Crochet Bow Hair Clip Pattern (Free + Beginner-Friendly)
A crochet bow clipped into your hair is one of those little things that people always ask about. It looks handmade in the good way, not the crafty-fair way.
The bow itself is the same puffy bow I keep coming back to. What turns it into a hair clip is one extra step at the very end: you attach it to a clip.
That is the whole trick to this post. Make the bow, then glue or sew it onto an alligator clip. I commissioned this pattern from the crocheter I work with, tested the photos, and I am sharing it free because it is genuinely that easy.
What Makes This a Hair Clip
The bow is worked flat in two little pieces, then pinched and wrapped into that classic puffy shape. Nothing about the bow changes for the clip version.
The clip is a finishing choice. Once your bow is done, you either run a line of glue along an alligator clip and press the bow on, or you stitch it on with a needle for something more permanent.
That means you can make a whole basket of plain bows first, then decide later which ones become clips, which become hair ties, and which become keychains.
I like the clip version most for everyday wear. It snaps in, it holds, and it does not tug the way an elastic can.
Quick Info
| Skill level | Beginner |
| Makes | One bow hair clip |
| Finished size | About 8 to 10 cm wide |
| Time | Around 30 to 40 minutes |
| Main stitches | ch, dc, hdc, worked in rows |
If you can chain and double crochet, you can make this. There is no shaping and no counting rounds.
Materials
- Milk cotton yarn (4-ply). Any 4-ply cotton works.
- 3 mm crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- Scissors
- One alligator clip or snap clip (the metal hair clip you attach the bow to)
- Fabric glue or a hot glue gun, if you are gluing rather than sewing
- Optional: a thin strip of ribbon or felt to line the clip
Milk cotton is my pick because it holds the ridged texture crisply and the colors stay bright. Use whatever 4-ply cotton you already have.
For the clip, a lined single-prong alligator clip is the easiest to work with. A plain snap clip works too, and a large claw clip if you want a bigger statement bow.
Abbreviations
Everything this pattern uses, nothing it does not.
- ch = Chain
- dc = Double Crochet
- hdc = Half Double Crochet
- BLO = Back Loop Only
- R = Row
The Pattern (One Bow)
The bow is two small pieces: the main bow and a little tail that wraps the center. Make both, then assemble.
Piece 1: The Main Bow
- R1: Ch 40, dc in 3rd ch from hook and across
[38], ch 2, turn - R2: BLO, dc across
[38], ch 2, turn - R3 to R5: Repeat R2
- Fasten off, leaving a long tail for assembly.
Working in BLO is the whole trick here. When you see BLO, only insert your hook into the back loop of each stitch instead of both loops.
That back-loop-only work across rows 2 to 5 is what gives the bow its puffy ridged texture. Work both loops and you get a flatter, less defined bow.
Counting your starting chain matters. Ch 40 means 40 chains before your first dc. The first 2 count as your turning chain, and the dc goes into the 3rd chain from the hook.
If your row comes out shorter than 38 stitches, you probably miscounted. Pull it back and recount.
Leave a generous tail when you fasten off. At least 12 inches, because you use this same tail for the center wrap.
Piece 2: The Tail
- R1: Ch 20, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and across
[19], ch 1, turn - R2: BLO, hdc across
[19], ch 1, turn - R3: Repeat R2
- Fasten off and weave in ends.
This little strip becomes the visible knot in the middle of the finished bow.
The tail uses hdc, which is shorter than the dc in the main bow. Half double crochet means you yarn over once, then pull through all three loops at the end. It gives you a tighter, narrower band that sits neatly at the center.
Assembly
Once both pieces are done, the bow comes together fast.
Fold and Seam
- Fold Piece 1 in half lengthwise.
- Sew both short edges together to form a loop.
- Turn the piece right side out so the seam sits inside.
Turning the seam inside is like turning a sock right side out. After sewing the short edges, you have a little tube with a visible seam.
Push it inside out so the seam ends up hidden. Once you pinch and wrap, no one will ever find it.
Pinch and Wrap the Center
- Pinch the center of the bow.
- Wrap the yarn tail tightly around the middle several times.
- Slip Piece 2 underneath and keep wrapping so both pieces cinch together as one.
