In a previous life on a previous blog, I created this tutorial on how to make stash-busting bows (so you may have seen this before!). This can complement both male and female dolls beautifully. The following tutorial will demonstrate how to make a bow that is fully enclosed and revealing no raw seams.
All you need is a sewing machine, scissors, fabric and thread in a coordinating colour.
Step 1 – Cut your bow fabric. I did mine just by eye-balling the length I wanted, but to be more precise the above is 24cm x 23.5cm (9.6in x 9.4in). Basically a square. I would not be concerned if your dimensions differed too much to the above. If you are not comfortable ‘just winging it’, measure yourself up a pattern to follow based on the above dimensions.
Step 2 – Now cut the fabric for the centre of your bow. The above scrap of fabric is 5.5cm x 23.5cm (2.2in x 9.4in). You can vary your width, and we will not be using the full length, but you will need at least half the length of above to create one bow centre.
Step 3 – Now you will sew a straight seam for the fabric of your bow, and the centre of the bow. I’ve left a narrow seam allowance and neatened it to approx 5mm. Turn both pieces so the fabric is the right-way out.
Step 4 – Indicates where you should now position your middle seam.
Step 5 – Now sew a 5mm seam and trim to neaten. Ensure that the seam sewn in step 3 is visible on the outside, as per the image above.
Step 6 – Turn your bow fabric so all your seams are on the inside. Position the seam from step 5 into the centre of the bow.
Step 7 – Wrap the centre of the bow with the seam facing outside around the middle of your fabric square. Look at what will be the front of your bow to see how well the folds are sitting, as opposed to focusing on how the back of the bow will look.
Ideally here you will switch to a zipper foot to allow you to sew as close as possible to the bow, without catching any part of the bow in the needle. Trim the seam allowance to approx 3mm.
Step 8 – Turn the fabric of the centre of the bow so that the seam is now concealed on the inside.
Step 9 – The most fun step of all– Admire your handiwork! It is also appropriate at this time to straighten the centre of the bow so that it is sitting neatly the centre of your bow!
Here is an assortment of different bows I have created using this method. For the tulle bow, I played around with the amount of fabric that was used. It was made slightly differently to the above method, and uses more fabric and has a few more seams. Encapsulated inside are small confetti hearts.
Once you have your bows finished, there is many different fun things you can do! Here are some things I have done with mine:
And of course, don’t forget how lovely they are going to look on your doll!
Happy Sewing!
