A lovely addition to a gift box or a dress, a bow makes everything prettier, and by knowing how to make a bow out of ribbon, you can always add a special touch.
For decorations, presents, dresses, and much more colorful and stylish, you can see bows everywhere. And a DIY or Do-It-Yourself ribbon bow is easy to learn and make.
With this guide on making a bow out of ribbon, you can create something beautiful in some elementary and simple steps. Be it for decorating or fashion, and a sweet little bow goes a long way.
And if you know how to make a bow out of ribbon, you can create that special thing without needing to buy the same old thing that everyone else will get from the stores.
1. Supplies Needed to Make Bows out of Ribbons
Before you start the lesson on making a bow out of ribbon, you will first need to gather a few common but necessary supplies. The materials required are pretty simple things that can be bought from any local stationery store. If you cannot find any of these things at the shops, you can always opt for online shopping. Shopping sites like Amazon, Etsy, and eBay have a huge and incredible collection of art and craft supplies needed for any DIY.
1.1) Ribbons
Since the main subject here is “how to make a bow out of ribbon,” you can gather and guess from the name that ribbons are the first things you need.
Selecting the items for DIY is one of the most fun parts of the whole project.
There are many types, varieties, sizes, shapes, and colors to choose from! There are satin ribbons, plaid ones, ones with lovely patterns, and even plain ones.
However, if you are looking for suggestions on how to make a bow out of ribbon, a wired ribbon can be considered to be one of the best kinds. A wired ribbon can make the entire process of shaping much more accessible and simpler. Not to mention it also helps keep the perfect shape for the loops and the tails of the ribbon bows.
Other options include grosgrain ribbon, burlap ribbon, or satin ribbon.
1.2) Zip Ties and Wires
For the step of tying the bow, a zip tie or wire will be required to hold the shape together. Floral wire is preferred in this case for crafting ribbon bows.
For making a ribbon bow, a chenille stem is preferred by many for cinching and holding the structure. And you can find chenille stems in a variety of styles and sizes. It is better to have a chenille stem in the same shade as the ribbon. So, it is always advisable to keep an assortment of colors to choose from.
You don’t need to match the wires with the ribbon completely. On the contrary, you can mix and match with complementary colors, for example, for a classic look for a cream and navy blue combo. Christmas bows can be red and green, silver and blue, or a combination.
Don’t shy away from creativity; that is the best and most crucial aspect of DIYs.
1.3) Scissors and Wire Cutters
You will need a good pair of sharp scissors and a wire cutter to snip and shape the bows and wires.
No matter what kind you intend to use, the only thing to check is the sharpness. Make sure that the scissors cut sharply and smoothly. You don’t want your precious creation to have rough or uneven ends.
1.4) Additional Supplies
If you want to add something more to a ribbon depending on the occasion or your preference, there are many things to choose from.
You can stick some shiny sequins or crystal beads to make the bow prettier. For instance, if you are going for a winter wonderland look for Christmas, make sure to have some silver and blue beads or sequins.
Or in the case of a wreath bow, use the festive colors of Christmas. Also, remember to have suitable quality adhesive or hot glue to stick the additional stuff on your ribbons.
2. How to Make a Bow out of Ribbon in 5 Easy and Simple Steps
Even though it gains additional popularity during the festive seasons, everyone needs bows all year round. Maybe it’s for boxes, gift baskets, and presents. Or just something to add to that boring dress to give it a little flair.
Well, no need to worry anymore about buying that final addition at the very last moment. In this simple step-by-step guide on how to make a bow out of ribbon, you will easily be able to make your bows from just any kind of ribbon – and you need to learn only one method for that!
So wait no longer and dive into the lesson on making a bow out of ribbon and make those happy and festive days a little more special.
2.1) Step 1: Making Bow Loops
The first and foremost step in making a bow out of ribbon is making bow loops.
Begin with a spool of ribbon of any of your preferences. Take out the ribbon from the spool, cut the ribbon based on your desired length based on your preferred new size, and then coil the ribbon over to make a circle. The length of the circle will approximately be the length of the final bow that you will create.
The more times you successfully manage to loop the ribbon around, the fuller the finished bow will look. Therefore try to make a minimum of three complete circles. And never forget that the more is undoubtedly merrier in this case as it will be much easier to work with.
End by cinching the coil in the center with some twine. You can also use a chenille stem.
2.2) Step 2: Fastening the Bow
After you are pleased with the loops you have made or have finally at the end of the ribbon, you will need to fasten the bow.
For this step, squeeze the middle so that all the sides form loops of the same size.
Next, use a wire or stem to fasten. To fasten the bow, a chenille stem is preferable or you can also use any other type of your choice.
If you manage to perform the task satisfactorily, you should have a straight figure-8-kind bow. No need to be frustrated by the lack of its three dimensions – the bow will spring to life in the very next step.
Image by Brett Hondow from Pixabay Copyright 2016But before you start fluffing the bow, you have to pull single bow loops off from the center, switching pulls from all the ends individually.
2.3) Step 3: Fluffing the Bow
You will fluff the bow in the next step for making a bow out of ribbon.
Start by tugging one loop out from the middle of the bow. The ribbon will enable you to shape the loop to make a rounded structure. After that, grab a loop out from another side of the bow and, just like you did before, construct the loop so that a rounded mold is created.
