How To Make 12" Decorative Bows

Watch The Knot video on how to make a bow and follow our easy step-past-step instructions.

Yous mastered tying your shoelaces every bit a child and accept never looked back. But making a bow, especially with ribbon, is another story. Don't be intimidated—it's a lot easier than it looks. Remember that bunny ear trick yous were taught years agone? It still applies when making bows!
Bows are the perfect topper to gifts and a lovely improver to your nuptials day decor. You tin can tie bows with any kind of ribbon or even make the bows out of paper. From unproblematic bows (perfect for flower girl sashes and hymeneals programs) to more elaborate bows with wired ribbon (a pretty finishing touch on for wreaths and pew bows), nosotros've got you covered. Check out our how-to video to make a bow and read on for step-by-step, bow-tying instructions.

· How to Make a Bow with Ribbon
· How to Make a Bow Out of Paper
· How to Make a Bow Out of Wired Ribbon
· How to Make a Floral Bow Out of Ribbon

How to Make a Bow Out of Ribbon

You can brand a uncomplicated bow with any kind of ribbon: silk, grosgrain, velvet or wired. Choose a ribbon in your desired thickness. Whatever width works, but the wider the ribbon, the bigger the bow.

Supplies: ribbon, ruler, pair of scissors

Instructions for making a bow out of ribbon:

ane. Cut a piece of ribbon. Xv to xx inches of ribbon volition make a nice-size, unproblematic bow.
2. Brand ii loops (or bunny ears) with your ribbon. Adapt the loops to be the size you want the loops of your bow to be. Make certain your tails are fairly even as well.
iii. Fold the left loop over the right loop and bring it around and back through the center hole.
four. Pull tight to create a knot. Tug on the loops and tails to finesse your bow, and retrieve: No one gets a perfect bow on the first endeavour.

How to Make a Bow Out of Paper

Paper bows are a beautiful alternative to ribbon bows, especially for small gifts (think: bridesmaid jewelry). Nosotros created a foolproof template for y'all to make this bow "tying" a sure-fire.

Supplies: template, printer, bill of fare stock, pencil, scissors, glue

Instructions for making a bow out of paper:

i. Download our bow template and impress. (See bottom of article.)
two. Trace the template onto card stock, then cut.
iii. Place a dot of glue in the middle of the bow piece. Fold 1 rounded edge side to the middle and press to adhere. Add another dot of glue and repeat with the other side.
4. Add a dot of glue to the centre of the tail piece and attach the bow.
five. Wrap the small band around the center of your bow and mucilage the sides together at the back.

How to Make a Bow Out of Wired Ribbon

Wired ribbon is a crafter-lover's dream. Fifty-fifty novice DIY-ers love it, because it'south so forgiving. The sparse and flexible wired edge allows yous to mold the ribbon in any bow configuration you'd similar.

Supplies: wired ribbon, ruler, scissors, piping cleaner

Instructions for making a bow out of wired ribbon:

i. Take a long slice of ribbon (at least 36 inches) and create a loop at i end, folding one side over itself. Use your thumb to concord down the inside of the loop. This is the center of your bow.
ii. Create some other, larger loop with the same piece of ribbon and fold in underneath the centre loop. Repeat on the opposite side of the bow.
iii. Continue making loops, alternate sides and making each set up a little longer or bigger than the previous one.
iv. When yous have as many loops as you'd like, brand 1 terminal loop. This one should exist large and volition actually be the tails to your bow. Trim the ribbon close to the center of the bow.
v. Tuck this edge under the bow. Insert a pipe cleaner under the middle loop to gather all the loops of the bow. Twist to secure and trim edges.
half dozen. Cut the final long loop, giving your bow two tails.
seven. Fluff the loops to give your bow shape and fullness.
eight. Trim the tails at a diagonal to create two points to each tail (optional).

How to Make a Floral Bow Out of Ribbon

This bow style is most oftentimes used past florists for a finishing bear upon a bud vase or corsage. Florists typically use floral ribbon, which has a flat, waterproof finish. Our twist makes this bow perfect for other things too, like embellishing a wedding program basket or calculation a little flair to a card box. Choose the ribbon that works best for the project (nosotros used wired satin for our bow).

Supplies: ribbon, ruler, scissors

Instructions for making a floral bow out of ribbon:

one. Cut two pieces of ribbon, one short (about 12 inches) and i long (depending on the size of your bow, 1 to ii yards).
two. Create a loop with the end of your long piece of ribbon, and so twist.
3. Holding the twist taught with one hand, make another loop on the contrary side on the bow. Then twist.
four. Repeat these steps, making alternating loops until you lot achieve your desired size (nosotros made four loops on each side). You lot should withal take some hanging ribbon, which will go one of your tails.
5. Utilize the shorter slice of ribbon to tie the loops together. Necktie the knot at one end, leaving the 2d, longer cease loose—this volition be the second one-half of your tail. Double knot so the bow is secure.
six. Trim tails and fluff private loops for a full bow.
*paper bow template

How to Make a Bow with Perfect Tails

A slap-up bow is more just its loops. Here are some helpful tips to brand some terrific tails:
· Utilize more than cloth than you think you need. You can always cutting long tails, only if your tails are as well short, you'll either accept to live with it or first over.
· Even out your tails. Don't be surprised if, after you've completed your bow, one tail is longer than the other. The gear up is simple. Measure your tails and cut the longer tail to match the shorter.
· Sure, you could exist washed, but why non add a terminal special touch to your bow? Cut the ends of your tails diagonally to give the tails classy points. Another choice is to perform a chevron cut. Cutting an even triangle from the ribbons and then that the point of the triangle is in the center of the tail. Brand clean cuts, so you can easily pull abroad the extra fabric.

How to Choose the Right Bow for Your Occasion

If you want to add bows to your nuptials in some style, you'll need to brand a few choices to match the right type of bow to the right circumstance.

Bows for Outfits

If you want to add a bow to an outfit, like the flower girl'south dress, consider what type of material would work best for the bow. Satin is a bang-up option for textile bows, but if you desire to piece of work with something easier, consider grosgrain. Velvet, sheers, and even cotton can all be boosted fabric options.

Bows for a Souvenir

Wire bows make an excellent option for wedding ceremony gifts. They give you stability and design control, allowing you to build big, beautiful bows that will prepare your gift(s) apart from the rest.

Bows for the Boutonniere

While ribbons tin work for bouquets. If you really want your flowers to stand out, get with a big wire bow. Again, a wire bow volition give the bow more stability, so the loops and tails will look great even during the bouquet toss.