Making and wearing ovarian cancer awareness ribbons is an easy way to advocate for research and education to improve early detection, a critical survival factor.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- What Materials Do You Need to Make Ovarian Cancer Ribbons?
- Steps for Making an Ovarian Cancer Ribbons
- What Can You Decorate with or Write on Your Ovarian Cancer Awareness Ribbon?
In this article, we’ll show you how to make these teal-colored ribbons step-by-step so that you can help bring awareness and show solidarity for people with devastating gynecological cancer.
What Materials Do You Need to Make Ovarian Cancer Ribbons?
Making ovarian cancer ribbons doesn’t need to be expensive or take a lot of materials. Below is a list of items you’ll need, including a few substitutes or alternatives, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be supportive.
- A pair of scissors
- Ruler measuring tape
- Role of teal-colored ribbon
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
- Small safety pin
If crocheting is your jam, you can always check the blog by Crochetbug. There, master Crocheter Leslie Stahlhut offers a free tutorial on using worsted weighted yarn, a crochet hook, and a yarn needle.
Steps for Making an Ovarian Cancer Ribbons
Now that you have your materials, let’s get started making some ribbons to support people facing ovarian cancer. It’s quicker than you think!
1. Measure the ribbon
Grab your ruler or measuring tape and measure out five to six inches of teal-colored grosgrain, satin, or silk ribbon. Cut at the desired length.
If you’re making more multiple ribbons, measure the same length for each ribbon for uniformity.
2. Fold the ribbon in half
The next step is to fold your ribbon in half. Pinch the ribbon midpoint at the top to give it a crease or keep it smooth.
3. Overlap the ribbon for shape
Now, overlap the ribbon to have a loop at the top end with inverted V-shaped tails at the bottom end.
For an up-close look at folding and pinching techniques, click on this YouTube video.
4. Glue or stitch the ribbon together
At the point of overlap, secure the ribbon together with a stitch or glue.
If you’re using glue, adhere the ribbon together at the point of overlap—between the ribbon. Glue dots, hot glue, and school glue work well for this step. Just use what you have on hand instead of purchasing something new.
If you’re using glue dots, click on this YouTube video to see how one ribbon maker does it.
Using thread and a needle to stitch the ribbon together means you can use many techniques, including running, outline, split, stem, back, catch, or cross-stitch. The backstitch and cross-stitch are most secure.
Remember to tie off the thread on the back by making a knot to hide the excess thread.
5. Affix a safety pin to the ribbon
Both hot glue and thread will work to secure the safety pin to the ribbon.
If you’re using hot glue, melt a small bead of glue on the ribbon’s backside where the ribbon crosses itself. Before the glue cools, press the safety pin into the glue.
Be careful to press only the backside of the safety pin into the glue. Don’t let head, spring, or spear touch the glue or it will be sealed shut.
You could also use a quick catch stitch to secure the pin to the ribbon’s backside, where the ribbon crosses itself.
A catch stitch is a simple stitch that looks like an “X” when finished. Sew two or three of these around the back of the safety pin. This technique is functional, but it’s not necessarily the most secure. A glue gun will work better, but the catch stitch will work in a pinch.
6. Cut the tails
Here’s a video link that shows you how to cut the tails of the ribbon at an angle for a finished look.
What Can You Decorate with or Write on Your Ovarian Cancer Awareness Ribbon?
Scroll through this list for different ways to zhoosh up your ovarian cancer awareness ribbon with decorations and positive messages to honor women who are or who have experienced this disease.
Name of the person you are honoring or supporting
Proudly wear the name of the woman in your life who deserves to be honored or needs support after their diagnosis with ovarian cancer.
“Hope Love Faith”
Write the words “Hope, Love, & Faith” on the ribbon’s visible, front-facing parts using metallic markers.
Stich a button or acrylic flower
At the fabric store near you, look for buttons to stick to the ribbon at the point where it overlaps. Adding this simple feature will hide any glue or stitching mistakes while giving the ribbon some extra charm.
Dove charm
Because doves symbolize love and peace, they make the perfect emblem to attach to a cancer ribbon for someone experiencing so much unrest.
Therefore, the dove represents the love you have for your loved one. Plus, it’s indicative of the peace you hope for their future.
“Strength and Power”
Strength and power are what your loved one is using to get through their cancer battle, so make it your mantra of support.
Write “Strength” on one tail of the ribbon and “Power” on the other to increase the size and visibility of the words.
Swarovski crystals
Glue beautiful crystals to your ribbon so that it stands out on any lapel or piece of clothing that it gets pinned to.
Any color will work, but you can also choose one that your loved one likes the most to make the ribbon that much more personal for you.
Anchor charm
Anchors symbolize strength, hope, and support, making them an ideal charm for the ovarian cancer ribbon.
You can find them at local craft stores and online, but you’ll save in shipping costs if you look for them when you purchase the ribbon.
“My [Cousin’s] Army”
When your team of ribbon-making volunteers gathers to lend support to a loved one, each one of them can change the pronoun to suit their relationship with the person living with cancer.
“Support Squad”
These words convey a similar idea to the previous phrase but can be used for friends, coworkers, and even those with no affiliation to the person living with cancer.
A member of the support squad can be anyone who honors the challenge to support women anywhere.
“Hope and Courage”
Two vital components for every warrior facing a battle with ovarian cancer.
“For My [Mom]”
Honor a lost loved one with a simple note so that others can empathize and walk the journey with you in solidarity.
Angel’s wings
Losing a spouse to cancer is an unimaginable, unbearable hurt that races through every part of you seemingly without end.
Therefore, Angel’s wings fit the personality of that beautiful woman who graced everyone with her smile, wit, and humor but now waits for you in heaven.
Religious or spiritual symbol
When your faith or spirituality’s strength is needed to guide you and your loved ones through the journey of diagnosis or loss, you can represent them using small charms.
Look for them in a local craft store or at any number of online marketplaces.
“Faith Over Fear”
Instead of using a religious charm to convey support for your loved one, write these words on the tails of the ribbon.
It says that you won’t relinquish yourself to fear and that you put your fate in the hands of your beliefs.
Butterfly
The butterfly is a symbol of change, hope, and renewal. This matters for people with ovarian cancer because they experience so many different emotions all at once, but you and they both hold onto hope that the outcome will come with peace and renewal.
“Survivor”
The sheer power of this word speaks for itself.
“I Love My Wife”
Husbands and partners alike can get on board with this simple message for the woman they love most in the world.
Ovarian Support and Memorial Crafts to Support Women
September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. So gather friends, family, and concerned community members to make support or memorial crafts, honoring the women who’ve been diagnosed with this terrible disease.
Sources:
- National Pen. “How to Make Breast Cancer Awareness Ribbons In 3 Simple Steps.” YouTube, YouTube, 30 August 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgADu9NR-hY&feature=emb_logo
- “Safety Pin.” How Products are Made, Made How, n.d., www.madehow.com/Volume-2/Safety-Pin.html
- SG Civics. “How to make a simple yellow lapel ribbon in two minutes!” YouTube, YouTube, n.d. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOHf4bzZb8w