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rag bow
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Rag Bow

Equipment

  • EZ Bow Maker
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Starch liquid (optional)

Materials

  • 1 yard cream muslin 35-45” wide
  • 1 yard white muslin 35-45” wide
  • 1/2 yard 3 different accent colors of fabric 35-47” wide 
  • 1 roll wired ribbon
  • 1 skein chunky chenille yarn

Instructions

Rag Bow Measurements and Cuts - Prepwork

  • Long Base:
  • Cut 6 pieces of 1” wide Cream and White muslin 
  • Cut 3 pieces of 1” wide of each accent color fabric, if using trims or ribbons, cut them at 35” long on each one
  • Chunky chenille yarn – cut 3 pieces at 35” long
  • Short Base:
  • Cut 3 pieces of 1” wide cream and white muslin (Cut each long piece in half)
  • Cut 2 pieces of 1” wide accent color fabric (Cut each long piece in half)
  • Bow:
  • Cut 3 pieces of 2.5” wide of cream and white muslin 
  • Cut 1 piece of 2.5” wide of each accent fabric 
  • Cut 3 pieces of 1” wide of cream and white muslin 
  • Cut 1 piece of 1” wide of each accent fabric

Assembling a Rag Bow

  • Get your EZ Bow Maker and fabric pieces.
  • Starting with your Long Base, take 3 different pieces and add it to your EZ Bow Maker back side facing up.
  • Layer these pieces top to bottom (vertically).
  • These are your tying pieces.
  • Begin adding your different pieces of cream fabric, white muslin, chunky chenille yarn, and your red and blue accent fabrics with the top side facing up.
  • Layer these pieces side to side (horizontally).
  • Next is your Short Base. Since these pieces are shorter, you can stagger them.
  • Start with a short side on the left for the first piece.
  • Alternate the next layer with the short side on the right.
  • Next layer can be added right down the center.
  • Repeat until you add all your short base pieces.
  • Next is the Bow. Take out your bow pieces.
  • Start with your 2.5” pieces and measure a 5” tail and make a 5” loop on each side making an “X.”
  • Repeat the previous step, alternating where you start your tail. 
  • (e.g. if your tail for the first layer starts on the left, the next layer will start on the right side.)
  • Alternate whites and accent colors.
  • Continue the same process with the 1” pieces.
  • Suggestion: end with a white or cream colored on top, so when you add a centerpiece like a star, the star will stand out.
  • Once you finish your bow, take your tie pieces you added in the beginning and tie around the middle in between the pegs of the EZ Bow Maker. 
  • Take the rag bow out of the bow maker and tie the tie pieces into a knot at the center nice and tight.
  • Fluff out your loops and shake out your bow. You can trim any tails that are too long and arrange how you like.
  • Add the star to the center of your bow using a hot glue gun.
  • Add a pipe cleaner to the back.

Notes

  • Lay out your fabric pieces into piles before starting each base.
  • When making your bow, patterned or colored pieces should be twisted at the center, so the non-color/pattern sides are always facing each other.
  • Use your finger or a weight to hold down the center of your bow when adding your layers.
  • Keep hold of your tie pieces so it doesn’t get lost in all the layers.
  • You can take a bottle of water and spray the ends and scrunch up the bottom. Leave overnight to dry and it will be fluffier the next day.
  • Make sure you let the bow sit overnight so the brooch/button will be set and dry.