How To Make a Bow Step by Step Guide

Making a bow doesn’t have to be challenging. I’ve been making bows following a simple method for a long time. An easy way to make one is to start with wired ribbon. The method can be used for non-wired ribbon, but it doesn’t hold the shape as well. This easy step by step guide will have you making lovely bows in no time!

I’ve read a ton of tutorials on how to make a pretty bow, some worked better than others. I took bits and pieces from various tutorials and found a method that works for me.  Once I got the hang of this particular method, I’ve been successful. Sometimes I add more ribbon layers to to give it more volume and that means changing up some of the measurements. The basic method is the same no matter how big you want to make the bow.

How To Make a Bow  Step by Step Guide

Materials Needed for wired ribbon bow:

• Wired Ribbon
• Stapler
• Candle (optional)
  Measure and cut the ribbon into the following lengths:  (1) 36″, (1) 24″, (2) 20″, and (1) 8″ 

Steps:

• Fold each side of the 8″ strip lengthwise to the center.
• Staple it together near each end of the ribbon. Set aside.
• Find the center point of the 24″ strip and bring each end to the center, allowing it to overlap just a little.
• Staple through both layers of ribbon. Repeat this for the 20″ strips.
  

• Find the center point of the 36″ strip. Make an accordion fold in the center of about three inches long.  Hold it together tightly and staple.
• Place the 8″ strip, stapled side up on flat surface. Place the 24′ strip as shown. Place the 20″ strips in an X over the top. 
• Place the 36″ strip near the bottom of the 8″ strip. All of these pieces are staple side up. The staples won’t show when you’re finished.
• Pinch the 8″ strip around the other strips.

• Hold it tightly and staple together.  Use at least two staples.
• Cut the ends of the ribbon into a V shape by folding the ribbon in half lengthwise and cut across the ribbon at an angle, starting at the folded point and cutting up to the edges. To keep the ribbon from fraying, hold the ribbon just above a tea candle. Make sure that the flame doesn’t touch the fabric. 

While there are a lot of steps to take to make a bow, it’s not very difficult at all. The thing I like most about using this method is that you can easily make it larger or smaller. I used this method for a Peacock Wreath  and a Grapevine Fall Wreath.

You can also make it as full as you want by adding more loops. The key is make sure that if you add more ribbon loops, you’ll also need to make the strip that wraps them all together longer, too. Or you can pin or glue the extra loops to the back of the bow.

Adding this orange wired burlap ribbon bow to a grapevine wreath is an easy way to dress it up for fall.

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How To Make A Wired Ribbon Bow

Are you getting ready for fall decor? I’ve been doing a little fall crafting, but it’s hard to  think about fall with weather we’re having in Charleston.