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Tuesday, July 8, 2008

How To Curl Fabric Ribbon

It all started with those four little words, "I can make that". Yes, I'm one of those people. When I'm out shopping I find myself saying that a lot. It's a blessing and a curse really. A blessing because sometimes I can make the item and forgo buying it. A curse because sometimes I take on way more than I can handle. Take for instance the time I spotted a braided rug at Pottery Barn Kids. I thought, didn't I see an article in Martha Stewart about how to make braided trivets. Didn't it say if one continued with the pattern it would make a rug. Oh, yes I can do that. So I purchased a large quantity of fabric and began the project. The braiding took forever with the fabric. Next the sewing, which was difficult because it required hand sewing with thick fabric. All that effort and I had a rug the size of a coaster. My hands had turned blue from the cheap dye. So needless to say, a month later I gave in and purchased the rug.

So here's where the curled ribbon comes in. I saw some cute hair clips at a child boutique and new I could make them. The hair clips were basically curled ribbon glued to a hair clip. So here I am in 100 degree weather baking ribbon! Directions below.

Supplies:
ribbon - I used grosgrain ribbon
wooden dowels or skewers - I used bamboo skewers(dollar section at Target)
spray bottle (optional)
clothes pins
cookie sheet lined with tinfoil

1. Wind ribbon around skewers. Hold in place with clothes pin. Refer to pictures.

2. Spray ribbon with water until all of it is wet. I recommend spraying the clothes pins with water also so they don't burn in the oven.
* You could get the ribbon wet first and then wrap it around the skewers if you wanted to.

3.Place ribbon on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees for roughly ten minutes.

4.When ribbon is completely dry take out of oven and let cool. Remove ribbon from dowels.

33 comments:

Renna said...

My little girl is all grown up now, but when she was young, I made hair bows and scrunchies for her, curling ribbon that way to attach to them.

At that time, hair accessories were quite the rage and expensive, so I felt pretty proud of myself, keeping her in such cheap adornment. ;-)

Michelle Frae Cummings said...

awesome idea! My mom used to do it with a skinny curling iron. I know you mean when you are looking to buy. I'm "exactely" the same way! But I usualy buy one just to remind my self on how it was made so I can make it better!

Heidi K. Rettig said...

I am exactly the same way, all the way down to taking on more than I can possibly complete time-wise. Pottery Barn Kids especially - maybe not the rug but the photo-zebra throw pillow? You could totally do that with an ink jet iron-on transfer, right?

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products--dp10--index.shtml

Threeundertwo said...

I know exactly what you mean - and I take on way more than I have time to handle. I will suggest if you like the braided rugs - try making a crochet one. Much easier.

LOVE the ribbon curls! I'm going to make these with my daughters. Thanks!

Beth said...

Super cool. I'd never think to bake the ribbon in the oven. Thanks for the tutorial!! Now when I go to the store and see pretty ribbon bows I can say with confidence "I can make that" ;o)

Anonymous said...

Never knew about the baking part, now I will dare put them in the oven!
I hear you, sometimes being over-ambitious just makes me frustrated and unproductive.

Anonymous said...

Very interesting and simple idea. :)

Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex

mushroommeadows said...

I've never thought of making this...wow! Very clever; thanks for sharing! :)

Unknown said...

Very cool idea :)How long will it stay? Will it straighten afterwards? Happy weekend :)

Cecile said...

Very clever idea, indeed, I need to give a try.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing, this is awesome!

My reputation for making things has far outgrown my skills. I was shown this when we were looking at a cool transparent plexiglass canoe somewhere online and my friend Emily said "You could make that!" A Canoe?

Tellie

IamSusie said...

I too have the I-Can-Make-That Curse. I inherited it from my mother who used to say it all the time but never ever actually made the items. She's reformed now and actually buys stuff at craft shows. I'm terrible and I do try to make everything, except clothes and I know I'll never do a braided rug.

Thanks for the tute, you are a genius!

Lauren said...

I knew there had to be a way to do that. Thanks for sharing. My girls will be oh-so-happy to have new hair things to start school.

Erika said...

Very clever and perfect timing for my soon-to-be 3 year old who has hair down to her booty already!

Ginger said...

Oh yes love how to make this, what a great idea before school starts.I wanted to make Hair bows just what i was looking for.
Awesome tutorial!!! Thank you so much.

Jennifer said...

In your FACE Gymboree! You no longer have the power of curly hair clips over me!

