How to Tie a Fancy Bow…the EASY Way!

If you’ve ever tried and failed to make a fancy bow for holiday decor, wreaths, or a gift, give this a try! Learn how to tie a bow the EASY way!

Sometimes you just need a cute bow to give something that extra something special. I have always loved the big fancy bows, but have never been able to master the art of lots of loops and floral wire. I just had to come up with another way to do it. Finally one day around the holidays I sat down and figured it out–and came up with a super easy way to make a fancy bow. I was so excited to be able to hang them on my staircase, along the banister , on holiday wreaths and garland, or for the finishing touches on a gift. It’s so simple, and you only need two items!

Today I’m going to show you how to tie the perfect bow…the easy way. It’s a cinch! No floral wire, just some ribbon and a pair of scissors. You can make them as small or as large as you like, and it takes just a few minutes to make one. It takes a little bit of practice, but you’ll be tying them in no time, and impressing everyone with your bow-making skills. You’ll be utilizing skills you already have. If you can tie your shoes, you can make a pretty bow for so many other things! No need to worry about how to fold the ribbon perfectly, or follow a long list of step instructions. This is a very straightforward DIY ribbon bow, and they’ll be perfect for formal occasions, holidays, gift-giving, or home decor.

In just a few minutes, you can have a beautiful bow that’s perfect for decorating, adding to wreaths, or wrapping packages. They’re also perfect for weddings, bridal showers, and other events.

The secret to tying a fancy bow…the easy way!

I tried to take pictures of the process, but it was really hard to tie a bow at the same time. I made a movie instead…here it is for your viewing pleasure. As a side note, I made this video in 2011, 10 years ago now. It was very unplanned, and totally spontaneous, hence the pajamas and little kiddos running around! But hopefully the visual will be better than written out instructions (which can be tricky to understand) and help you make a super cute “fancy bow” in no time!

VIDEO TUTORIAL

STEP ONE:  Gather your supplies

All you need is wired ribbon or regular ribbon & scissors!

It’s true, that’s all! The width of the ribbon will help determine how large or small your bow Is. If you’re doing a larger bow, I’d use a wider ribbon. A smaller bow could be done with a more narrow ribbon. Wired ribbon helps keep the shape of the bow, which makes it easier to create. That said, you can use unwired ribbon, but the end product will look different. Neither one is right or wrong, just a personal preference. I find my ribbon at Michaels, JoAnn Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, and Amazon. It doesn’t have to be floral ribbon—but wired ribbon will work best. 

I actually do it both ways. Since I love more rustic, farmhouse style, a looser bow sometimes works a bit better with the aesthetic I’m going for. I also like the looser bows for gift wrapping. If I’m also going for a more formal and “fancy” look, I’ll use the wired.

I love using grosgrain, gingham, or a farmhouse stripe on gifts and for decor. Silk or velvet give it a fancier look!

Tip: You will need at least a 4 foot length of ribbon for a medium-sized bow, and you can go up from there, depending on how big want to make. Instead of cutting a long piece of ribbon, and risking either excess ribbon or not enough, I like to keep it on the spool as a I tie it, then I can trim the end of the ribbon once I’m finished.  If you have extra ribbon and making these, then it’s a good idea to know how much you have, and how large the bow will be.

STEP TWO:  Start with a “regular” bow

In the video, I refer to the first step as making a “regular bow”. There have been some questions about that, and I wanted to leave an explanation just in case. What I mean by that is just a bow just like you’d tie your shoes–-very basic. If you have any other questions, let me know!

Once you have the bow tied, fluff the ribbon–loops of the bow– to its fullest (if you are using wired), so that it gives the best effect.

STEP THREE:  Repeat the bow

You’ll want to watch the video to understand exactly what this looks like, but essentially you are just creating that regular bow over and over again, stacking them on top of each other, which creates all the different loops. The second loop comes from the ends of the first bow, and goes in a different direction than the first loop. The rest of the bow continues in this pattern, repeating that step until you have a complete and full bow.

I love using fresh-cut wreaths on my front door for the holiday and decorating my staircase, banister, and mantel. These bows are the perfect touch!

STEP FOUR:  Attach your bow

I use floral wire to attach the bow where I want it to go. Just make sure to twist the ends of the wire so it will remain secure. To add to a gift or package, I thread another piece of ribbon through the back knot. I use that ribbon to tie it on the gift, and the bow rests on the top of the gift.

It does take a bit of practice just to get used to the process, but after much trial and error, this was ultimately the easiest and simplest way to tie a decorative bow. Because it doesn’t use floral wire or glue, if you need to undo it to start again, or just to practice, it’s super easy to do and redo.

Enjoy! Happy tying!

First published in December 2011.

Other HOLIDAY ideas you might like…

• The YUMMIEST Homemade Hot Fudge & Neighbor Gift Idea
• Old Salt Farm Christmas Home Tour
• Snowball Cookies
• The EASY Way to Hang Christmas Wreaths on Exterior Windows

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