Perform this method again, rotating sides with every pull, till finally, every loop has been pulled out properly and fluffed. If done correctly, after completing this step, you should have a finely shaped bow. The only thing lacking is the tails.
When all the loops are shaped, fasten a lengthy ribbon around the middle to create the bow tails.
2.4) Step 4: Adding Bow Tails
Now, you are almost at the end of your lesson on making a bow out of ribbon. And if you don’t want a tail for your bow, you can stop here.
During this step, you will require an additional spool of ribbon. Wrap a lengthy ribbon around the bow’s center while covering and hiding the wires or chenille stems from being.
If you intend to put the bow on a tree as a wreath, you can choose to exclude the edges of the chenille stems from assisting in attaching the bow.
To complete the thing, cut each ribbon in an elegant shape. Make sure not to leave the ends blunt, no matter the shape you choose. After all the hard work, ruining the beautiful creation will be a shame due to some blunt or uneven ends.
2.5) Step 5: A Few Final Touches
Technically, the whole thing is complete. So congratulations, you have made it to the end of the lesson on making a bow out of ribbon.
Now, for the final touch, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you intend to keep the thing simple, then there is no need to do anything else.
However, if you are looking for a little more flair, there are endless choices. You can add glitter, sequins, beads, or even bits from the excess ribbon! The main thing to keep in mind is the complementary and matching colors. You can go for the same colors in different shades or completely different ones that complement each other.
Like for Christmas, you can use very different shades of red and green to bring festive cheer to your home. Or, if you are looking for something more classy and elegant, opt for the winter-themed silver and blue, along with some crystal beads of the same shades.
So as you can see, there are infinite ways to decorate your creation once you have learned how to make a beautiful bow out of ribbon.
3. FAQs on How to Make a Bow out of Ribbon
Still have queries on DIY bows and ribbons? Well, read on to find the answers to the most frequently asked questions on how to make a bow out of ribbon.
3.1) How to make a bow out of ribbon in a few simple and easy steps?
There are many ways in which ribbons can be made with bows. As you can find from this guide, the basic steps are – making bow loops, fastening and fluffing the bow, and finally, adding the bow tails. While you can end the DIY there, add special bits like sequins and beads to make the bow prettier and more colorful.
To learn how to make a bow out of ribbon and even the best way to wrap a present, you will find many guides and tutorials across the web. After learning the theory of making bows from here, you can watch video tutorials from youtube for further guidance.
By watching a video tutorial, you will be able to understand the practical part of making bows from ribbons.
3.2) What are the things needed to make a ribbon bow?
The easy DIY for making a bow out of ribbon only requires a few items, all of which you can usually find in any local stationery shop. The primary supplies required for making bows are ribbons, zip tires, wires, scissors, and wire cutters.
In the case of ribbons, the wired ribbon is believed to be the most suitable for this task. Other than that, you can also use grosgrain ribbon or burlap ribbon. Make sure to have an excess amount of ribbon if you want to make large bows for fastening; use good-quality wires and tires. And always remember to buy a pair of sharp scissors to avoid rough or uneven ends.
For extra supplies, you can buy things like sequins, glitter, and beads to make the bow a bit more special. You can even get sequined ribbons and laces from shops.
3.3) Is wired ribbon best for making ribbon bows?
As you already know from this guide on making a bow out of ribbon, wired ribbons are ideal for this DIY.
Especially since you will need to make a lot of loops and knots, having a worked ribbon will be better for flexibility and bending purposes.
3.4) How to make a big bow from ribbons for a Christmas tree or large gift box?
If you want to make a giant bow to fix on the top of your Christmas trees, you only have to do twice as much with the method you learned here. This will help in creating a fuller display. All you need to do is keep following the same steps from 1 to 4 as given above.
After the bows are done, fix one in front and the other at the back of the top branch of the Christmas tree. And just like that, you can create dazzling and unique Christmas ornaments that look beautiful from every angle.
For large bowls, the trick is to buy twice as much ribbon and do double the work. So if you have a huge gift box, make sure to have a bigger spool and thick ribbon t create as many loops as you need. A thin ribbon will not work in this case.
However, if you want a ribbon for something like a car, it is better to buy one – it will save you time, money, and much trouble. On the other hand, if you are a huge art and crafts enthusiast and are willing to go any length for a DIY, then you should undoubtedly go for it!
Final Takeaways: Tying Up Ribbon Ends
Here you go; now you know one of the easiest and simplest DIYs to try – how to make a bow out of ribbon. And that too with only a few everyday items you can get from any stationery store or online shopping.
Whether for the Christmas tree wreath, a front door decoration piece, a bow for a simple dress, or a colorful hair bow, this step-by-step instruction article on making the perfect bow will genuinely help you and guide you throughout the process.
No matter what you need it for – a birthday decoration or Christmas addition, a unique ornament on top of the present box, or adding a bit more flair to a simple dress, this guide with easy and clear instructions will be helpful for even the beginners of DIY. You don’t need to be a seasoned artist to make a ribbon bow for a wreath, gift box, or hair accessory. Anyone can do this by simply following the fun and easy steps.
It is truly amazing how such a small and simple thing, like a bow, can make something much more vibrant. And with this guide on how to make a bow out of ribbon, you can make the next birthday or Christmas much more colorful and memorable.
Last Updated on by Sathi