Pinching means squeezing the middle vertically until the front and back fold toward each other and the center bundles up tight.
Hold it pinched while you start wrapping. The first 2 to 3 wraps set the shape. Everything after is reinforcement.
Tie secure knots at the back, then thread the leftover tail through your needle and run it through the wrapped center 2 to 3 times before snipping. The yarn grips itself and will not unravel.
Now you have a finished bow, ready to become a clip.
Attach the Bow to a Clip
This is the step that makes it a hair clip. You have two ways to do it, and both are beginner-simple.
Option 1: Glue It On (Fastest)
- Line the top of the alligator clip with a thin strip of ribbon or felt first, if you want to hide the metal and add grip. Glue that on and let it set.
- Run a thin line of fabric glue or hot glue along the top of the clip.
- Press the wrapped center-back of the bow onto the clip and hold for about 30 seconds.
- Let it cure fully before wearing, usually an hour or so for fabric glue.
Glue the center knot, not the loops. You want the sturdy wrapped middle sitting on the clip so the bow does not flop.
Option 2: Sew It On (Most Durable)
- Thread a tapestry or sewing needle with matching yarn or thread.
- Stitch through the small gaps in the alligator clip and through the back of the bow’s center wrap.
- Go around several times, then knot securely and hide the tail inside the wrap.
Sewing takes a few extra minutes but it will not pop off, which matters if the clip is for a child or gets heavy daily use.
Keep It From Slipping
Crochet bows are light, so on fine or silky hair the clip can slide. Line the inside of the clip with a small strip of grippy ribbon or felt, or add a dab of silicone. That tiny bit of friction is usually all it takes to hold.
Tips for Success
A few things that make the clip version come out clean.
- Match your clip size to your bow. A 6 to 7 cm alligator clip sits nicely under an 8 to 10 cm bow. Too small a clip and the bow tips forward.
- Block the bow lightly if the edges curl. A quick steam with the iron held just above it relaxes cotton. Do not press down.
- Use fabric glue for flexibility, hot glue for speed. Fabric glue stays a little softer and survives the wash better; hot glue grabs instantly.
- Make them in pairs. Two matching clips are more useful than one, and the second one flies by once your hands know the pattern.
FAQ
What kind of clip works best for a crochet bow?
A lined single-prong alligator clip is the easiest and most comfortable. Snap clips work well for kids, and a large claw clip turns the same bow into a bigger statement piece for thicker hair.
Want the snap clip to disappear completely? My crochet mouse ears hair clip shows how to cover the whole clip frame in single crochet so no metal shows from the front.
Should I glue or sew the bow onto the clip?
Glue is faster and totally fine for everyday clips. Sew it if the clip is for a child or gets rough daily wear, since a stitched bow will not pop off the way a glued one eventually can.
How do I stop the clip from slipping in fine hair?
Line the inside of the clip with a thin strip of grippy ribbon or felt, or add a small dab of silicone. Crochet bows are light, so a little extra friction is all a fine or silky head of hair needs to hold the clip in place.
Can I make a longer coquette-style bow?
Yes. For a longer, droopier bow, add to your starting chain (try ch 48 to 52 instead of 40) and keep the same number of rows. You can also stack a small bow on top of a larger one for that layered anti-gravity look.
Can I add a pearl or beads to the center?
Absolutely. Sew a single pearl or a small cluster of beads onto the center knot after assembly. A pearl in the middle reads instantly coquette, and it hides the wrap join at the same time.
What colors work best?
Whatever you love, honestly. White and cream read classic, pink and red lean coquette, and purple or blue feel playful. Cotton keeps every shade crisp, which is why I stick with it for clips.
Clip One In This Weekend
That is the whole project. Make the puffy bow, attach it to a clip, and you have a handmade hair piece that costs pennies in yarn.
If you want the same bow finished a different way, I have it written up as a hair tie, a keychain or bag charm, a matching set of three, and a strung garland. All five sit side by side, with five more bows from other designers, in my crochet bow patterns roundup.
Save this pattern on Pinterest so it is there the next time you want a quick handmade gift, and browse the rest of my hair accessory patterns while you are here.
One bow, one clip, one afternoon. Hard to beat that.
