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If you are interested in learning how to make bows to use as decoration, then you will find this page useful. It covers how to make florist bows, pom pom or puffy bows, tuxedo bows, and tailored or Dior bows. This page is written as a companion to how to tie a bow.
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Bow Making Tips
- Florist bows can be made puffier by adding more loops of ribbon.
- You can tie two florist bows together to create a multicolored bow.
- Using foam board can help making florist bows easier.
- Pom Pom bows can be altered by trimming the loops before forming.
- A tuxedo bow looks like a classic two-looped bow, but is easier to make.
- Tailored bows are a variation of the tuxedo bow.
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Introduction
- Bows are a wonderful addition to packages and your home's decor. With a little practice, you will find yourself capable of making bows that you thought could only be done by a professional. This page walks you through the construction of three major types of bows, and suggestions for other creative types.
- The information on this page is a companion to how to tie a bow. Both guides feature bows that can be used on hair, gifts and as decoration. However, this page features bows that are constructed using additional materials. How to tie a bow focuses on bows that are simply tied. It also includes a section on about the different types of ribbon. You may also want to check out how to make and decorate a Christmas bow, which has a number of ideas that can be adapted for almost any occasion.
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Florist Bow
- A florist bow can be used to decorate packages or pews.Nashville Wraps: How to Make a Gift Bow and Pew Bow (March 27, 2008) To make this bow, you will need a piece of ribbon and a piece of wire or narrow ribbon. To ensure that you have enough material to work with, don't cut the ribbon from the spool until the bow is finished.Nashville Wraps: How to Make a Gift Bow and Pew Bow (March 27, 2008)
Make the First Loop
- Grasp the ribbon several inches from the end (however long you want your tail to be).Better Homes and Gardens: How to Make a Florist Bow
- Pinch the ribbon firmly between your thumb and index finger.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- Make a loop one-half the length you want your finished bow to be.DIY Network: Bow Basics Scrunch the ribbon to hold the loop in place.About.com: Learn to Make It Yourself Project for Floral Bows
Make Additional Loops
- Twist the ribbon 180 degrees until the front is again facing you.About.com: Learn to Make It Yourself Project for Floral Bows
- Make a second loop the same size as the first, but facing in the opposite direction.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Make a Florist Bow Again, pinch the ribbon over the first two pinches.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- After each loop is formed, insert a finger into each one to ensure that they are of uniform size.YouTube: How to Make a Bow (Time: 2:57)
- Continue make loops until the bow is as full as you want it to be.Save-on-Crafts: How to Make a Perfect Floral Bow
Finish the Bow
- Secure the bows using a length of floral wire or ribbon.
- If using wire, place the wire around all the loops and then pull it to the back.About.com: How to Tie a Multi Loop Decorative Bow, p.5 Adjust the loops of your bow before twisting the wire tight in the back.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- If using ribbon, take a narrow piece and tie it on the back of the bow.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Make a Florist Bow Do not trim the tails.
- Measure out a length of ribbon so the second tail is as long as the first tail. Then cut the ribbon from the spool. Cut the tail ends at an angle or in points.Save-on-Crafts: How to Make a Perfect Floral Bow
- Arrange the loops as desired.Better Homes and Gardens: How to Make a Florist Bow
- Use the excess wire or narrow ribbon to attach your bow to whatever you want.About.com: How to Tie a Multi Loop Decorative Bow, p.6
- YouTube: How to Make a Bow (Time: 2:57)
Alternatives
- Create a center loop on the bow by wrapping the ribbon loosely around your thumb before creating the first loop.The Container Store: Florist Bow
- You can also make the center loop at the end by looping the ribbon over your thumb and then inserting the wire underneath it to secure the bow.Offray Ribbon: Florist Bow
- Make a graduated loop bow by gradually increasing or decreasing the size of the loops.HGTV: Multi-Loop Bows
- For a more colorful bow, layer two bows together. The bottom bow should be larger with longer loops.Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Layered Bow
- To create this bow on a package, Wrap the ribbon around and tie it in a knot.Gift Decorating.com: Step-by-Step Instructions to Create the Be Mine Valentine's Day Gift Design Then, after creating your loops, use the ribbon ends on the package to secure the bow.Gift Decorating.com: Step-by-Step Instructions to Create the Paper Hearts Valentine's Day Gift Design
Make a Board
- If you plan on making a lot of these bows, it may be easier for you to assemble a bow-making board:
- Get a piece of foam board about a foot long.FloralShops.net: Florist Design Ideas and Training
- Cut a straight line about 4 inches long in the center of the board.Save-on-Crafts: How to Make a Perfect Floral Bow
- Use the slit you just cut to hold the ribbon as you make your bows.
