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How to Make DIY Korker Hair Bows: What I’m Makin’ Monday

I made a craft again and I’m feeling a bit domestic once again. Oh, and I made our lunches and cooked dinner like 4 or 5 nights in a row this week. I’m on a domestic diva role. Sure, the dinners start out frozen, and our lunches aren’t gourmet but it’s a step in the right direction.

I like to call my crafting ways “Hood Crafty” because I don’t have a lot of the fancy supplies, and I find short cuts to make tutorials I find even simpler.

This week I decided I wanted to make some korker bows. I’ve been eying these for some time but they usually cost more than I’d like to pay. I have tons of ribbon already, and metal prongs to add bows and clips to, and I bought a dozen 1/4in wooden dowels and was set.

Here’s what I used to make mine:
6 1/4in Wooden dowels (I used all 12 of mine to make two full, long bows)
Assorted 1/4in grosgrain ribbon
Bobby pins and/or Clothes pins
Scissors
Metal two-prong hair clips (you can get them at Sally’s)

Others also use strong thread and hot glue, but I forgot to get the thread and decided not to use the glue just yet. So here’s how I did it.

Step 1:
Wrap the ribbon around the dowels. Hold the ends in place with the bobby/clothes pins.

Step 2:
Bake the ribbon on 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

Step 3:
Take them out of the oven and let them cool.

Step 4:
Pull the ribbon off the dowels and cut them the length you’d like the bow to be (slightly longer than the circumference you’re looking for. I did mine about 4.5-5in long.

Step 5:
Now here’s where my bows got “hood.” Instead of using strong thread I tried to use a rubber band, but it popped. Then I tried to use my regular sewing thread but it broke, so I decided to just use one of the pieces of korked ribbon to tie a group of them together. I found this worked great, but later read that dental floss works, so I may change it out. The nice thing is I can always untie it and rearrange/change the mix of colors. So long as it doesn’t come out from her bouncing around.

Step 6:
At this point, you’re suppose to glue the ribbon to the metal clip but I was worried I’d want to change it later, so for now I just slipped one of the two metal prongs under the knot I tied. It worked, but I’ll probably change out the ribbon for floss and add the glue once I settle on the colors I want to keep.
Put them on your little doll and TADA! Fabulous little corker bows! I didn’t tie her hair in pig tails (I actually kept her up way past her bed time to take these photos) but it looks like she’s got some extra colorful curls to go with her own. I love them! It’s a quick and easy way to spice up piggies or a pony tail.

So what did you think? Cute, no? And way easy?

Have you made or cooked anything lately? Link up! It can be an old post, I don’t care! It’s been forever since I’ve done one of these so I’m sure there’s a few of yours I’ve missed.


Verena says:

What a cute and original idea!!! I´m sure my youngest daughter would love me to make this for her, too! Does your daughter leave it in her hair?
Thanks for sharing!
Have a wonderful week!

Greetings from Germany,
Verena

I recently started making cute little korker bows, as well! Aren’t they just so easy and SUPER fun?? 🙂

Thanks for hosting! I linked up an insanely quick and easy way to organize all of those precious little hair bows we make for our girls. I’d love for you to pop by and link up your korker bows with So Sweet Sundays!

Have a Happy Labor Day! 🙂

mommafergie says:

To make the korkers stiffer, spray some starch on them before you bake them and then again right after they come out of the oven. Let me dry on the rod for about 30 minutes and then take them off.

Stephanie says:

Wow, I had no idea you had to bake them! That’s awesome, thanks for the tutorial. can’t wait to make some for my daughter. BTW, your daughter is soooo adorable!

Veronika says:

Lil’ J sure does rock those Korkers!

Very cute! I have always wondered how to do that, I love the corked look 🙂 I have been really addicted to sewing lately. Last night I finished making the “Junebug Dress” from craftinessisnotoptional.com, I am pretty sure you have talked about it on here. It turned out awesome, although it will be a bit big on my skinny little girl. I also make her a clip with the same fabric, a headband for her baby sister (coming in Oct.) and next I will make the baby a matching dress, just have to figure out how to shrink the pattern, I’m a little scared to try and make my own! I would link up but I haven’t taken pictures/blogged about all of it yet, hopefully I’ll get to it sometime this week.

MGBowtique says:

Looks great!

I use the unflavored waxed floss for mine, or I will sometimes sew them too.

I also starch them before I put them in the oven. I bake mine at 250 for 25 mins; I forget why, but it works for me 😉

I use 3/8 inch an/or 1/4 inch ribbon for mine.

I don’t make them often cause it is bad on my hands (carpel tunnel), but they are cute.

Renée says:

I love this. Bookmarking it to try out.

Megan says:

Those are ADORABLE. Can’t wait until I have a little girl to make them for! (my own or someone else’s 🙂

tracie says:

I am so excited to try these! She has the most gorgeous hair ever. I hope someday Isla has half the hair she has. LOVE.

Sarah says:

Although I don’t have kids this is going in the mental notebook. They looks really easy to make! Who would’ve thought just baking them would make them keep their shape??

Mrs. K says:

Lil’ J is so stinking cute. I’ve always wanted male children but you guys have convinced me otherwise. 🙂

What a cute idea, also I never knew how to make cork bows so thanx for sharing!

Natalie
http://www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com

MarcyKay says:

Again, she is tooo cute! I love korker bows, I haven’t made any in awhile but they are on my to-do list. Actually, I should probably get to making some tonight since my oldest’s bday party is Sunday and I had planned on making her some more bows. ahhh time flies to quick!

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EVELYN says:

can you spray them after you have made the bow?

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Hi! I’m Jennifer Borget

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I'm a former journalist, and lifelong creator striving to make the world a better place. This is the space where I share my journey in making the most of every day by cherishing our individuality and celebrating our differences.



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