May 08 2009
Bow-Easy Tutorial
This is a Bow Easy Step-by-Step Photo Tutorial. I realize the instructions prepared by the manufacturer that come with the Bow Easy are not the easiest to follow, and I prepared this tutorial to assist my customers in learning to use the Bow Easy. This tutorial is available in larger print form to be emailed to you upon receipt of payment of your Bow Easy. Just request it by asking — email me at ssj@up.net.
As an added bonus, you may view a Video Tutorial by Jerri Kay on using the Bow Easy as well.
You may learn more about the Bow Easy by reading this post.
Thanks so much for purchasing your Bow Easy from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. If you’d like to place an order or have any questions, my email is ssj@up.net.
I hope my creations contained throughout this Blog will help to inspire you! You may click here to see some more Bow Easy creations.
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BOW-EASY TUTORIAL
Written by Sharon Johnson, Stamp Simply
http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/
This photo tutorial is meant to serve as a supplement to the instructions that come with your Bow-Easy. I think often it is easier to follow photos than drawings. Please refer to the drawings that came with your Bow-Easy to see the 7 different leg configurations of the Bow-Easy, allowing you to make 7 different sized bows.
Photo 1: Hold the Bow-Easy in your left hand as shown. (These are written for a right handed person.)
Photo 2: Cut about a 12” length of ribbon for practice. I’m using a ribbon that is 3/8” wide. It’s best to use a medium width ribbon for practice — not too narrow, not too wide. Though once you learn, you can use any size ribbon. I am also using a striped ribbon as I think that may help you to follow the placement and path of the ribbon better. Place the ribbon across the legs as shown. The short ribbon tail is to the left of my left thumb. The remaining length of ribbon is off to the right.
Photo 3: With the length of ribbon that is in your right hand, wrap it around the legs from behind, come up and across as shown.
Photo 4: Now take the end of the ribbon tail and run it through the opening between the legs. You are going above the ribbon first placed down, down into the *hole* and through to the bottom. It helps to do this if you cut your ribbon end at a sharp angle to form a point.
Photo 5: Once through the *hole*, you can pull it down from behind as shown. Don’t pull it super tight, allow a bit of slack to insert the ribbon end through as explained in the next step.
Photo 6: Taking your pointed end again in your right hand, draw it up and pass it under the loop created in Photo 5, as shown. (During this entire process your left thumb continues to hold the short, left ribbon tail in place.) This is probably the most critical step. If you don’t run it properly in this step, it just won’t work, so try again! No worries!
6A: I probably should have had another photo between Photos 6 and Photo 7, but my cameraman is gone and I can’t do this alone – sorry! To make the transition from Photo 6 above to Photo 7 below, just pull on the ribbon tail in your right hand to make it tighten up as you begin to form your knot.
Photo 7: Keeping your left hand on the same little tail it’s been on from the beginning, and keeping the tail you’ve been working with in your right hand, pull the ends up and tight as it forms the knot. You are pulling up and away from you. What you have just created and what you see in this photo is the back of the bow. And it is also upside down, so to speak. But adjusting those ribbon tails up, they will be hanging down when removed.
Photo 8: Turn the Bow-Easy over. This is what the right side of the bow looks like. Now merely slip it off the legs.
Photo 9: The completed bow. Tail ends were clipped after removing from the Bow-Easy.
There, now wasn’t that fun! Each one you do gets quicker and quicker. If you mess up your first time or two, no problem. Just start over. It won’t take long and you’ll be getting perfect bows!
To make a double-looped bow, refer back to Photo 3. Just continue to wrap the ribbon around one more time before proceeding to Photo 4. For a triple-looped bow, wrap it 3 times.
Again, you can use any width ribbon once you get the hang of it. The link I am providing below shows a card I did with a bird and blue bow. On this card I have a double bow using 1.25” silk ribbon. The ribbon is wide, but being so soft and lightweight, I can easily squish it onto the legs of the Bow-Easy. Once removed from the Bow-Easy, just fan out the 2 loops to your liking. Also shown on this link are numerous sizes and styles of bows from single looped to multi-looped prepared so kindly by Jenny Gropp. Thank you, Jenny! Here’s that link:
http://notimetostamp.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/05/05/bows-made-easy-with-bow-easy/
I hope this photo tutorial has been helpful.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for purchasing the Bow Easy from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store! Much appreciated!!!
