Bow ties and hair bows for dogs are available in many styles. They are also great DIY projects for you! Find out how to make dog bows that make your pet look wow!
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Most of us love dressing up, especially during a celebration or the festive season. You could also dress up your pet dog! However, it is best to choose a non-fussy bow that will make them look cute and not irritate them. If you want to make a bow for your dog, check out the following tutorial.
How Do You Make Dog Hair Bows?
Before you start making hair bows for your dog, make sure you choose materials that won’t hurt them and will be comfortable so that they can wear the bow for a long time.
Let’s take a look at the supplies you will need.
- Pieces of colorful felt (avoid using materials like tulle as your dog’s hair may get entangled in the mesh)
- Hair clips (preferably the French barrettes that will stay put but won’t hurt your dog)
- A hot glue gun
- Scissors
Once you have all the supplies, follow these steps to make the perfect hair bow.
Step 1: Choose a Pattern for the Bow
Look for various bow patterns on the internet and print out a stencil. Cut out the different parts of the design to attach the felt pieces. Ideally, you should have the central bow piece, the tailpiece and the band.
Step 2: Cut the Felt Pieces According to Pattern
Place the stencil over the felt piece and trace it. If you are making multiple hair bows, you can stack pieces of felt together and trace the stencil for the piece on the top. Then cut all of the bow shapes together.
Step 3: Plug in the Glue Gun
Allow the glue gun to heat by plugging it in. As it heats, select your cut felt pieces and a barrette.
Step 4: Form the Bow
Use a drop of hot glue in the center of the felt piece and fold on end to create a loop. Now add another drop of glue and fold the other side to make the bow shape.
Take the tailpiece for the Bow and fold them at an angle to create two strands. Stick this on the back of the bow using hot glue. You can take two separate pieces and attach them as well.
Step 5: Attach the Band
Take a rectangular band and stick it in the middle of the bow, at the lower end. Make sure to attach it to the back of the bow and not the front.
Step 6: Fix the Bow in the Barrette
Now take the barrette and open it. Slide it up the band and dab a little glue in the middle to secure it. Then take the remaining part of the band and wrap it around before fixing it in the back, over the barrette. Once you do this, your bow is complete. You can add an embellishment like a button in the middle of the bow to make it prettier.
So, why do you need a hair bow for your dog? While it does make them look great, hair bows are convenient for furry or hairy dogs. For dog breeds like the Maltese, their hair falls in the eyes even after grooming. It’ll be a functional yet fashionable accessory if you fix a pretty hair bow!
How Do You Make a Dog Christmas Bow?
Christmas is a joyous time when you dress up and look your best, and your dog deserves the same! So you can make a festive bow as a lovely Christmas gift for your pet. Making a Christmas bow is similar to a hair bow. But here is a detailed tutorial that will help you create a lovely bow for your dog this festive season.
To make the best Christmas bow, you will need:
- Ribbon (opt for brighter colors like red or green)
- Scissors
- Glue
Here are the steps you need to follow to make a Christmas bow for your dog.
- Step 1: Choose a broad ribbon and cut a piece of it. The length of the piece will depend on how big of a bow you want.
- Step 2: Fold the ribbon in half to mark the centerline.
- Step 3: Turn the ribbon over so that the shiny side is flat on the surface and the rougher side is facing upwards. Add a thin line of glue along the center and fold the edges over to make the bow shape.
- Step 4: Follow the above steps with a smaller ribbon and stick it along the centerline of the first.
- Step 5: Repeat the steps with pieces of ribbon, shorter than the ones before, and this will create a multi-layered Christmas bow.
Attaching a Christmas Bow On Your Dog
Once you finish making the bow, you need to think about how you will attach it. If your dog loves playing, you will need to secure the bow correctly.
There are a few options to choose from when attaching a Christmas bow to your dog.
You can use a barrette. This is the best option as barrettes tend not to tug at their fur or hair and are the safest way of ensuring that the bow does not come off.
You can also use pieces of elastic or rubber bands. However, you cannot use the regular version of these materials as then your dog may get hurt. Elastic and standard rubber bands can tug at your dog’s hair too easily.
So if you want to use either of these materials to secure the bow, choose covered elastic or latex, rubber bands. They won’t hurt and will be much safer.
Now, you may be excited to make a Christmas bow and dress your pet up for the celebration. However, it is essential to keep in mind that your dog needs to get used to the bow.
So, please make a small one in the beginning and attach it. Use different materials to figure out which your dog likes the best. If you don’t have a dog with long hair or thick fur and want the bow just to accessorize, you can attach it to their collar.
A Few Final Words
We hope this tutorial helps you to create the best bow for your dog and let them make a fashion statement! Don’t forget to share these ideas with other dog lovers.
If you would like to share your own pretty dog bows or pictures of your cute little pups in their beautiful bows, do share them with us in the comments section below.