Instructions for How to Tie Florist's Bows

A florist's bow has several loops that provide a full appearance.

Florist bows are multi-loop bows that resemble a flower. The bows have between four to eight loops, depending on how fancy you want the decoration to look. The key to creating a professional-looking bow is to use wire-edged ribbon. The wires help keep each loop full so that the bow stands out from the vase, basket, bowl or bouquet it adorns.

Things You'll Need

• Wire edged ribbon, 3 inches wide
• Measuring tape
• Fabric scissors
• Thin wire, 10 inches long

Instructions

Six-Loop Florist’s Bow

1. Cut a 7-foot-long piece of wire ribbon. Fold the ribbon in half by length and pinch your fingers around the middle, leaving 3 1/2 feet of ribbon hanging from each side.

2. Measure out 10 inches to the left from ribbon middle, pulling the ribbon in and pinching it with your finger to create a 5-inch-long loop. Repeat the process with the right side of the ribbon to complete the second loop. Repeat the process four more times to create three loops on each side.

3. Wrap thin wire around the middle of the florist bow tightly to secure the loops. Twist the wire together at the back of the ribbon to make sure it remains tight and to create a hook for attaching the ribbon to the floral arrangement.

4. Pinch the middle of the bow again with your fingers to prevent pulling out any full loops. Pull the loops up and out gently to create a round flower shape. Release your fingers from the middle of the bow.

5. Pull the hanging ends of the ribbon down below the bow. Measure how long you want the tails to hang. Cut the tails at an inward angle so that they hang even.

6. Wrap wire or ribbon around the wire backing of the bow to secure it to a vase, basket, bowl or bouquet.

Tips & Warnings

• The key to cutting wire-edged ribbon with a clean edge is to do the slice in a single blow. Cutting across the edge of the ribbon with several mini-slices results in a jagged line.

• Leave out 20 inches in length and two loops in the process if you want to create a four-loop bow. Add 20 inches of ribbon to the original length and add two loops to the process if you want to create an eight-loop bow.

• Plain ribbon also works for a florist’s bow, but since it has no wire spine, the loops will droop down and give the bow a limp appearance.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: Make a Florist Bow
• Offray: Offray Florist Bow