Patterns for Pirates

P4P stylish, modern, wearable patterns

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Pattern Releases
      • Free Patterns
    • P4P University
      • Fitting
      • Sewing with Stretch, Knit Fabrics
      • Sewing with Woven Fabrics
      • Sewing Machines
    • Sew-A-Longs
    • Fabric for Pirates
    • Pattern Hacks
    • Announcement
      • Blog Tours
      • Contest/Giveaway
  • Shop
  • Bundle Discounts
  • Flash Friday
  • Gift Cards
  • My Account
  • Cart

2022 Holiday Freebies :: Holiday Hair Bows

November 30, 2022

Happy Holidays, Pirate Friends!  We are excitedly back for another year and another round of holiday freebies to share with you!  Since 2016, we’ve compiled different tutorials and patterns that we think would make *perfect* gifts for your friends and family. Curious about what we’ve already released in the way of holiday freebies? Head right here to see all of them: Holiday Freebies Roundup.

Today, we are bringing you the: Holiday Hair Bows!

The Holiday Hair Bows are the cutest and most festive things you’ll probably make this holiday season!  Each bow finishes at 6″ wide and can be attached to hair ties / barrettes, be turned into an ornament for your tree, be used as decoration for your packages….or any other decorative use you can come up with!

There are four different bow designs included in this one free pattern: Santa, Snowman, Elf and Reindeer.  The construction is super simple and quick and you’ll be able to make a bunch of these Holiday Hair Bows in no time!

Fabric Requirements / Recommendations: Small Amounts of Quilting Cotton Fabrics for Bows / Felt for Reindeer Antlers + Snowman Tophat

Other supplies needed:

  • Lightweight Fusible Interfacing, if desired I like Pellon SF101, or Heat & Bond 3336
  • Hot Glue or Fabri-Tac
  • Yarn / small elastic / thread
  • An alligator clip / headband / hairtie / whatever you plan to attach to your bow.

Grab Your Pattern Pieces Here: Holiday Hair Bow pattern pieces

PATTERN PIECES NEEDED:

Reindeer Bow pieces needed:
– 2 Bow Tails, cut on fold
– 2 Antlers, mirror images (cut from felt)
– 1 Bow Center
– 1 Main Bow, cut on fold

Snowman Bow pieces needed:
– 2 Bow Tails, cut on fold
– 1 Main Bow, cut on fold
– 1 Bow Center
– 3 buttons
– 1 Tophat (cut from felt)

Santa Bow pieces needed:
– 1 Bow Tail, cut on fold
– 1 Bow Tail (piece 1), cut on fold
– 2 Bow Tail (piece 2)
– 2 Bow Tail (piece 3)
– 1 Bow Center
– 2 Main Bow (piece 1), cut on fold
– 1 Main Bow (piece 2), cut on fold

Elf Bow pieces needed:
– 1 main Bow, cut on fold
– 1 Bow Tail (back), cut on fold
– 1 Bow Tail (piece 1), cut on fold
– 2 Bow Tail (piece 2)
– 2 Bow Tail (piece 3), mirror
– 1 Bow Center

Now that we’ve got our pieces all cut and ready, let’s get to sewing up these cuties!

TUTORIAL

Basic Bow Construction:

Step 1: Place Bow Tails together, with right sides facing each other.

Sew along entire outer edge, using 1/4″ seam allowance. Be sure to leave 1.5-2″ opening for turning.

Step 2: Trim seam allowances for cleaner curves, turn Bow Tail right sides out through the opening you left.

Step 3: Using thread / yarn, tie off and cinch the center of Bow Tail. Set aside.

Step 4: Place main bow piece right sides. up. Fold in half, with right sides together, matching the long edges.

Step 5: Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 6: Turn tube right sides out and press, with the seam moved to the center back.

Step 7: Place the main bow piece with right sides up. Fold in half, right sides together, meeting the short raw edges.

Step 8: Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Step 10: Turn right sides out, hiding your seam allowance in the center of this new bow loop you’ve created. Center the seam in the middle back of the pattern piece.

