 1.5″ wide
S Pink grosgrain 2.25” wide (cut 2)
S Lt Blue grosgrain 1.5” wide (cut 2)
S Celadon/Hot Pink dot grosgrain 7/8″ wide (cut 2)

For the second layer, cut 27” lengths of each:

S Hot Pink grosgrain 2.25” wide
S Pink dot grosgrain 7/8” wide

For the third layer, cut 5.5” lengths of each:

S Banana dot grosgrain 1.5” wide (cut 2)
S Sea Mist grosgrain 1.5” wide

For the fourth and top layer, cut a 21” length of:

S Lt Blue grosgrain 7/8″ wide

Tie the center knot with 3/8” Pink/Hot Pink lollipop stripe grosgrain ribbon.

Color help:
S = Schiff brand grosgrain ribbon
O = Offray brand grosgrain ribbon

Need help? Post a comment and ask away. Need a pattern for a different style bow, or to match another line? Let me know.

Check back soon for comprehensive lists of ribbon colors matching Gymboree and Hanna Andersson collections – I’m working on adding them now!

FREE Bow Pattern: Medium M2MG Flower Garden Easter Bow

admin — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 13:01:00 +0000

Try this pretty bow on for size! I designed this Medium (3.5” wide) bow to match Gymboree’s 2009 Flower Garden/Easter collection. You can make it too, in plenty of time for Easter. Planning on an Easter bonnet? Clip the bow to your bonnet and make it the perfect coordinating Easter accessory! Here’s my pattern:

For the bottom layer, cut 18” lengths of each:

Turquoise ruffle ribbon 1.5” wide
White grosgrain 7/8” wide
S Blueberry grosgrain 5/8” wide

For the middle layer accents, cut 4” of each:

O Lemongrass/White stripe grosgrain1.5” wide
S Apple dot grosgrain 3/8” wide
S Hot Pink grosgrain 7/8” wide (x2)
Navy stripe grosgrain 3/8” wide (x2)
O Navajo Turquoise grosgrain 5/8” wide
S Apple grosgrain 5/8” wide

For the top layer, cut 17” of each:

S Hot Pink grosgrain 5/8” wide
O Pink Swiss dot grosgrain 5/8” wide

Tie the center knot with 3/8” Navajo Turquoise dot grosgrain ribbon.

Color help:
S = Schiff brand grosgrain ribbon
O = Offray brand grosgrain ribbon

Have fun and feel free to email me any questions/comments!

How to Make Ribbon Rose Accessories

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 23:08:00 +0000

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.

I first attempted a Folding Method as outlined at wickihow: How to Make Silk, Satin or Ribbon Roses. I got this to work some of the time, but not all of the time, and I didn’t feel that the finished rose was particularly sturdy (though that could be due to my inexperience). My bows are often worn by kids, so I do my best to make them indestructible. I did like the rather geometric style of the rose, though, so I thought I’d give it a mention here. (If you swear by this method, give me a shout and let me know what I’m doing wrong!)

Next I tried a popular method I’ll call Wrap and Fold (creative, I know). I used these instructions: Offray’s All About Roses. You basically start at the center of the rose and wind your ribbon around the center, folding it back periodically as you go. This is really easy and the only trick is to find your rhythm as far as how much to wrap, when to fold, and what angle to fold at. This you’ll pick up quickly with minimal practice. You can also get the basic premise from watching a few minutes of this YouTube video by sewcrafty1.

Back to the bow pictured above. As you can see, I skipped the stem entirely and just made a ribbon “leaf” as the base of my hair bow, gluing a lined alligator clip to the back of the “leaf”. Important to note: I gave up sewing my bows years ago, and I’m quite convinced that hot glue and wire are the best way to go in most cases. To make my ribbon roses as strong as possible, (wire and stem free) I glued each layer of the rose at the base as I wrapped the ribbon around the center. So I did wrap, glue, fold, wrap glue fold. It was easier than it sounds and, I think, pretty sturdy. The only drawback of gluing is that you can’t later twist the rose from the center, but I did my adjustments as I went along, so it wasn’t necessary.

