Sewing Tutorial | Bow Barrette

Sarah A
Dec 29, 2025
2 min read

Barrette Bow in Mauve Cotton/Linen fabric

Beginner-friendly sewing tutorial for a beautiful bow barrette. It is a great little project to hone your sewing skills or an easy scrap busting project for the seasoned sewist.

This bow can be made up in lovely cotton or linen fabrics. Light-weight woven fabrics will result in a cute drapey bow. It could also be made up in more firmer fabric which would result in a more structured, firmer bow.

Suggested sewing supplies

Fabric - eg. linen, cotton and matching thread
Measuring tape
Fabric marking pen/pencil
Scissors
Sewing machine
Barrette clasp (approximately 7 cms long)
Hand sewing needle
Optional - Bees wax for strengthening hand sewing thread

Pattern and sewing the main bow fabric

Press the fabric. Cut one 22 cm x 16 cm square (main bow fabric) and a smaller 15 cm x 8 cm (centre bow loop).
Fold the main bow fabric (right sides facing) in half lengthwise and press.
Press main fabric in half lengthwise
Sew all edges with 1 cm seam allowance leaving a 2-3 cm gap (around the centre) on the long edge to enable turning of the bow. Trim seam allowance to 6mm and clip corners to reduce bulk. You will have created a long tube.
Sew main fabric piece with 1cm seam allowance leaving a 2-3 cm gap to allow turning
Turn tube (right sides outward facing) and press again. Sew up turning gap using an edge stitch (sew 2-3mm from edge). It can also be left unsewn as this section will be gathered into the centre of the bow.

Sewing the smaller centre piece

Fold right sides together and sew 1 cm seam allowance on the long edge. Turn right sides outward facing and press.
Fold in half crosswise in the centre, and sew shorter edges together with a 1 cm seam allowance.
Trim the seam allowance to 6mm and turn raw edges to inside.

Constructing the bow

Fold the bow similar to the image below. You can adjust the bow loops and tails to be whatever size you think looks best.
Slide the smaller bow centre piece over the bow and adjust bow loops and tails. You might like to make this centre loop smaller by folding the sides inwards or you could give it a twist. The design is very flexible and all depends on the look of the bow you are going for. Play around with it and get creative 😊.

Adjusting the main bow fabric
Almost done

Attach barrette clasp

Position the clasp in the centre back and hand sew using loops on the ends of the clasp to attach to the back of bow. Only sew through the back layer of fabric, not through to the front.
Hand sew barrette clasp to back of bow

Secure hand stitches and trim excess thread