How to tie a bow

Gift Wrapping Ideas - How to tie a bow

How to make triple loop bow

1. Measure the length of one of the ribbon tails and with the right side of the ribbon on the outside, make a loop and squeeze the ribbon together. Hold it with your thumb and forefinger.
2. Make a full twist of the ribbon so the right side is facing out.
3. Make another loop toward the other side.
4. Make a slightly smaller set of loops on the top of the first set of loops. Continue to alternate the loops, right and left until you have made as many as you like.
5. To complete the bow, twist the remaining ribbon around your thumb to make the center loop. The remaining ribbon is the second tail. Adjust both tails so the ribbon is on the right side. Put a small piece of bow tying wire through the center of the top loop and twist it tightly at the back of the bow to hold all the loops together. The wire should be tight enough to hold the loops, but loose enough so you can move the loops to create a full, fluffy bow.
6. Spread out the bow loops and trim the end of the tails.

How to make a Puffy Bow

A great gift wrap bow or finishing touch to a corsage is the puffy bow. It is made by wrapping ribbon around your fingers. This gives you loops that are uniform in size.

1. Start with five or six “wraps”. To make your bow larger spread your fingers. To make it fuller add more loops.
2. After completing the wraps of ribbon, fold the loops in half.
3. Cut a “V” into each side making sure you do not cut all the way through the center.
4. Tie the bow with a coordinating narrow ribbon in the center. You can also use a fine bow tying wire to hold the center.
5. Separate the loops one by one to the right and left from the inside out. Twist each loop towards you as you pull it from the center. Do one side at a time.
6. Trim the short ends at an angle.

How to make a graduated loopy bow.

1.Make a loop leaving the tail the desired length.
2. Continue making loops gradually increasing the size of the loops until the bow is full and you have enough ribbon left over to make the remaining tail.
3. Secure the center of the bow with ribbon or floral wire.
4. Fan out the loops.
5. Cut the tails at an angle or in points to finish off the look of the bow.

How to make a loopy bow.

1. Make a loop leaving the tail the desired length.
2. Continue making loops keeping them uniform in size until the bow is full and you have enough ribbon left over to make the remaining tail.
3. Secure the center of the bow with floral or bow making wire
4. Fan out the loops
5. Cut the tails at an angle or in points to finish off the bow.

How to make a Tailored Bow.

The tailored bow is made by gradually decreasing the size of the loops stacked on top of each other. If you work with double sided ribbon you can make the bow with one piece of ribbon. With a single sided ribbon, the bow is made of separate loops.

Tailored Bow, using Double Sided Ribbon.

1. Fold ribbon decreasing loop size on each layer.
2. Staple all the layers together.
3. Add a length of ribbon behind loops for two tails and staple underneath loops.
4. Wrap a length of ribbon around center of bow and glue ends together.

Samples of a tailored bow on a wedding album and a flower girl basket.

Tailored Bow, using Single Sided ribbon.

1. Cut three lengths of ribbon. Make a circle with each length overlapping the ends 1″
2. Stack the loops as shown and staple all them together
3. Wrap a length of ribbon around the center of the bow, overlap the ends and glue them together.
4. Optional tail: Glue pointed tails to back of center loop.

How to make a Layered Bow.

A layered bow is two (or many) bows layered on top of each other and held together with the wires from the topmost bow. The wires on the other bows are cut close and the top bow has a center loop. The bottom bow is the largest and has the longest tails.

1. Measure the length of ribbon for the first tail. Hold the ribbon with your thumb and forefinger.
2. With the right side of the ribbon facing out, make a loop one side. (8″ of ribbon makes a 4″ loop)
3. Make a full twist of the ribbon so the right side of the ribbon is still facing out and make a loop toward the other side.
4. Continue alternating loops right and left, fully twisting the ribbon as you go, until you have made the required number of loops on each side. Put florist wire around the center and twist it tightly at the back of the bow. The wire should be tight enough so the loops move independently and can be adjusted to make a full, fluffy bow.
5. To make a center loop, twist the remaining ribbon around your thumb before securing the center with wire. Adjust the tail so the right side of the ribbon is facing out like the first tail. Put a wire through the center of the loop and twist it tightly at the back.

6. Wire the bows together.

Thank you for your attention, have a nice day.

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