How to Make Cheer Bows with a Cricut

Did you know that you can make cheer bows using your Cricut machine? I will guide you through the entire process of creating a cheer bow and adding heat transfer vinyl to the tails for customization. You can personalize these bows with different colors, mascots, and phrases to match any team. Your cheerleading squad will look fantastic with matching bows for any sports season!

Table of Contents

Cheer Bows

From making the bow to adding the decoration, I have everything you need to know below!

For this project, I am going to use a Bowdabra to make my bows, as I find that the easiest and quickest way to create beautiful bows. This is especially true if you are making bows for an entire squad! However, you can definitely make these bows without the assistance of the bow maker if you don’t have one.

Supplies Needed To Make Cheer Bows

Bowdabra Bow Maker
Ribbon
Heat Transfer Vinyl
Cricut Machine
Cricut EasyPress or Iron
Stiffen Spray (optional)
Ruler
Scissors
Lighter
Hot Glue and Glue Gun
Ponytail Holders

Ribbon Type

I actually used a few different ribbon types to make the cheer bows in this post. I would suggest a 2 1/2- to 3-inch-wide ribbon for large bows and a narrower ribbon for smaller bows. You can use wire-edged ribbons if you want the bows to be able to hold their shape on their own. The large bows require about 28 inches of ribbon, while the smaller bows need about 18 inches of ribbon.

How To Make A Cheer Bow

Now that you have your supplies, it is time to make the bows and add some embellishments. Be sure to pick colors that match your team, and look for a design to cut from HTV that coordinates.

Making Ribbon Bows

Step 1: Cut Ribbon

Cut your ribbon to length. I find that 28 inches works well for large bows and 18 inches for small ones. If you are NOT using wire-edged ribbon, see my tips below for stiffening the ribbon before proceeding.

Adding a Stiffening Spray (if needed)

For plain grosgrain ribbon, use a stiffener spray on the surface and let it dry before beginning. This is optional, but it will keep your bows standing up. Just protect your work surface with paper, then spray the entire length of ribbon. Allow to dry, then follow the instructions below to make a bow.

Step 2: Add Wire

Start by adding wire into your Bowdabra.

Step 3: Fold Ribbon

Fold your ribbon where you have two loops of equal size and two tails of equal size.

Step 4: Add Ribbon To Bowdabra

Add the ribbon to the Bowdabra.

Step 5: Push Ribbon Down

Push the ribbon all the way down to the bottom.

Step 6: Double Check That The Ribbon Is Pushed Down

Use the piece for the Bowdabra to make sure the ribbon is pushed down well.

Step 7: Wrap Wire Around The Ribbon

Wrap the wire around the center of the ribbon, then pull it tight. Use the wire to lift the bow out of the Bowdabra.

Step 8: Tighten Wire

Tighten and twist the wire several times to create your bow.

Adding a Hair Tie

Now that you have your bow, you will want to add a hair tie to the back.

Step 1: Attach the Bow To Ponytail Holder

Use the wire to attach a ponytail holder to the back. Be sure to wrap several times and pull tight.

Finishing the Ribbon Bow

Step 1: Cut Ribbon Tails

Cut the ends of your ribbon into a “V” by folding in half. You can gently burn the ends of your ribbon with a lighter to prevent fraying.

Step 2: Cut A Piece Of Ribbon

Cut a small piece of a different ribbon. This ribbon can be the same or a different color. I like it to be fairly narrow.

Step 3: Hot Glue Ribbon To Bow

Wrap it around the center and secure with a bit of hot glue in the back.

wrapping ribbon around the middle of a bow

Step 4: Burn Ribbon Ends With Lighter

Trim away any excess and burn the cut end with a lighter.

burning the ends of ribbon to keep it from fraying

How to Put HTV on Cheer Bows

Step 1: Cut Out Design In HTV

Why not add a design with your Cricut machine? Pick out a cute design and cut it from HTV. Be sure to mirror your design and place the shiny side down on the mat when cutting.

Step 2: Weed Design

Once cut, weed away all excess and place your design on your ribbon.

Step 3: Cover The Bow With A Protective Sheet

I usually cover my bows with a protective sheet when ironing in order to protect the ribbon.

teflon sheet over a bow made from ribbon

Step 4: Adhere Design To Bow

Then use your Cricut EasyPress or an iron to adhere your heat transfer vinyl according to the package directions.

using easypress on a ribbon bow to add iron on

Step 4: Peel Away Carrier Sheet

Peel the carrier sheet away, and Hooray, you have just learned how to make cheer bows!

I ended up making a few different designs. You can pick and choose the colors, font, logos, or even mascots that will work well for your cheerleaders!

Grab your supplies and make a few cheer bows today! I know the entire team will love them, or just make a few for your little cheerleader!

You can even adapt this tutorial to other types of hair bows. Add cute designs to the ends with heat transfer vinyl or just leave them plain. Either way, your little one is sure to love them!

So, will you be making some cheer bows this season? Be sure to use the ribbon measurements and pick up plenty of ribbon if you are making bows for an entire squad. Nothing is worse than running out of ribbon and not being able to find the same type or brand.

FAQs About How To Make A Cheer Bow

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions I receive about how to make a cheer bow. If your question isn’t listed, feel free to drop it in the comments and I’ll be happy to help!

Where Can I Buy The Bowdabra?

You can buy the Bowdabra from Amazon!

What Type Of Ribbon Can I Use For This Project?

You can use whatever ribbon you have on hand for this project. However, if you are looking for a good place to start, I would recommend using Grosgrain Ribbon.

Can I Use The Cricut EasyPress Mini For This Project?

Yes, you can! The Cricut EasyPress Mini would be perfect for this project since we are not using a ton of HTV on each bow. If you want to learn more about the EasyPress Mini, check out my Cricut EasyPress Mini: Everything You Need to Know blog post!

Can I Use Regular Vinyl For This Project?

You can, but I found that HTV works better for this project because it can adhere to a variety of ribbon types.

Now, if you are still on the fence about using HTV, check out my How To Use Iron On Vinyl (a.k.a., Heat Transfer Vinyl) blog post to learn more about HTV!

6 More Cricut Crafts

Did you love learning about how to make a cheer bow, and want more Cricut crafts? Check out the projects below!