How to Make a Bow for a Wreath

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A big part of making a beautiful wreath is adding on a bow! Bows can be the perfect accents to holiday, seasonal, and everyday wreaths. You can make a fluffy bow with plenty of full loops, or you can use burlap to make a floppy bow for a look that's a little more rustic. Whatever you choose to do, it'll take minimal materials and a little bit of practice to make the perfect bow for your wreath!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Making a Fluffy Bow with Wire Ribbon

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  1. Set it to the side somewhere it can be easily found later on. This is the wire you will use at the end to hold your entire bow together. [1]
    • If you don't have floral wire, you could also use a pipe cleaner.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    For making a fluffy bow, use a minimum of 9 feet (2.7 m)—the more ribbon, the fluffier the bow! Make a small circle, about 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide, at one end of the ribbon. [2]
    • If you're at the store and aren't sure if the ribbon is wired or not, simply pinch a portion of it together—if it keeps its shape, it's wired.
    • Keep in mind as you work that you'll need to stop when you have about 12 inches (30 cm) of fabric remaining.
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  3. Where the end of the ribbon touches the rest of the ribbon, pinch that seam together and hold it between the fingers of your non-dominant hand. This leaves your dominant hand free to shape the rest of the bow. [3]
    • You're going to use your non-dominant hand to hold together the fabric the entire time you're making the bow.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Make a loop on one side of the circle, pinch the fabric in the middle, and then make a loop on the other side of the circle to create the figure-eight image. Continue pinching together the fabric in the middle that meets at your fingers. [4]
    • When you look at the bow from the side, it'll look like the number “8.”
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Make at least 5 or 6 layers of ribboned loops. If you are using a lot of fabric, you may even make closer to 9 or 10! Remember to keep gathering the material in the middle by pinching it between your fingers. [5]
    • At this stage, your loops will be layered rather than spread out and the bow might look a little strange, but don't worry! You're on the right path.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Take the end of the ribbon and place it between your fingers in your non-dominant hand, forming a large circle. [6]
    • 12 inches (30 cm) of ribbon will produce bow tails that are about 6 inches (15 cm) long each.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    [7] Cinch it tight and twist it several times to make sure it's secure. You can now release that bundle of fabric you've been holding on to! [8]
    • If you're using a pipe cleaner, follow the same process: thread it around the pinched fabric and twist it off to ensure it'll stay in place.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Cut in the middle of the fabric and watch as the ends fall down, creating the tails of your bow. You could even cut small triangles out of each end to add an additional flourish to the design. [9]
    • If you want longer tails, leave more fabric at the end when you stop making your loops. If you want shorter tails, you can simply trim them to the length you want.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Spread out the loops until you create a large, fluffy, full-looking bow. [10] Make sure to pull loops upwards and down, and do your best to leave no see-through spaces between the loops. [11]
    • The great thing about using wire ribbon is that you can reform the loops easily if they get bent out of shape.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Creating a Bow from Unwired Ribbon

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  1. Leave this piece of wire off to the side somewhere you can find it easily later on. You'll use it to secure your bow once you're finished making it. [12]
    • If you don't have floral wire, use a pipe cleaner.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Use at least 2 feet (0.61 m) of ribbon for this bow. Twist the end, leaving about 6 inches (15 cm) of fabric for one of your tail ends. [13]
    • If you're using ribbon that isn't patterned on both sides, just make sure that the patterned or colored side is on the outside of the twist.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Hold the forming bow in your non-dominant hand and use your dominant hand to make the loops and twists. How large you make the loops depends on how big you want the bow to be—use smaller loops for a more concentrated bow, and use bigger loops for a larger, fluffier bow. [14]
    • For this bow, you won't be making a figure-eight pattern. Instead, you'll just be making each loop consecutively right next to one another.
  4. Make anywhere from 6-10 loops (or more, if you're going for a really large bow!) before you stop. [15]
    • The even number helps create symmetry in your bow.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Cut the ribbon so that there are roughly equal-sized tails on each side. If you're worried about matching the sides, just leave extra room so you can trim the ribbon tails to match later on. [16]
    • It's okay if the edge is a little jagged—you can tidy it up later on.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Position the wire so that half of the loops are on one side and the rest are on the other. Twist off the floral wire several times so that it stays firmly in place. [17]
    • If you're using a pipe cleaner, follow the same process.
    • You can leave the excess floral wire in place and use it to attach the bow to the wreath later on.
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Position the loops in all directions so that it looks full. Because this bow is made of unwired fabric, it might look a little loose, but that's part of the beauty of it! [18]
    • If you want, you can also cut small triangles out of the ends of the tails for an added flourish.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Crafting a Rustic Bow with Burlap

