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Ok I think I'm seriously bowtarded. I just got some beautiful offray ribbon and I can't seem to tie a bow correctly. The tails don't end up in the same place and I'm having a hard time making it look nice not crinkly. Does anyone have suggestions on how to do this? I know there is a bowmaker thing that you can buy I just don't know where mine is. Besides I would love to be able to do this without a crutch. I've seen lots of lovely bows on this site and that's probably half of the reason I want to make nice ones. ;)
Okay, now that I'm done laughing let me see if I can help. First, if you're having trouble with your bow tying start with more ribbon than you thing you need. Sometimes I'll just leave it on the spool until I get the bow tied right then snip it off. That way you can retie several times if needed. You may need to get ribbon and a folded card to practice as we go though the steps to make sense of it. Okay, got your ribbon and card.... do the first part of the tie, cross over and go under or over (oh, its like tying your shoes.) Now look at your ribbon, you have one tail coming out on top and one on the bottom .... take the bottom one and make your loop. Too big is okay you can make it smaller when it's all tied. Now, take the top ribbon and come over the TOP of the loop, around, under and through. Pull to make your bow. The bow will always be straight if you take the top tail over the loop. If your bow is too large, pull the tails one at a time and retighten the bow each time you adjust. I hope that helps.
Barbara
__________________
~~~ Barbara~~~ ~~Case me if you please~~100% great trades~~
I was bow-challenged too, until a fellow scrapper turned me on to Martha Stewart's never-fail bow. She's right, it never fails! And I've never had a problem since.
I prefer to think of myself as bow "challenged" but I think I like bowtarded too. I have gotten better with practice, practice, practice and agree with the earlier poster who said use more ribbon. I am always trying to get the most milage from my supplies but discovered that it is cheaper to waste a couple inches of ribbon than deal with the frustration of ribbon that is too short.
That being said .... I'm still wheel challenged although am getting better with the wheel guide at least it's straight. Still have to work on the even ink application.
Okay, I must be really bowtarded if everyone else posted that they tried Martha's and it worked great. Mine failed miserably (never could get the hang of the two loop thing when learning to tie shoes either!). I tried the method suggested by momsquiln above and it worked perfectly the first time. Sorry Martha!
I've never been able to figure out the second diagram in the Martha Stewart directions. It looks like you should go from 1. to 3. or am I missing something in that second picture?
__________________
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance.
Okay, now that I'm done laughing let me see if I can help. First, if you're having trouble with your bow tying start with more ribbon than you thing you need. Sometimes I'll just leave it on the spool until I get the bow tied right then snip it off. That way you can retie several times if needed. You may need to get ribbon and a folded card to practice as we go though the steps to make sense of it. Okay, got your ribbon and card.... do the first part of the tie, cross over and go under or over (oh, its like tying your shoes.) Now look at your ribbon, you have one tail coming out on top and one on the bottom .... take the bottom one and make your loop. Too big is okay you can make it smaller when it's all tied. Now, take the top ribbon and come over the TOP of the loop, around, under and through. Pull to make your bow. The bow will always be straight if you take the top tail over the loop. If your bow is too large, pull the tails one at a time and retighten the bow each time you adjust. I hope that helps.
Barbara
I am no longer "bowtarded"!!! These are the best directions ever. I'm gonna go tie a whole bunch of bows, just because I can. Thank you!!!
__________________
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance.
tie your bow upside down , not you upside down but the bow. when you are facing the card and trying to tie ,turn the card around and then tie. with the fold side to your tummy not the open side to your tummy. it's hard for me to type this correctly but it was shown to me and it works for me. i was bowtarded too!
__________________ ;) peace , love , and jelly beans...
Yay!!! I've been cured. Thanks everyone for all the hints. momsquiltn it took me a few tries sitting at the computer following your directions but it finally worked. Thanks so much for taking the time to type that all out for me. Also thanks everyone for the hints about which way to hold the card and such. I also looked at Martha's Favorite Bow while it did work for getting the ends on the correct side for some reason I didn't like the middle as much. I'll keep the extra ribbon idea in mind as well I definately prefer to see one nice bow rather than dozens of failed ones. Thanks again everyone. :p
Thanks SO MUCH momsquiltn!!! Your directions were great and my bows now look much better. The trick is definitely the part about going over the TOP of the loop when wrapping around. I always went under the loop and then around and my bows ended up cockeyed. Now I just have to figure out a way to break myself of the habit of tying bows the way I have for 40+ years!
Last edited by mcost; 08-02-2005 at 07:43 AM..
