Saturday, 21 May 2011

Five Steps to a Bowmaker Bow..

...even if you don't have a bowmaker. Keep watching.

You wanted to see how to use the bowmaker for bows? Here you go:

Wrap the ribbon around the bowmaker as shown.


Take the end of the ribbon you put to the back and bring it over the top and back to the front. It's easier to follow the picture than a written instruction here


Now tie a knot


Straighten up your bow, slip it off the prongs and trim the ends


After I posted the pompom tutorial I remembered what I had used years ago before I got the bowmaker. Here it is - a piece of corrugated cardboard with two knitting needles pushed through the holes. You can alter the size of the bow depending on how far apart you put the needles. And you'll need someone to hold it tight while you tie; but it does work!

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25 comments:

  1. helena21 May 2011 at 08:21

    the knitting needles 'make-do' is so clever

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  2. Rhona21 May 2011 at 08:44

    I have never seen a bowmaker before, I'll be on the lookout now :) xx

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  3. furrypig21 May 2011 at 09:16

    the kntting needle idea is great! I bought one vey cheaply (less than £2 I think) from ebay that works very well and really want to try your fabby pom pom idea!

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  4. Ladkyis21 May 2011 at 09:20

    I have a cousin with machinery and lots of wood offcuts. I have several odd knitting needles that could be cut up and fixed into an off cut - AND he comes home from holiday on Monday so I might just.....

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  5. Sandie21 May 2011 at 10:13

    what a great idea! You are full of them Sian! :o)

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  6. JO SOWERBY21 May 2011 at 10:19

    what an ingenius idea with the knitting needles. love the tutorial, very simple yet amazingly effective.
    jo xxx

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  7. Miriam21 May 2011 at 10:21

    brilliant! and just love the pom poms from yesterday. I have been making some string flowers with my flower maker! There is something lovely and simple about string.

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  8. Jennifer Grace21 May 2011 at 10:23

    thanks for the tutorial sian, someone gave me a bowmaker and I had no idea how to use it! x

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  9. Jimjams21 May 2011 at 11:37

    Thank You - and also for the cheap & cheerful alternative too.

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  10. Gem's Crafts21 May 2011 at 11:51

    How clever! I might ask M to make one for me, as that looks really easy to do :)

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  11. scrappyjacky21 May 2011 at 12:57

    I don't have a bowmaker....but am now thinking that perhaps I 'need' one!!

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  12. Jennifer Shaw21 May 2011 at 15:03

    This is so neat! My bows are always twisted. :( I dread making bows of any kind. Maybe this is the trick!

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  13. Melissa21 May 2011 at 15:29

    How fun to have a special bow making tool!

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  14. Lynn21 May 2011 at 15:29

    So now we know! I think mum might have one of those. Off to find out.

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  15. laurie21 May 2011 at 19:05

    such great photos and easy to follow directions! thanks.

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  16. Bubbles21 May 2011 at 19:38

    When I was just a little girly my granddady made me a bow maker, using a plank of wood with holes drilled in it and some dowel pegs... we used to make bows for the christmas tree with it. Love your knitting nedle idea... very clever :)

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  17. Alison21 May 2011 at 20:49

    Am off to look on Ebay for a bowmaker!
    Alison xx

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  18. WendyB21 May 2011 at 20:59

    Lol someone out there is going to wonder why sales of bow makers suddenly increase. Fab idea with the knitting needles.

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  19. Alana21 May 2011 at 21:27

    Interesting use of knitting needles...I think I prefer to use that idea, it's kind of quirky.

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  20. Denise22 May 2011 at 00:10

    I am so pleased you posted the knitting needle idea,I was racking my brains thinking how to make something that would do! Perfect :-)

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  21. Ginger22 May 2011 at 04:13

    Where did you get these gadgets Sian? I like the pomp pomp one as well, it sure makes the perfect bow!

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  22. alexa22 May 2011 at 22:49

    Great stuff - and like the corrugated paper idea. I think I might try with a piece of wood and some long nails.:)

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  23. Sue Althouse23 May 2011 at 15:14

    Oh my goodness, I need one of these! I cannot tie a correct bow to save my life. I think bows must be right-handed, and I am not.

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  24. Jane23 May 2011 at 22:38

    I need one of those, can never tie a bow!

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  25. Sandra24 May 2011 at 21:35

    You just know that I'll have Simon making me one this weekend, don't you LOL

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Thank you! I do love to know what you think