Looking for holiday ribbons for dogs? See these festive options for your pet!
Making Some Flair for My Pup
Okay, so I was scrolling the other day, you know how it is, and I saw these dogs with the cutest little bows in their hair. And I thought, hey, my fluffy guy could use a bit of pizzazz too! Plus, store-bought ones can be kinda pricey for what they are, right? So I decided, I'm gonna try making some myself.
First thing, gotta get the stuff. I raided my craft box first, found some old ribbons from presents and stuff. Mostly satin, some sparkly ones. Not much variety, though. So, I popped down to the craft store. Didn't go crazy, just grabbed a few more rolls. Definitely needed different widths and textures. Got some thin grosgrain ribbon – that's the sturdy stuff with the ribs – and some wider, patterned ones just for fun. Then, the important part: how to attach 'em? I wasn't sure what would work best on my dog's fur, so I got a pack of small alligator clips and some tiny elastic bands, like the ones for braids.
Getting Started (and a bit messy)
Back home, I cleared a space on the table. Pulled out my trusty hot glue gun. Seemed faster than sewing, and honestly, my sewing skills are... basic. Let me tell you, that first bow was a learning experience. I tried making a simple loop bow, folded it over, tried to pinch the middle. Getting it symmetrical was harder than it looked! My fingers got covered in hot glue strings. Looked kinda lopsided when I was done.
I figured out a better way after a couple of tries.
- Cut a piece of ribbon.
- Fold the ends towards the middle, overlapping them slightly.
- Put a dab of glue to hold the ends down.
- Pinch the middle of the ribbon together.
- Wrap a smaller, thin piece of ribbon around the pinched middle part to cover it up and make it look neat. Glue that down in the back.
That worked way better! Still took a few tries to get the hang of pinching it just right so it looked like an actual bow and not a squished piece of fabric. I made a few simple ones like this with different ribbons.
Trying Clips vs. Bands
Next step, attaching the clip or band. I glued an alligator clip onto the back of one bow. Waited for it to dry properly. Then I tried it on my dog. He wasn't thrilled, haha. Shook his head a bit. The clip held okay on his longer head fur, but I worried it might pull or slip out easily if he really got moving.
Then I tried the elastic band method. For this, I just looped a tiny elastic band through the back of the center wrap piece before I glued it completely shut. This seemed much better for staying put, especially for the fur on top of his head. Less bulky than the clip too.
The Final Look!
So now I've got a small collection going! Made a few different sizes and used various ribbons. My favorite is a little red grosgrain one, looks super smart. Put it on him this morning. He pretty much ignored it after the first minute, which is a win in my book. Means it's not bothering him!
It was actually pretty fun, and honestly, way cheaper than buying them. Took maybe an hour once I got the hang of it. Plus, it feels kinda cool seeing him trot around with something I made. Might make some more for my friend's dog next. Definitely a simple little project if you want to add some cheap flair to your furry buddy.
