Hair bows
add more color and school pride to cheerleaders' uniforms.
A squad of cheerleaders wearing hair bows in school colors grabs the attention of the audience at sporting events. The squad appears enthusiastic and ready to cheer the team to victory. Making hair bows as a team not only saves money compared with buying ready-made bows, but also provides an opportunity for the squad members and their coach to bond as a team. Grosgrain ribbon is ideal for hair bows because the ribbed horizontal lines grip tightly in the knot. The bow does not come untied easily.
Instructions
1. Cut two 15-inch pieces of grosgrain ribbon that is in your school's colors. Choose the width depending on the size bow you would like.
2. Secure the ends of the ribbon with a fray sealant, such as Fray Check or Fray Blocker. Dab the gel on the ribbon's ends, and make sure it dries completely before proceeding. It can take between 15 minutes and an hour to dry. After the bow is made, routinely check the edges for additional fraying, using more sealant if necessary. Repeat this step on all four cut edges of the ribbons.
3. Thread both pieces of ribbon through a hair clip. If you are using thinner ribbon, you only need a bobby pin. If you are using thicker ribbon, use a snap clip. French barrettes are another good option and strongly hold the hair.
4. Grab the ends of both ribbons, and tie a standard bow, as you would in your shoelaces. Rearrange the ribbon to make the knot lie flat, and with minimal twists and bumps. This is called dressing your knot. You can also tie the ribbons into two separate bows, so they sit next to each other on the hair clip.