The larger roses shown are made with 7/8” wide ribbon and the smaller with 5/8”. The blue and white striped rose was printed only on one side, adding a bit of interest. It’s larger than the light blue rose simply because it was wrapped more times.

Design Tip: You can obviously choose any ribbons or configurations. Worth noting, though, that groups of three are generally pleasing, and varying the sizes makes it easier to create a successful composition.

I almost forgot. That Third Method I found is at Burda Style: Valentine’s Flowers. I haven’t tried it yet, but if you do, let me know what you think.

I’d love to see your creations, and feel free to post questions, thoughts, your designs and ideas!

Feb 09 Ribbon Colors Matching Gymboree’s Flower Garden

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 18:03:52 +0000

Yes, it’s true, my store is closed.

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:56:00 +0000

I just didn’t have it in me to post yesterday. Thanks so much to all of you who have expressed your support. It’s not too late to contact all your Congressional reps and ask them to support CPSIA reform. If the law is sufficiently amended, I’ll be back in business. More importantly, we can save tons of perfectly safe and viable (and valuable) items like older books and current clothing from heading straight to the landfill.

I visited my local consignment shop today, Second Time Around, and was sad to hear that not only are they no longer accepting or selling children’s items (the store was completely cleared of them!) but that the change may mean the end of their 26 yr old family business. She told me she’s had clients in her store literally cry upon hearing the news, not knowing how they are going to clothe their kids. I guess they’ll go to Walmart or Target? Hmmm… is it just me, or is it starting to seem like the big box stores have more to gain from this legislation than consumers?

I’m not giving up. Even if it is too late for me, it’s not too late for sanity. I’ll be sending out a new round of letters today and tomorrow to make sure my pen-pals know they’re responsible for shutting down my business. This batch includes:

My Congressional Reps
Waxman and his posse: Rush, Rockefeller and Pryor
Nancy Nord
Senator DeMint to ask that he keep pushing his reform bill (I still can’t believe I share any political common ground with Jim DeMint – hey you just never know)
All 18 members of the board at Consumers Union to let them know I canceled my subscription to Consumer Reports because of their continued support of the obviously flawed CPSIA (Yeah, I know, they’ll be crushed. Interesting to note, however, that among the board members is none other than Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist. He seems like a good guy, and surely he can appreciate the value of the used goods market? Will Craigslist grow as mamas with loads of outgrown banned hazardous childrens clothing fear selling ‘out in the open’ on eBay?)

Hey, FYI, I called Senator DeMint’s office today for an update on his CPSIA reform bill (S374). I was told it is “in committee”. It has to be passed there to be brought to the floor, I guess. So the committee it’s “in” is Commerce, Science and Transportation. Contact them! The Chair is Rockefeller (already on my pen-pal list) and the ranking member is Kay Bailey Hutchinson. So I added her to my list.

Oh yeah, I also emailed our school district superintendent to ask how CPSIA is affecting the schools. Just curious.

I’d love to hear from others, either publicly by adding your comment here, or you can email me and let me know what you are doing, and how this is affecting you either as a business or as a consumer. Anyone you’d like me to add to my letter & email writing campaign? I think I’ve still got a few envelopes left.

I promise to post something fun and crafty tomorrow.

Tip: Tack Layers for Easy Assembly

admin — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:26:00 +0000

When you’re making a bow with a layer of accent “spikes” it can be tricky to keep them in precisely the formation you want, while folding and cinching them. Save yourself a lot of time and frustration and simply tack them in two small spots with your wood burner. It will create two tiny holes in the first layer of ribbon, and will melt the layers together just enough to hold them in place. When done correctly, the holes are not large enough to cause any structural deficiency, and will be hidden inside the fold when assembled. (This only works with polyester ribbon.) Let me know what you think of this technique, or if you have another one to share.

OK, pet peeve: bows are too pretty to have “spikes”! Does anyone have a better term for these? Please post a comment with your suggestions. Thanks!