Pom Pom or Puffy Bow
- The Pom Pom or Puffy Bow is a great bow with uniform loops that can be used for a variety of things. It is especially good for gift wrapping.Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow You will need about three to five yards of ribbon and either a small piece of floral wire or a narrow piece of ribbon.DIY Network: Bow Basics Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow
Form the Loops
- Form a loop in your ribbon that is the width you want your bow to be.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- -When starting out, you can form the loop around your hand.Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow
- -You can also wrap the ribbon around a piece of foam board.HGTV: Holiday Bows
- -As you get more skilled, you can make your loops wider.Offray Ribbon: Pompom Bow
- Wrap the ribbon around the loop as many times as desired. For beginners, it may be easier to limit yourself to five or six times.Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow However, you can go as many as 12 to 15 times.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow
Cut and Secure the Center
- Flatten the ribbon.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- Fold the loops in half. Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow
- At the fold, cut a small triangle or "V" on each side of the ribbon by cutting off the corner of the ribbon at an angle.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow
- Bring the notched ends of the loops together so they meet in the middle.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- Secure the ribbon at the center over the notches, using floral wire or ribbon.Offray Ribbon: Pompom Bow
Puff Out the Bow
- Grasp one side of the loop in one hand and pull out the innermost loop to the right.Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow As you pull, gently twist the loop toward the center.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow
- Repeat the process until all the loops are pulled.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow Alternate sides and directions as you pull out the loops.Offray Ribbon: Pompom Bow
- If any cut ends protrude from the bow, twist them into the bow or cut their ends at an angle.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow
- While holding the bow at the center, gently shake it to fluff it out.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow
- YouTube: How to Make a Bow (Time: 5:15)
Alternatives
- Make your bow puffier by adding more loops.Save-on-Crafts: How to make a Puffy Bow
- Make a multi-colored bow by stacking several different colors of ribbon on top of each other instead of using one ribbon.DIY Network: Bow Basics
- Alter the look of the bow by cutting through the loops after the bow has been secured with wire or ribbon and shaping the edges.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow
- Cut three slits on the loops toward the center before shaping it to make the bow look like it used more ribbon.The Container Store: Pom Pom Bow
- You can tie this type bow directly to the package by using the ends of ribbon that have been wrapped around the package to secure the center of the bow.Jonathan Fong Style: How to Make a Bow
Tuxedo, Tailored or Dior Bow
- The tuxedo bow looks like a bow tie or classic bow with two loops. It is very simple to make.
- Take a piece of ribbon and fold the ends toward the center so they overlap.MarthaStewart.com: Bow How-tos Continued
- Secure them with a drop of fabric glue or stapler.Save-on-Crafts: Bow Making 101: How to make a Tailored Bow
- Take a smaller piece of ribbon and wrap it around the center of the first ribbon.Gift Decorating.com: Step-by-Step Instructions to Create the Spring Garden Design
- Glue the ribbon at the back of the bow.
Tailored or Dior Bow
- The tailored or Dior bow is simply a more elaborate version of the tuxedo bow and is made the same way except that step 1 is repeated with different lengths of ribbon so you have multiple loops of different sizes.Rose' World: Tailored Bow - How to make (December 14, 2007)
- Each ribbon should be about two inches longer than the other.MarthaStewart.com: Bow How-Tos
- Place the largest loop on the bottom and gradually decrease the size of the loops.
- Glue or staple the different loops together in the center before wrapping with the smaller piece of ribbon.Offray Ribbon: Dior Bow
Alternatives
- If using double-sided ribbon, you can make the tailored ribbon by folding the ribbon into decreasing loops rather than making individual loops.Save-on-Crafts: Bow Making 101: How to make a Tailored Bow
- Add a tail by inserting a length of ribbon behind the loops or by gluing two separate tails on the back of the center loop.Save-on-Crafts: Bow Making 101: How to make a Tailored Bow
- You can also create a tail by using a longer piece of ribbon to form the center loop. Tie the loop in the back and trim the ends.MarthaStewart.com: Bow How-tos Continued
Other Bows
- There are other types of bows that you may want to learn how to make. Below you will find links to some of the more popular varieties.
- The package bow is basically a circle of loops.Offray Ribbon: Package Bow
- A starburst bow looks like a doubled version of the classic bow.Offray Ribbon: Starburst Bow
- A pinwheel bow is a similar to the starburst but it only has one pair of tails.Instructables.com: Pinwheel Hairbow
- The figure-eight bow uses glue to create multiple loops.MarthaStewart.com: Bow How-Tos
- The loop-the-loop bow is a created by creating loops and then stapling it together.MarthaStewart.com: Ribbon Reinvented: Curling Ribbons
- Store bought poly bows can be altered to make them look more colorful.MarthaStewart.com: Ribbon Reinvented: Store-Bought Bows
Conclusion
- For more information on bows, check out How to Tie a Bow and How to Make and Decorate a Christmas Bow. If you are looking for items to place your bows, then you should check out How to Wrap Presents, How to Make Your Own Gifts, How to Make Gift Baskets, How to Make a Christmas Wreath or How to Buy a Christmas Tree.
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