Reason: error
I've never been able to figure out the second diagram in the Martha Stewart directions. It looks like you should go from 1. to 3. or am I missing something in that second picture?
This is exactly what I was thinking! I can't figure out what that picture #2 is. The #2 directions go with pic #3! Anyway, with all of these great directions, I think I'll be making bows much easier now...thanks!
"Martha's" directions I still can't follow but will try again when I've gotten my fingers untied. The other directions were great. Some time ago there were also directions for making the perfect bow & it's requires very little tying - here's the link - hope it works. Really does make a perfect bow. http://www.mostlyanimals.com/kristalhtml/tips/bow1.htm
SantaKitty
I am, sadly, very bowtarded. I've bought all kinds of gadgets and gizmos to overcome bowtardness. I'm hoping the suggestions I've found here will help me over come this disability!!! Can't wait to get out of work and try these! You guys are great!
I bought a bow maker thing at convention last fall called Bow-Easy (it was under $4 I think), and it really is ! Weird looking little gadget that makes 7 different sizes of bows. I bought mine from Morning Star Stamps but the address on the thing itself is this: Bow Easy Posi-Bendr Co PO Box 1007 Huntington Beach CA 92647 Phone # 714-377-0871. It took me a couple tries to get it down but now I make great uniform bows. Not affliliated, just happy.
I also add a vote for the tying upside down. When I tie bows on my clothes, like at the neck of a blouse, I make the loop with the opposite hand that I normally do. That makes my clothes bows lay nice.
I will try the links to the other directions out tomorrow after work.
I think I will be "bowtarded" til the cows come home! When it comes to bow tying, I have always had all thumbs. My bows all list to one side. I think I'll stick with brads....sigh
I have tons of ribbon and am always trying to think of ways to use it instead of tying a bow. Thanks for all the sites and hints. Mine should be looking much better now.
momsquiltn, thank you so very much. I too have been bowtarded up until tonight, August 25, 2005. I have had numerous people try to explain it to me in various ways, but your directions are so clear. I made a perfect bow on the very first try! Thanks so much!
twarnt nothin but a few words that helped....
Truely, though, I'm tickled that a small paragraph could help so many.
May your bows always be straight and joyfully tied!!
__________________
~~~ Barbara~~~ ~~Case me if you please~~100% great trades~~
OK, here's my bowtarded question: when I see a card with a ribbon going across the card, and a bow attached to it, is it just that? Two separate pieces? Or is the bow part of the ribbon running across? Because sometimes I see a ribbon across the card, then the bow has its own "tails". KWIM? And if it's attached, how? Just a glue dot? Tied on? So many questions, so much ribbon upstairs waiting!
This is exactly what I was thinking! I can't figure out what that picture #2 is. The #2 directions go with pic #3! Anyway, with all of these great directions, I think I'll be making bows much easier now...thanks!
Oh good, it's not just me.
signed,
another bowtarded person (who sometimes gets it right)
__________________ ~ Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers ~ (attributed to Socrates 470-399 BC)
"Martha's" directions I still can't follow but will try again when I've gotten my fingers untied. The other directions were great. Some time ago there were also directions for making the perfect bow & it's requires very little tying - here's the link - hope it works. Really does make a perfect bow. http://www.mostlyanimals.com/kristalhtml/tips/bow1.htm
SantaKitty
Well, isn't THAT clever! I'll have to try it.
__________________ ~ Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers ~ (attributed to Socrates 470-399 BC)
OK, here's my bowtarded question: when I see a card with a ribbon going across the card, and a bow attached to it, is it just that? Two separate pieces? Or is the bow part of the ribbon running across? Because sometimes I see a ribbon across the card, then the bow has its own "tails". KWIM? And if it's attached, how? Just a glue dot? Tied on? So many questions, so much ribbon upstairs waiting!
Well, I'll bet people do it different ways. What ever works, right? I have one example in my gallery where it's all one piece of ribbon. I had a bow diva coach me on this, and I'd have to be having a good day to attempt it again (being bowtarded). So, in this example, it's all one piece:
Hope that helps. If not, post a link to an example of your question.
__________________ ~ Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food and tyrannize their teachers ~ (attributed to Socrates 470-399 BC)
For anyone that bought the Bow-Easy plastic template...there is a set of picture instructions at www.morningstarstamps.com. I am not associated with them but bought one of the templates from them and found the pictures at their website under 'accessories.'
Many of us have the same bow-tying ignorance as you have described. Help is available...search Martha Stewart's website and the results will be plentiful.
I haven't giggled this much in a long time. The next time I scrap with my friends, may I use your catch phrase?!!! It will crack them up!
Bowtarded
Bowtarded
Dear Bowtarded,
