This very basic trick of “baking” grosgrain ribbon to curl it has been around forever, and I just love it! I love how simple it is, how fun it is, and how adorably cute it is! Below you’ll find my recipe for “baking” your ribbon. In my next post, you’ll find two great projects that use it!
Stay tuned!
Nikki, In Stitches
“Baking” Your Ribbon
Ingredients:
- Wooden dowels (These can be found at your local craft store, but they are 1 yard long. Cut them in half so they easily fit in your oven! You can use whatever is in stock…from 1/4″ up to 1/2″.)
- Bowl of water
- Ribbon
- Scissors
- Clothes pins
- Spray starch
- Aluminum foil
- Cookie sheet (Use an old one…you’re probably not going to want to eat off of it after this!)
Recipe:
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- Soak ribbon and clothes pins in a bowl of water until they are completely saturated. (I leave the ribbon uncut. Just unravel the whole spool and toss it in the bowl!)
- Use a clothes pin to attach your ribbon to one end of a wooden dowel. Wrap ribbon around the dowel like a spiral from one end all the way to the other. Cut ribbon with scissors and secure the end in place, again using a clothes pin.
Give your dowel a really good spray of starch.- Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Place dowels on sheet and bake for 20 minutes. (I bake a “batch” of dowels at a time…usually 10 dowels on a cookie sheet!)
- Let dowels cool and with a simple twist, remove ribbon from them. (You’ll be left with one very long curlicue!)
- Cut long curlicue into short ones, each measuring about 4″.
Don’t forget to check back soon to see what I’m going to make with these adorable curlicues!
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Nikki I LOVE this idea! Thank you for sharing your secret! xoxo
Thanks, Carla! It’s something I remember my mom doing, and couldn’t wait to try for myself. It’s so fun and couldn’t be easier! Like I said…stay tuned for next week when I post some super cute Valentine’s Day projects that incorporate my curlicues!! XOXO
I love this!! Thank you so much for sharing. <3
My pleasure, Stefani! I can’t wait to see what you make with your curlicues!
Nikki, I love this!! I always wondered how those cute hair bows had ribbons that are curled so perfect! I’m assuming this is how…definitely going to try this! Thanks for sharing!!
Yay, Lindsay!! I’m so happy you like it! Stay tuned for next week…I may or may not have a few tips for making those hair bows in the works!!
Cutie patooties!
Wow, what a clever technique!
I’ve never heard of this trick either! Thanks so much for sharing!
My pleasure, girls! Send pics of what you make with all of your curlicues!! XOXO
I have to do this!
Yay, Kristina!! Can’t wait to see what you make with all of your curlicues!!
i used to make all mu daughters hair bows using this technique.
So simple, right Tracy?
I’ve already my little one a ton of them…I can’t stop buying ribbon!
Always wondered how you kept the curl in these ribbons. My grandaughter got hers wet from the rain so now I can reform them. Thanks so much!
My pleasure, Lisa! This is one of my favorite new tricks!
Hi
Cute wreath! Any idea how to make it weather resistant so I could put a wreath like this on my front door which is undercover?
Carolin…great question!
I don’t think there is a way to make completely weather resistant. I certainly wouldn’t put it somewhere that rain will hit it. I think it might make it through a bit of humidity, but not much. Maybe “twice bake” them? Give them one shot of starch, bake them, and let them cool. Then hit them again with the starch and another trip to the oven. Let me know if that works!
Hi Nikki,
I always wondered how this was done. Thank you for sharing. I have 6 granddauaghters and this will be very helpful. Thanks again.
My pleasure, Lilly! I have a feeling your granddaughters are going to have lots of new hair bows soon!
Hi – can’t wait to try this! Just checking, though… is your 250 degrees in Fahrenheit or Celcius? I don’t want to end up with charred remains if I guess wrong
Ooooops! I guess I should have said which one, right? Fahrenheit! Sorry!