Korker Screw Bows

Materials

10-20 2" lengths of korker ribbon (this means ribbon that you have curled into a "korker" style using the directions below)

3 8" lengths of 5/8-1" ribbon (of any kind)

3 6.5" lengths of 3/8 - 5/8" ribbon of any kind

12" embroidery floss

Large sewing needle

Scissors

Glue gun

Barrette, french clip, alligator clip, or headband

Fray Check or clear nail polish or cig lighter

Korker Ribbon Curling Instructions

1/4" or 5/16" wooden dowels.

Wooden clothespins

Any 100% polyester fabric ribbon (grosgrain, satin, woven, jacquard, organza, etc.)

Preheat your oven to 275 Degrees Fahrenheit.

1. Start by placing your 3/8” ribbon at the top of the dowel and securing it in place with a clothespin. Twist the dowel with your right hand while managing the ribbon with your left hand thumb. After a couple times, this will become very easy for you. When you get to the end, cut the ribbon and use another clothespin to secure the ribbon to the dowel.

2. Place your dowels on a cookie sheet. Or, you can line one of your oven racks with Aluminum Foil and place the dowels directly on the oven rack. I have found that using a cookie sheet is so much easier!

Place your dowels in the oven and bake at 275 Degrees for approximately 25 minutes. You can bake for longer if you wish.

PLEASE NOTE: All ovens vary so you may need to make adjustments.

Though wetting your ribbon before baking does not prove to make any difference, many people do find that spraying the ribbon with a fabric stiffener before baking does indeed help.

Mini Korkers!

To make bows with those teeny tiny little korker ribbons, simply use the thinnest dowel you can find along with the narrowest ribbon. There are no hard, firm rules...., so make your OWN rules!

Bow Assembly Instructions

1. Cut your korker ribbon to the size and number you want. You may want to line the ribbons out in the order that you would like.

2. Seal the ends of all the ribbons with a lighter or nail polish.

3. Take one of the three widest/longest ribbons and make a circle overlapping the ends by 1/4 inch. Thread the needle through the overlapped ends and then through the center of the ribbon - dissecting the ribbon exactly in half. When pulled tight, the ribbon will have two equal loops on either side of the thread.

4. Now take the needle back through the middle to make a stitch.

5. Take a second fat ribbon and make a circle just like before. Thread this circle onto the needle just as before, but do not stitch back through. This will make the overlaps on both circles touch. This will give the bottom of the bow a finished look.

6. Add the third fat ribbon. When all three ribbons are threaded and pulled tight, you should have 6 loops that form a flower around the thread.

7. Option: If you have three other fat ribbons that are just an inch shorter, thread those on now the same way you did before. Creating a smaller flower on top.

8. Now start placing the korker ribbon onto the needle but do not thread it all the way down – you want it to still be on the needle. Hold your thumb at the bottom of the needle to prevent the ribbon from sliding down.

9. Continue placing the korker ribbon onto the needle, placing each korker in a different direction – don’t worry, if you have a long enough needle there should be plenty of room.

10. Now thread the needle all the way through until the korker ribbons meet the flower.

11. Set bow aside and wrap 3 inches of straight korker ribbon around the barrett with glue to give it finished look.

12. Now take your needle back through the middle to make a stitch.

Because of the thickness of the ribbon, this can be very difficult, so be careful not to poke yourself. Maybe even use a thimble. As you come through the bottom of the bow, take the wrapped barrett and include it to the bow as you are sewing to give it extra security. Repeat this a couple of times to make the bow more secure.

13. Optional: Lift each pedal of the “flower” and place a dab of glue near the thread to secure the look.

And that’s it! You have a finished “Sewn Korker Bow”.

Krinkle Ribbons - optional

Many people like to put some krinkle ribbon into their bows along with the korkers. I suggest cutting your lengths of krinkle the same as the lengths of korker you are using and staggering them right into your little stack of lengths before tying it off into a bow. I find that a ratio of 1 krinkle to 5 or 6 korkers looks pretty great.

Simply take a length of ribbon. Thread a needle with a similarly colored thread and weave the threaded needle in and out of ribbon down the center lengthwise, from end to end. Hold the end and gently slide the ribbon toward knotted end, much like when you are pushing a curtain onto a curtain rod. Tie a knot at end to prevent unraveling.