Jan 09 Ribbon Colors Matching Gymboree’s Happy Rainbow

admin — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 18:08:09 +0000

FREE Hair Bow Pattern: Large Valentine Hair Bow

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:04:00 +0000

You can make this adorable M2MG Full of Heart Large Hair Bow for Valentines Day! When completed, this bow measures about 4″ wide. Even though I designed it specifically to match Gymboree’s 2008 Valentines Day line, it has so many shades of pink and red it will look great with most any outfit she’s sporting on Feb 14th. Or you can substitute your favorite ribbons to create a unique look. Here’s my pattern:

For the bottom layer, cut 11″ of each:

Light Pink with Hot Pink dots 1.5” wide grosgrain ribbon
Hot Pink with Red dots 1.5″ wide grosgrain ribbon

For the middle layer accents, cut 4.5″ of each:

Red with Hot Pink dots 7/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon
Red/Pink/White stripe 7/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon (cut 2)

For the top layer, cut 15″ of:

White with Pink hearts 7/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon

Tie the center with 3/8″ Geranium grosgrain ribbon. NEW! Buy just enough of these beautiful ribbons to make your bow at JenLynnDesigns.com. Send me pics of your creations – I’d love to see them!

FREE Bow Pattern: Small M2MG Winter Snowflake

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:46:00 +0000

Have fun making this pretty little M2MG / Made to Match Gymboree Winter Snowflake hair bow! The finished bow measures about 2.5″ wide. Here’s what you will need:

Cut 3″ each:

S Cranberry 5/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon
Off-White Fringy Ribbon 7/8″ wide
S Pink 5/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon (x2)
S Brown/Pink dot 3/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon (x2)

Cut 5″ each:

Brown/Cranberry/Pink Argyle Print 3/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon
O Lt Blue 5/8″ wide grosgrain ribbon
Off-White Fringy Ribbon 7/8″ wide

I found “Fashion Fringy Ribbon” at Jo-Ann’s. You can use ribbon of your choice for the bow center, or add a snowflake charm as I did. (I was not able to find off-white or ivory snowflakes, so I paint mine to match before adding them!) Check out my medium-sized M2MG Winter Snowflake hair bow design!

S = Schiff brand ribbon color
O= Offray brand ribbon color

Tip: Try a Rotary Cutter

admin — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 02:29:00 +0000

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!

Free Holiday Fun Bow Pattern

admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:28:00 +0000

This bow measures about 4.25” wide when complete.

1) Cut 13.5″ each of: White 1.5″, Red/White stripe 7/8″, Red 1.5″
2) Cut 4.75″ each of: Red Plaid 1.5″, White/Green/Red dot 1.5″ and Red/White stripe 1.5″
3) Cut 4.5″ Green dot 5/8″ and Red dot 5/8″
4) Cut 5″ Green/White stripe 7/8″
5) Cut 20″ Red/White/Green stripe 5/8″
6) Tie center knot with White/Red lollipop 3/8″ ribbon

View a large image of this bow at Jen Lynn Designs.com

Tip: Heat Transfers

admin — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:26:00 +0000

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:

FREE Bow Pattern: M2MG Bon Voyage Medium

admin — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:39:00 +0000

This popular bow is one of my favorites, have fun making your own! Here’s my pattern for a 3.5″ wide M2MG Bon Voyage Medium bow:

Cut 4″ lengths of: S Navy 1.5″, 5/8″, and O Antique White 7/8″
Cut two 9″ lengths of S Cranberry 1.5″
Cut a 13″ length of O Antique White 7/8″

Tie with S Navy for center and add the Gymboree anchor or heart charms from the snap clips from this adorable collection if you wish!

NOTE: “O” = Offray brand ribbon color, “S”= Schiff brand ribbon color

Tip: The Forgotten Fold

admin — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:56:00 +0000

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!

admin — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:06:00 +0000

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!

Free Hair Bow Pattern: M2MG Tennis Match ‘08 – Small Turtle

admin — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:00:00 +0000

This Small bow measures 2.5″ wide when complete

Cut 3″ of: S Lt Blue 5/8″, O Lemongrass 5/8″, O Shocking Pink 5/8″, S Pink swiss dot 3/8″, S Apple dot 3/8″, S Mystic dot 3/8″
Cut 12″ of: S White frog print 7/8, Pink/white stripe 3/8
Tie center knot with O Shocking Pink

(S= Schiff brand ribbon, O= Offray brand ribbon)