Directions for Making a Christmas Ribbon Bow

Christmas bows can add a professional-looking finish to a gift.

Christmas bows are festive and can add that special finishing touch to gift packages, mantles, floral arrangements and general home decoration. When you see a beautiful bow and you think it is complicated and intimidating to do, you are wrong. Making a Christmas bow is easy and can take less than ten minutes to do. If you are making Christmas bows to decorate your home, choose a color or pattern that matches your decor.

Things You'll Need

• Ribbon
• Wire
• Scissors

Instructions

Instructions

1. Depending on the size of the bow you would like to make, cut a length of the ribbon and straighten it out. Make sure to cut off more ribbon than you need. For a medium length bow, five yards is usually enough.

2. Pinch or fold the ribbon, leaving a long tail. Make a loop with the ribbon and twist. A loop too small can be tricky to work with, yet a loop too large can be too flimsy, so ensure it is the right size for the purpose you want it for. Make another loop, making sure it is the same size as the loop you made before. You can check they are the same length by putting your pointer finger in one loop and your middle finger in the other and pulling them gently together. Do this for each pair of loops.

3. Continue making pairs of loops, returning each time to the center, still firmly holding or pinching the center. You can make as many loops as you want, but on average, ten loops in total will be enough. Make one final loop that is much smaller than the other loops in the middle and continue holding in the same place. This adds a classy finishing touch to the bow.

4. Cut a length of the wire. Usually three inches is sufficient. Thread the wire through the center, wind it tightly around the ribbon several times and twist the two ends firmly together at the back of the bow. Spread the loops out and straighten them out.

5. Hold and fold one of the tails of the bow. Make an angled cut with your scissors along the length of the bow; this makes the traditional fork tongue tail you see on Christmas bows. Do this for the other tail, making sure both tails are the same length. You can decide how long you want the tails to be. All that's left to do now is find a use for your beautiful bow!

Tips & Warnings

• Velvet ribbon can be difficult for beginners to use, so it is best to start off with other materials of ribbon such as metallic or satin.

• You can choose to use wired or non-wired ribbon, but wired is best for beginners as it is easier to work with and can hold its shape.

References

• Craft Own: Bow Making