Step 11: Using thread / yarn, tie off and cinch the center of the main bow piece.

Step 12: Attach the main bow to the bow tail, tying them together at their centers.

Step 13: Fold bow center into thirds and press.

Step 14: With bow center facing down, center the bow (also facing down) and place a dab of glue. Wrap bow center around bow, securing with glue. Be sure to tuck the raw edges under before securing, to prohibit any fraying while in use.

You did it! Your basic bow is complete!

To make the Reindeer Bow:

– Complete steps 1-14 of basic construction.
– Glue / hand stitch the antlers to the back side of the main bow.

All done! Rudolph will be pleased!

To make the Elf Bow:

– Align elf bow tail piece 3 and piece 2 along straight edge.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Align elf bow tail pieces to the tail piece 1, right sides together.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Align elf bow tail pieces to the other Piece 2, right sides together. Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Align elf bow tail pieces to the final Piece 2, right sides together.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Complete steps 1-14 of basic construction.

You’re done! Buddy the Elf would be proud!

To make the Santa Bow:

– Align santa bow tail piece 3 and piece 2 along straight edge.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Align Santa bow tail pieces to the tail piece 1, right sides together.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Align Santa bow tail pieces to the other Piece 2, right sides together.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Align Santa bow tail pieces to the final Piece 2, right sides together.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances. Press open.

– Complete steps 1-3 of basic construction.

– Align Santa main bow pieces, using one Piece 1 and Piece 2.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances along long edge. Press open.

– Align remaining Santa Main Bow Piece 1 with already sewn main bow pieces, right sides together.

– Sew using 1/4″ seam allowances along long edge. Press open.

– Complete Santa bow using steps 4-14 of basic construction.

You’re finished! The Jolly guy will be tickled!

To make the Snowman Bow:

– Complete steps 1-14 of basic construction.
– Glue / hand stitch three buttons to one of the bow tails.
– Glue / hand stitch the tophat to the opposite side of the main bow.

You’re all set! Frosty would approve!

In case you consider yourself a more “visual learner” here’s a video tutorial that walks you through the entire tutorial, start-to-finish.

Before you go, take a look at what our jolly holiday testers made using the Holiday Hair Bows pattern!!

I la-la-love when you share your photos with me!  Head over to the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group and show us what you’ve made!

Happy Holidays, Pirates!

Filed Under: Free Pattern, Pattern Release Leave a Comment

2018 Holiday Freebies :: Critter Clutch

December 3, 2018

Welcome back to the second day of our P4P Holiday Freebies 2018!  I’m not sure I can even handle the excitement I have over today’s free pattern.  I am so happy to have this idea out of my head and finally in pattern form, to share with all of you.  AND FOR FREE!

These Critter Clutches are simply adorable!  They take minimal amounts of fabric, with not too much time involved in it.  The hardest part is deciding which version to do first: Unicorn, Reindeer or Fox??!!

You will need:
— Critter Clutch pattern pieces + Eye Digital Designs for HTV (found HERE)
— 1/2 yard main fabric, 1/2 yard lining fabric
— Fusible Fleece: I like Pellon 987F (aff link)
— Buttons / Snaps / Velcro for eyes and closures

Recommended fabrics: quilting cotton, kona cotton, flannel, etc.

Cut out all pieces needed for your corresponding bag.

Prepping the Strap:

Cut 3″ long x 34″ wide strip of fabric.
**Note: Depending if you or the recipient will be wearing it cross body or straight down from one shoulder, you may want to adjust the width of this piece to your liking.

1. Fold in half, with long edges touching, wrong sides together. Press.
2. + 3. Open up, and fold each long edge into the crease you just created.
4. Fold, completely enclosing the raw edges.

Edge stitch along both long edges. Set aside.  Finished width: 3/4″.

Horn / Ear / Antler / Nose Pieces: 

*Tip: I added fusible fleece to these pieces to help them stand up better.  Some of our testers opted to fill them with a small amount of fiberfil.  Either way works!


Right sides together, sew along the outer edges using 1/4″ seam allowance. Leave the bottom open for turning.