A fabulous ribbon tutorial Sharon, I call the Bow Easy my secret weapon for fabulous bows . . . .LOL! Thank you so much for finding this little gem and passing it on to all of us!!!
Thanks Sharon! Can’t wait for mine to arrive!
Your instructions are excellent! Very easy to follow your clear directions and the pics are just the thing to help those of us that are more “visual” when learning how to use the Bow-Easy — Pictures Good! lol!!! I am so glad the Bow-Easy will be here in your store — it is such an amazing and inexpensive little tool — everyone needs it!!!
Thank you for sharing this tutorial, Sharon!
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, SHARON!! hope you day is wonderful and relaxing!
TFS your Bow Easy tutorial. I just watched Jerri Kay’s video tutorial……wow, she did an awesome job. I am a real fan of video tutorials as I am a visual kind of girl. I will be ordering my Bow Easy soon. Happy Mother’s Day, nancy
Wonderful tutorial, Sharon!! Thanks so much…and Happy Mother’s Day!!
[…] Bow-Easy update: I still expect shipments 2 and 3 to arrive by the end of this week or very beginning of next week. Those on *the list* will be notified as soon as they do arrive. Shipment 4 should follow by another 3/4/5 days. If you would like to be put on the waiting list, just email me at ssj@up.net and I’ll add you. Read more about the bow easy here and here. […]
[…] know what the Bow Easy is — read here and here. You may still request to be on the waiting list by emailing me at […]
Hi Sharon, the bow easy’s my friend and I ordered arrived today, thank you so much, I have just had chance to sit down and have a go, I followed your photo tutorial and I was expecting to struggle a little as I am left-handed, but it went perfectly! I made a beautiful perfect little bow first time, it was so easy, I’m so impressed. I’m off now upstairs to find some more ribbon and have a go at the double and triple ones! Thank you Sharon.
[…] seconds using my Bow-Easy. If you don’t know what a Bow-Easy is, you can read more here and here. I am still gladly taking orders. My bow is attached with a glue dot. Making pretty bows has […]
[…] a card - LOL!!!Don’t know what the Bow Easy is, then read more about the bow easy here and here. I have plenty more coming and orders are welcome at any time.Wishing you all a wonderful week […]
[…] I do believe the creator of this stamped sentiment by JustRite from the Tiny Words Set most likely intended this for the back of a card… made with love, then you sign or initial your creation. However, I just adore this tiny little sentiment and feel it is totally appropriate for the front of a hand-made card. The recipient will be so pleased to know this creation was … made with love … just for them! My paper image was cut using my old dressmaker pinking shears and my lace border and threading holes were done with Martha Stewart punches. This 100% silk ribbon is perfect for threading as it is so soft and piable it essentially adds NO bullk. My bow was then made using the Bow Easy and applied with glue. Dont’ know what the Bow Easy is? Read here and here. […]
Sharon, I just received my Bow-Easy in the mail a few minutes ago and have made several bows with it already. The instructions that came with it were not clear enough to be helpful, the video was helpful, but I found your photo tutorial the most helpful. Thanks for all the helpful info. I know I am going to enjoy making bows now. I’ll probably put bows on everything now. grins.
Thank you.
Leslie
[…] and it certainly does make pretty bows easy to accomplish. I followed Sharon’s tutorial here. Thank you, […]
I would like to order 2 of the Bow Easys. Tell me how I can get them.
Thought i’d share a tip.
If you get a bulldog clip, or one of the other squeeze type ones.
Then place it over the gap between the two bow sections, the hole in the centre…
When you thread the ribbon through the hole the ribbon is trapped and can’t come off the bow maker till you remove the clip.
This really helps when you are using ribbon that keeps slipping off, as you try to tie the bow.
I just received my Bow Easy this morning and was really struggling to follow the instructions with it. Your tutorial has helped been a great help. Thank you!
Clare x
[…] Refer to this post if you’d like to read a Bow Easy Tutorial. […]
[…] make such a pretty little bow. You can find the Bow Easy here, and a tutorial on how to use it here.  Many of my bows, however, I still make the old-fashioned way — just hand tied.  […]
[…] bow was made with the aid of my Bow Easy from Sharon Johnson. I found Sharon’s instructions here very easy to follow, but she also gives a link to Jerri Kay’s video tutorial. It’s […]
Wonderful tutorial, I am so appreciative!