How to Make Ribbon Braids for Mums

If you are looking for a simple braid to include in the decorations for your homecoming mum, make this basic braid using ribbons in your school colors. Make several braids to attach to the backing disc for your mum, and then add loads of free-falling satin ribbon streamers and spiral curling ribbon streamers, and you have the basics for the hanging-down portion of your homecoming mum.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Two colors of 1/2-inch satin or grosgrain ribbon
• Scissors
• Rubber band

1. Cut three lengths of ribbon--two in one school color and one in the other--in lengths three times that of the desired finished length. If you want your braid to be 2 feet long, cut two 6-foot pieces of one color and one 6-foot piece of the other color.

2. 
   Fig. 1

   Fold the ribbons in half. Loop a rubber band around the ribbons at the top point where they are folded in half. Attach the loop of the rubber band to a chair or doorknob. You could even loop the rubber band around your foot and, while sitting with your leg extended, braid the ribbon. You should now have six lengths of ribbon to work with. (See Fig. 1.)

3. 
   Fig. 2

   Pair up the ribbons and hold them so you have three doubled-up lengths of ribbons. From this point on, treat each set of doubled ribbons as one. (See Fig. 2.)

4. 
   Fig. 3

   Pass the ribbon on the right side under the center ribbon so that the right ribbon is now in the center. Then pass the ribbon from the left side under the center ribbon so the left ribbon is now in the center. Continue the pattern of passing alternate sides to the center until the you have braided all but the last 6 inches of the braid. (See Fig. 3.)

5. Tie the ends in a knot to secure. Leave the fringes hanging down.