Clip corners and allowance before turning to get a crisper edge.  Topstitch if desired.

I like to get a little funky with the unicorn horn and add some decorative stitches to it.  This also helps the horn’s stiffness.

Apply Interfacing:

Carefully trim away 1/4″ from each interfacing piece, to allow for easier turning.

Following the instructions from the manufacturer, apply interfacing to these pieces:

  • Front Main Piece
  • Main Gussett

Eyes + Closures:

I personally like to add the eyes and velcro / snaps to the front main piece before we assemble the bag.  It allows for all of the stitching or snaps to be enclosed inside of the bags, and it’s a lot easier to apply HTV to a flat surface.  You can wait until the end if you’d like!

The Fox and Reindeer’s eyes need to be a little more wide set.  And the Unicorn’s eyes work best if you apply them closer to the bottom of the bag front.

Velcro / button placement on front main piece:

  • Unicorn / Plain Bag: 2″ from the top, centered (4.5″ from either side)
  • Fox / Reindeer: 2″ from the bottom, centered

Velcro / button placement on Back Lining piece:

  • Unicorn / Plain Bag: 2″ from the top, centered (4.5″ from either side)
  • Fox / Reindeer: 1.5″ from the bottom, centered

REINDEER ONLY:

1″ from the top edge, pin and baste ears in place using 1/8″ seam allowance.

Back Main Assembly:

UNICORN ONLY: Take back main piece and mark the center along the top, straight edge.  Mark center of horn piece.

Right sides together, align and pin/clip horn in place.

Place ears on either side of horn.  **Be sure not to go outside of your seam allowance on the outer edges, or you’ll have trouble turning your bag because the ears will be stuck in the outer edges.

FOX and REINDEER ONLY:

Right sides together, place ears and antlers (not pictured) 1″ from the outer edge.

ALL ANIMAL BAGS:

Place top piece, right sides together. Stitch with 1/4″ seam allowance.

Press open, with horn, antlers and/or ears pressed toward top and seam allowance pressed down.

Follow the manufacturer directions and iron your fusible interfacing onto the back side of the back main piece.

Attaching the Gusset:

Mark middle bottom of back piece and middle of both long edges of outer gusset piece.

Right sides together, ease gusset around bottom edge of back piece.  Sew using 1/4″ seam allowance.

Repeat for front main piece, attaching right sides together to other edge of gusset.

Repeat for lining pieces. Only this time, leave 4-5″ gap in one of the lining curves, to allow for turning.

Using 1/4″ allowance, baste straps, centered, on side gusset pieces. 

Final Assembly:

With the lining piece right sides out and the main, outer bag piece wrong sides out, slide the lining inside and align entire top edge.

Sew with 1/4″ seam allowance. Clip all edges and curves for cleaner turning.

Locate the opening you’d left in the lining.

Turn bag right-side-out through opening.

Pin and sew the opening in the lining closed, using your favorite blind or ladder stitch.

Press bag.  Topstitch around top edge if desired.

Reindeer Nose:

Align the nose at the very bottom of the front flap piece.  Top stitch the entire circle, catching the flap in your stitches and affixing the nose to the flap piece.

YOU’RE FINISHED!  DO A HAPPY DANCE!

In case you needed it, here is some inspiration for the different designs sewn up by our amazing testers!

UNICORN:

REINDEER

FOX

PLAIN

I hope you love these little cuties as much as I do.  Don’t forget to share your finished projects in the Patterns for Pirates Facebook Group!  Happy Holidays, friends!

Filed Under: Free Pattern, Pattern Release 5 Comments

Featured Patterns

  • Loosey Goosey Loosey Goosey $12.00
  • Loosey Goosey- Youth Loosey Goosey- Youth $10.00
  • Loosey Goosey - Bundle Loosey Goosey - Bundle $20.00
  • Everyday Shirt Everyday Shirt $12.00
  • Everyday Shirt- Youth Everyday Shirt- Youth $10.00
  • Privacy Policy
  • Refund Policy
  • Affliliate Program
  • Contact Us
  • About

Copyright © 2025 Patterns for Pirates

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in