Seriously, thanks for this. I will definitely be making hair clips and ponytail holders using your technique.

Anonymous said...

love your blog - awesome ideas for all! Just an fyi- you do not need to wet the ribbon or the dowels - I promise they will come out fine and will hold the curl. Thanks again for all of your fun projects.

Unknown said...

THANK YOU so much for this tute! I am spending a fortune on Gymboree hair clips with the cute curly ribbons. I just made my first batch and I am never buying Gymboree hair clips again!!! :) This was so fun, I could make them all week long! Thanks again and God Bless!!

Anonymous said...

OMG...my daughter is 18 now...and I use to make these just around pencils but sprayed them with starch and let dry. All of these secrets now when she doesn't need them. And, I am a horrible..."I Can Do That" shopper...ha ha...I hope that it continues because I have a blast crafting! Thanks for the tip!

Ginger said...

this tutorial rocks we all need this one for hair ties and packages.Thank you so much!
hugs ginger

Anonymous said...

i've been wanting to make these for so long! thanks for sharing your info =)
by the way: if you don't have clothes pins you can wrap the ends in some foil.

Thankful said...

I have been paying 7$ for handmade curled ribbon bows and was getting ready to e-mail my lady pics of my little girls new spring outfits so she can make the bows to match and then i thought well surely I can find somewhere online that tells me how to do it myself... I can't wait to try this

Mokumegane said...

Heh, I'm curling ribbon stringer ends of a Halloween costume wand. My daughter will be a fairy. I think I'll end up spending a total of $13 and she'll have a wand, wings, a dress and a chainmaille hat in sterling silver and anodized aluminum in violet and turquoise. The fabric I have is white, light blue and lavendar, with some printing on them (two different fabrics... one has the blue and the other lavendar) of gardens, flowers, etc. Really pretty and flowy but I'll make a base dress, then attach leaf-shaped pieces to it for a raggedy look. Yeah, probably costs more but I have all the other stuff and to me, current cost is more important than full cost. I always have a supply of sterling silver and fabric... She'll be the talk of the town- again! Last year's mermaid costume was a success, as well! Oh and she LIVES in my Halloween costumes I make lol!

Anonymous said...

i have just started making bow's, clips and headbands and selling them to friends.. they have put the word out and i can't believe how much money i am making whilst being stay at home mum... My daughter was my original inspiration because she is only 14 months old and loves hair bows... so i decided to have a go at it myself. !!! Thank you for showing us how to curl ribbon... i can not wait to try this... :0 Jodie Tew Australia x x

eastangel28 said...

thank you so much for posting this..we've been buyin the hair ties at Gymboree and i wondered how you could get the ribbon to curl because i knew i could make them if i knew that part...does it stay curled, or do you have to be careful with it?

zakkalife said...

Rachel,

It stays curled. It might loosen up a bit with time but it will still look good. I just wouldn't wash it or let the ribbon get too wet.

heather said...

HELP!!! i am doing something wrong!!! i followed the directions exactly (even same kind of ribbon), and when i take my ribbon off it's straight!! any suggestions??

thanks

zakkalife said...

Heather,

Is the ribbon dry when it comes out of the oven?

Maybe try letting it cool down before you take it off the dowel. Also I would suggest sliding it off the dowel instead of unwinding it.

Hope this helps

Anonymous said...

haha I a the same way I always think I can make it.....but I love making bows its so much cheaper then buying them! Anyways I just couldnt figure out how to curl the ribbon, so THANKYOU!

Denise said...

This is GREAT!! With my husband just getting laid off from work I got really stressed out and started making hair accessories. Getting artsy and creative helps with that. I've made over 100 accessories and I thought I should start selling them to make some extra money in this time of need. I figured out how to make all kinds of designs and different types, but could not figure out how to curl thin grosgrain ribbon! Guess what I'll be doing next! :)
If you want to see some of my creations and support my new business, please go to www.flutterbycreationz.etsy.com
Thanks! This is terrific!!!

-rea- said...

Hi..
Thanks for sharing the tips of curly fabric ribbons :).

i'm so excited in making these cute curly ribbons for my daughter since buying "ready made" curly ribbon accesories quite expensive here.

Thanks and i hope I will get the same result as you did.

Jessica White said...

Fantastic! I'm making my daughters and niece hair clips to go with their Easter dresses tomorrow! Just turned on my oven to try this!

{Pinned it, too!}

Unknown said...

I once did a braided rug wit yarn. It came out tiny as well

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