How to Tie a Tailored Bow

Tailored bows look great on scrapbook covers, flower girl baskets and other craft projects. They’re simple to make, since you can hold them together with a few staples and some glue. You can make them from any type of ribbon that is one inch wide or wider, including gift wrapping ribbon, satin ribbon, grosgrain ribbon or polyester ribbon with a printed pattern. Double-sided ribbon has the same print, pattern or shine on both sides, while single-sided ribbon looks different on each side. With single-sided ribbon, you’ll make each loop of ribbon from a separate piece. With double-sided ribbon, you can make all the loops from one piece of ribbon if you prefer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• ribbon (1 inch wide or wider)
• scissors
• stapler
• glue

Make a Tailored Bow from Single-Sided Ribbon

1. Cut a piece of ribbon a little over twice as wide as you want the bottom of the bow. Overlap the ends of the ribbon to make a loop.

2. Pinch the loop together so that it looks like an 8. Staple the center of the loop together, making sure to catch the overlapping ends of the ribbon in the staple.

3. Make two or more additional loops, each slightly smaller than the previous one. Stack the loops on top of each other, with the largest loop on the bottom and the smallest loop on top.

4. Cut a piece of ribbon longer than the largest loop to make the tails. Cut the ends of the ribbon at an angle, or with V-shaped notches.

5. Place the loops on top of the tails ribbon. Staple all the ribbons together in the center.

6. Cut a short piece of ribbon, just long enough to wrap around the center of the bow with the ends overlapping. Wrap the ribbon around the center of the bow to hide the staple, then glue the ends of the ribbon together.

Make a Tailored Bow from Double-Sided Ribbon

7. Fold the ribbon into layers of loops, each layer smaller than the one below it, so that the ribbon is stacked in a zigzag pattern.

8. Cut off the ribbon and tuck the cut end under the top loop, so that the cut end of the ribbon is in the center of the bow. Staple the center of the bow together.

9. Cut a piece of ribbon longer than the largest loop to make the tails. Cut the ends of the ribbon at an angle, or with V-shaped notches.

10. Place the loops on top of the tails ribbon. Staple all the ribbons together in the center.

11. Cut a short piece of ribbon, just long enough to wrap around the center of the bow with the ends overlapping. Wrap the ribbon around the center of the bow to hide the staple, then glue the ends of the ribbon together.

Tips & Warnings

• If your single-sided ribbon looks good on both sides, you may want to use the double-sided ribbon technique to get a contrasting look.
• Use caution when working with scissors and staplers.

Resources

• Here are pictures of tailored bows.