How to Tie a Ribbon Bow for a Wreath

Make your own wreath bows to reflect your personality and style.

Holiday wreaths are not complete without decorative bows. Instead of purchasing a bow, consider making your own to top off your wreath. Making a bow allows you to customize it fit your tastes and needs; additionally, you can save money by buying some basic supplies and making your bow, versus purchasing one. It takes no longer than 15 minutes and the project will put you in a festive mood.

Things You'll Need

• 2 yards wired ribbon
• Scissors
• Florist wire

Instructions

1. 

   Patterned ribbon can make your bow more decorative.

   Select 2 yards of wired ribbon to use for your bow. Wired ribbon creates bows that maintain their shape and remain erect rather than floppy. Carefully choose the fabric and color of your ribbon: Satin and velvet materials make elegant bows, and reds, golds and greens are colors traditionally used for holiday bows. You can also select a patterned material to create a decorative bow.

2. Form the ribbon into two equal loops. Cross the right loop over the left to create a bow. To knot the bow, push the right loop behind the left, then under it, and through the hole. Mimic the movements you would use to tie a shoelace.

3. Manipulate the knot and tails to achieve the look you desire. If you would like smaller loops, pull the tails down; for larger loops, pull the loops out. Adjust and/or cut the tails to make them even. After you have achieved the look you want, pull the knot tight to secure the bow.

4. Create notches in the tails by cutting the bottom of each tail. Take one of the tails and fold the left side over the right. Using scissors, make a diagonal cut in the bottom inch of the folded ribbon, from the edge toward the fold. The cut should resemble a small triangle. Unfold the tail to and examine the notch you have created. Repeat the process with the other tail.

5. Cut a 6-inch piece of florist wire and thread it through the back of the bow's knot so that the ends stick out on each side. Tie the ends into a small knot.

6. Cut a 12-inch piece of wire and loop it through the first piece. Tie it into a small loop around the other piece, leaving enough to loop and tie it around the wreath. Loop the wire through the middle and bottom of the wreath to attach the bow. Tie the wire in the back of the wreath.

References

• Martha Stewart: Crafts