PDF download Download Article PDF download Download Article

The holidays are coming around again, which probably means that you’ve pulled your box of decorations out of their storage space. If your decorations seem a little plain, you can try spicing them up with a ribbon on the front. Or, if you’ve lost your ornament hooks, you can use a ribbon as both decoration and a hanger. Try spending an afternoon crafting to brighten up your ornaments and make them look like new again.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Tying a Classic Bow

PDF download Download Article
  1. Pick out a 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) wide ribbon with a wire running through the top and bottom, then measure out 20 inches (51 cm) of it. You can leave the edges straight for now, since you’ll be able to clean them up later. [1]
    • If you're cutting a ribbon to wrap around something decoratively, like an ornament, it's a good idea to cut more than you think you need so that you can tie a nicely sized bow.
    • Wide ribbon makes a better bow because it stands out more.
    • Try picking a ribbon that matches the theme of your ornament.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    On a flat surface, spread the ribbon out so that the long side faces you. Grab the 2 ends and pull them in towards the center underneath the ribbon, overlapping them to create an awareness ribbon shape on your flat surface. [2]
    • You should be left with a small opening in the center of the bow and the 2 tail ends hanging over each other.
    Advertisement
  3. Keeping the ends overlapped, pick up your ribbon and pinch the center between 2 of your fingers to create the classic bow shape. Don’t worry if your bow doesn’t hold the shape on its own just yet! [3]
    • If your ribbon has wire in it, it may hold the shape pretty well.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Cut a 3 to 4 in (7.6 to 10.2 cm) piece of pipe cleaner out and wrap it around the center of the bow shape you just made. Press the ends of the pipe cleaner down so they wrap flush around the bow, trying not to let them stick up anywhere. [4]
    • If you have a lot of excess pipe cleaner sticking out, you can cut the ends off with scissors.
    • You don’t have to match the pipe cleaner color to your ribbon since you’ll be covering it up later.
  5. Measure out a smaller length of the same ribbon you just used, then use your scissors to cut it out again. You can set your main bow aside for now since it should hold its shape all on its own. [5]
    • Using the same kind of ribbon will make your bow look more cohesive.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Spread the smaller length of ribbon out flat, then fold the edges in towards each other so they meet in the middle lengthwise. Grab a hot glue gun and use it to stick the edges together so you have a seamless, long ribbon piece. [6]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Wrap the small ribbon around the front of your bow and press the edges down onto the back of the bow. Use your hot glue gun again to stick the ends down in the back of the bow, cutting off any excess ribbon if you need to. [7]
    • This is to disguise the pipe cleaner in the center of the bow that’s holding the shape.
  8. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab your scissors again and hold them on one of the tails of the bow at a diagonal. Cut down in one smooth motion so the tail is cut at a diagonal, then do the same to the other tail. [8]
    • This will give the edges a more polished look.
  9. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab your ornament and squeeze out a dot of hot glue onto the metal base of the ornament hook. Try not to get hot glue anywhere else on the ornament to avoid clouding the design. [9]
    • If your ornament doesn’t have a hook, you can find packs of them at most craft supply stores.
  10. Pick up your bow and press the center of it onto the dot of hot glue, then hold it there for about 1 minute to let the glue bond. Set your ornament aside for about 30 minutes to let it dry fully, then hang it on your tree! [10]
    • You can make multiple ornaments with different colored bows or a set of ornaments with the same color scheme.
  11. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Ribbon Ornament Hanger

PDF download Download Article
  1. Find a length of ribbon that’s about 1 in (2.5 cm) wide, then cut out 18 in (46 cm) of it. You don’t need to worry about how the edges look for now, since you’ll be cutting them later on. [11]
    • Skinny ribbon works the best for this type of ornament bow because it can fit through an ornament hook much easier than wide ribbon can.
  2. Find an object in your house that’s about 6 inches (15 cm) wide to use as a template for your ribbon loop. Wrap the ribbon length around the chair post, bed post, or even a round glass to start making your bow. [12]
    • The wider the object is, the longer the loop on the back of your ornament will be.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab the 2 ends of the ribbon length and cross them over each other on the front of your chair or bed post. Overlap the 2 ends, then pull them together tightly to make a basic knot. [13]
    • The knot won’t hold itself together just yet because the ribbon is too slippery.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab one tail of the ribbon and fold it upwards to make a small loop, then wrap the other ribbon tail around the base of the loop. Pull the loose end behind the back of the loop to create a classic bow, then pull it tight. [14]
    • Think of making a bow in the same way you’d tie your shoelaces.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab some scissors and hold them at a diagonal against one of the tails of the bow. Cut the edge at a diagonal, then do the same to the other tail to clean them up. [15]
    • If the tails of your bow are too long, you can also use your scissors to cut off some length before you cut them at an angle.
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab the ribbon and gently pull it off of the base object you were using. Keep hold of the bow so that it doesn’t pull apart, and leave the long loop at the back of the bow intact. [16]
  7. Watermark wikiHow to Tie an Ornament Bow
    Grab an ornament that has a hanger on top, but no hook to hang it with. Push the long loop of your ribbon through the front of the metal loop, sliding it through until the bow rests on top of your ornament. [17]
    • If you’re having trouble getting the ribbon through the metal loop, pinch it between your fingers before you thread it through.
  8. Grab your ornament by the long loop in the back and hang it up on your tree! You can make a few ornaments in this style to decorate and hang your ornaments at the same time. [18]
    • This is a great trick to use if you don’t have any more ornament hooks or you want to spice up some plain decorations.
  9. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • Use caution with hot glue, and try not to get it on your fingers to avoid burning your hands.
      Advertisement

      Things You’ll Need

      Tying a Classic Bow

      • Wide ribbon
      • Ruler
      • Scissors
      • Pipe cleaner
      • Hot glue

      Making a Ribbon Ornament Hanger

      • Skinny ribbon
      • Scissors
      • Ruler
      • Bed or chair post

      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about hobbies and crafts, check out our in-depth interview with Diane Henkler .

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 107,441 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Angie Grocott

        Dec 22, 2020

        "I have made my first DIY personalised Christmas bauble gift for a friend. But I was stuck on how to attach the bow ..." more
      Share your story

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement