Want to give a simple sweater that little bit extra? With a large bow, you can instantly turn a basic item into something special. In this tutorial, I’ll show you step-by-step how to sew a fabric bow onto a sweater yourself — without needing to rely on patterns you have to buy.

👉 Ideal if, like me, you want everything to stay looking great even after washing.

✂️ What do you need?

• Fabric (e.g., French Terry fabric)

• Sewing machine

• Thread

• Scissors

• Optional: fabric glue (for temporary fixing)

Products used in this tutorial:

🧵 Step-by-step: sewing a bow onto a sweater

Step 1 – Determine the size of your bow

Start by determining the correct dimensions. • Width: approximately equal to the shoulder seam (± 15 cm) • Length: ± 20 cm • Loop (center piece): 5 cm wide and 10 cm long 👉 Feel free to adjust this if you want a larger or more subtle bow.

Step 2 – Sew the bow parts

Sew the fabric parts:

• 2 long sides
• 1 short side.

Leave one short side open.

Then, trim the corners diagonally — this will make it easier to turn the fabric right side out neatly. Turn the bow right side out.

Step 3 – Topstitch for durability

Topstitch the edges of the bow.

👉 This ensures that the bow:

• keeps its shape well
• is more resistant to washing

Note: with French Terry, the fabric may start to ripple slightly. Press it flat afterwards.

Step 4 – Make the loop

Sew the piece of fabric for the loop:

• sew it closed
• turn it inside out
• tuck one side in neatly and slide the other end inside so you don't see any raw edges
• sew this in place

👉 Note: don't make the loop too tight — otherwise you won't be able to pull the bow through easily.

Step 5 – Position the bow

Place the bow on the front panel of the sweater.

• Keep ± 1.5 – 2 cm distance from the neckline and shoulders
• This makes the bow drape more nicely and naturally
• Use a glue stick if necessary to temporarily secure the bow so it doesn't shift.

Sew the shoulder seam together with the bow in place.

Step 6 – Attach the bow to the shoulders

Secure the bow by stitching over the shoulders.

• This can be done with a coverstitch or a regular sewing machine,
• Do this on both sides

Continue finishing the sweater (cuffs, neckline, etc.).

Step 7 – Extra reinforcement

For extra durability:

• secure the bow again with a little glue
• then stitch it permanently onto the sweater

👉 This way, everything stays firmly in place, even after multiple washes.

✨ Step 8 – Finished!

Your sweater is now completely done 🎀

A simple basic, but with a striking result. Perfect to wear yourself or for your children.

👉 Tip: next time, you can make the bow even bigger for an extra statement look.

💡 Extra tips:

• Use a sturdy fabric like French Terry for the best result
• Combine with matching ribbing for a cohesive look
• Make several variations in different colors