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Make one piece 60 inches (150 cm), one 24 inches (61 cm), and the last one 8 inches (20 cm). Additionally, cut the 8 in (20 cm) piece of burlap in half lengthwise. [19]
    • These measurements will create a large, rustic bow that will hang down off of your wreath.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Leave about 16 inches (41 cm) of fabric in the center before making your folds, as this will be the main part of your bow. Fold each side down and across so that the end of each one is on the opposite side. [20]
    • It's usually easier if you do this at a workstation so you can lay the ribbon down flat.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Place the folded ribbon, seam-side down, over top of and in the middle of the 16 in (41 cm) section from the largest ribbon, layering one on top of the other. [21]
    • This second piece of fabric helps create depth in your bow by giving it a second dimension, rather than just having a flat, single-layer bow.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Pinch the fabric together in the very middle to create the 2 sides of your bow, and hold the fabric together using your non-dominant hand. [22]
    • One side of the bow should be a mirror reflection of the other side.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    [23] Thread it around the middle, and twist it off several times to ensure it's secure and won't come undone. If you don't have floral wire, you could also use a pipe cleaner. [24]
    • You can either trim off the excess ends of the wire, or let them stick out to the sides so you can use them to attach the bow to the wreath later on.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Wrap it around several times until there isn't any excess ribbon to be wrapped around. If you want, you could also take the other half of that 8 in (20 cm) piece of burlap and wrap it around the middle, too. [25]
    • A fun variation here is to use a colored or patterned ribbon to cover the floral wire for a little pop of color!
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Make a Bow for a Wreath
    Flip your bow over and apply some hot glue to the burlap that's covering the floral wire. Use your scissors to trim off any burlap that is still sticking up. Let the hot glue dry before you flip it back over so it doesn't accidentally get stuck to your table. [26]
    • If you don't have a hot glue gun, you could use double-sided tape.
  8. Instead of leaving the ends of your burlap as straight edges, cut out a triangle shape from each end for a rustic and authentic feel. [27]
    • It's okay if the triangles don't match exactly, but try to keep them about the same general size.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What other decorations would look good on a wreath?
    Amy Guerrero
    Arts & Crafts Specialist
    Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.
    Amy Guerrero
    Arts & Crafts Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Pom poms and tassels always look nice on wreaths. You could also suspend a jingle bell from the center of the wreath.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
  • Question
    How do you tie a bow for a wreath?
    Amy Guerrero
    Arts & Crafts Specialist
    Amy Guerrero is an Arts and Crafts Specialist and the Owner of Sunshine Craft Co., a crafting studio based in Phoenix, Arizona. Amy specializes in macrame, DIY crafting, and teaching fiber arts. She offers monthly in-person and online workshops along with having developed a range of DIY craft kits for at-home projects. Amy holds a BS in Industrial Design from Philadelphia University. She worked as a graphic designer before starting her own business. Sunshine Craft Co. is a creative hub that offers a wide range of workshops, tools, and resources for any craft project to inspire creativity and community engagement.
    Amy Guerrero
    Arts & Crafts Specialist
    Expert Answer
    If you just want to make a simple bow, cut a length of ribbon, then tie it like you would a shoelace.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Look up some online tutorials to see different variations of these bows.
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      • If you have a basic wreath, you could change out the bow every month for an updated look without having to get an entirely new wreath!
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      Things You'll Need

      Making a Fluffy Bow with Wire Ribbon

      • Wired ribbon
      • Shears
      • Floral wire

      Creating a Bow from Unwired Ribbon

      • Fabric ribbon
      • Floral wire
      • Shears

      Crafting a Rustic Bow with Burlap

      • Burlap ribbon
      • Shears
      • Floral wire
      • Hot glue gun
      • Yardstick or ruler

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/how-to-tie-a-wreath-bow/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=94
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=103
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=114
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=178
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=187
      7. ↑ Amy Guerrero. Arts & Crafts Specialist. Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.
      8. ↑ https://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/how-to-tie-a-wreath-bow/
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=224
      1. ↑ Amy Guerrero. Arts & Crafts Specialist. Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/XqqiTs9ALZE?t=239
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=43
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=69
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=89
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=111
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=125
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=137
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/rWqR66loDMY?t=193
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=31
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=40
      12. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=67
      13. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=82
      14. ↑ Amy Guerrero. Arts & Crafts Specialist. Expert Interview. 9 October 2020.
      15. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=98
      16. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=125
      17. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=137
      18. ↑ https://youtu.be/xejV0-8heCk?t=166

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To make a bow for a wreath with wire ribbon, start by unspooling at least 9 feet of ribbon, making a 3-inch wide circle at one end, and pinching it together with one hand. Then, use your other hand to make loops on both sides of the circle in a figure “8” pattern, keeping the fabric pinched together in the center. Continue making progressively larger loops until you have about 12 inches of ribbon left. Finally, secure the end of the ribbon to the pinched fabric with floral wire to make a big loop, then cut the loop in the middle to form the tails of the bow. To learn how to make a bow from unwired ribbon, keep reading!

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