How to Make Christmas Bow Out of Ribbon

Making Christmas bows out of ribbon is a simple craft project that you can use to decorate packages, ornaments and your holiday tree. Poinsettias are known as the Christmas flower, so poinsettia bows are relevant throughout the holiday season. Select different shades of red ribbon to make the bows, along with pink, white and deep blue. Poinsettias are just one of the bow types you can make from ribbon, but they are the ones most commonly associated with Christmas.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards of 9/16-inch satin ribbon
• Scissors
• 2 large paper clips
• 6 inches of 1/4-inch ribbon

Instructions

1. Unwind several feet of ribbon from the spool. Do not cut the ribbon from the spool.

2. Hold the end of the ribbon with one hand and create a 4-inch loop in the loose ribbon. The ribbon at the end of the loop should meet the front end of the ribbon in your hand.

3. Continue to wrap the ribbon around the 4-inch loop 15 more times. Unwind the ribbon from the spool as you go. Keep the ribbon layers of the loop stacked on top of one another so that the edges are flush. Cut the ribbon from the spool.

4. Hold the loop securely and flatten it in the center. Clip a large paper clip over the loop on either side of the flat center. The clips will help hold the ribbon loops flush together.

5. Cut a triangular notch on either side of center of the ribbon loop. Make sure that you do not cut the ribbon in half. There should be about 1/4 inch of ribbon between the notches.

6. Cut a 6-inch strip of 1/4-inch ribbon. This ribbon is the center of the Christmas flower, so select a color that contrasts with the first ribbon. Tie the 1/4-inch ribbon tightly around the center of the ribbon between the notches. A double overhand knot will hold the thin ribbon in place. The ribbon is now formed into a layered loop on either side of the knot.

7. Cut the ends of each side loop into a sharp point. Angle the scissors first on one side of the end of the loop and then the other to make the cuts. Make sure you cut through each layer of ribbon. Each layer of ribbon is a separate petal in the Christmas flower.

8. Separate the ribbon layers on one side of the knot from the bottom to the top. Pull the ribbons with a twisting motion toward the center. Twist the bottom half of the ribbon layers toward you and the top half away from you. Repeat this step with the ribbons on the other side of the knot. The ribbon layers should now be spread around the knot to form the poinsettia flower bow.

References

• Print My Ribbon: Poinsettia Bow

Resources

• Offray: Offray's Ribbon Poinsettia Ornament