How to Make a Ribbon Bow for Wreaths, Gifts & Decor (Step-by-Step)

A ribbon bow is one of the easiest ways to make something look instantly more finished. Tie one onto a wreath and your entry feels more welcoming. Add one to a gift and the package suddenly looks thoughtfully styled. Even everyday decor around the house — baskets, garlands, lamps or mirrors — can look more intentional with a simple bow.

The good news is that making a beautiful bow is easier than you might think.

In this post I’m sharing everything you need to know about making ribbon bows three easy ways that you can use for wreaths, gift wrapping, and decorating around your home. Each method creates a slightly different look, so you can choose the style that works best for whatever you’re decorating.

Once you learn these three bow making methods, you’ll always be able to make the perfect bow whenever something needs a finishing touch.

Want to jump straight to the tutorials? Scroll through the table of contents below to get right to the three bow styles.

How to Make a Ribbon Bow (3 Easy Methods)

In this 3-part tutorial I’m sharing three simple ways to make a ribbon bow. Each bow style creates a slightly different look, but all are easy to make once you learn the basic technique.

To make any of these ribbon bows there are no bow making gadgets needed. All you need is just ribbon or string, strips of cut fabric, sharp scissors and floral wire or a chenille stem found at the craft or dollar store.

After seeing how to make each of the bows shown in this post, you can then better decide what style of bow will look best for your decor, holiday or event needs like weddings and bridal showers.

Bow Style Guide: Which Ribbon Bow Should You Make?

Choosing the right bow to make for your project is more about the style you envision – size, color and pattern. Here is a guide to assist you in your choice.

Below are a few ways I have used ribbon bows around my house on wreaths, baskets, garlands, gift wrapping, lamps, and seasonal decorating.

1. Classic Bow – gifts, small wreaths, decor accents.

This simple bow to accent a stack of wrapped gifts was made using narrow velvet ribbon using the classic two-loop bow making method.

A wired ribbon bow 2-loop bow on a wreath hung with matching ribbon.

2. Multi-loop Bow – wreaths, trees, garlands.

This multi-loop wide satin buffalo check ribbon makes a very merry Christmas bow tree topper. It can be attached to a tree using wire, chenille stem or a zip tie.

3. Stapled Bow – makes a flat bow that works well on mirrors and for quick gift wrapping.

How to Make a Bow: The Ultimate Guide to Making 3 Different Styles of Ribbon Bows

There are many ways to make and style bows. I have found that these 3 bows are the fastest to make and the most popular. There are instructions for each bow making technique below. Plus, all the methods covered here are classic. They will look good no matter where you use them.

What Type of Ribbon Makes the Best Bows?

When making a bow, you can use many different types of ribbon to make a bow. From velvet to grosgrain ribbon or your favorite ribbon. Thick, thin, or wider ribbon, it doesn’t matter as a bow is made the same way no matter the size or material the ribbon is made out of.

Using wired ribbon does make fuller bows that keep their shape that look great on a Christmas present or an elegant evergreen wreath. Traditional satin and velvet ribbon are best to use when you prefer a bow where the loops fall softly to each side.

Decorating Tip: When using ribbon bows on wreaths or garlands outdoors, wired ribbon works best since the loops hold their shape even in wind or weather.

If you can’t find ribbon you like, tulle makes very festive bows and can be purchased very inexpensively at the craft store. Crepe paper, twisted paper ribbon, burlap ribbon and even cut strips from fabric yardage can be made into bows.

How Many Yards of Ribbon Are Needed to Make a Bow?

Most ribbon is sold by the spool that has a few yards on it. Specialty ribbon is sold by the yard.

• Wreath Bows: To make a bow for a standard size door wreath you will need about 54″ of ribbon. If you want to make one with 6 multi-loops, double these measurements.

• The amount of ribbon needed for a Small Gift Bow will vary by the size of the box. The best way to find the length needed is to measure the width of the box to figure out how big to make the loops as you don’t want them going over the sides.

• Large Decorative Bows: To make sure you have enough ribbon for a large bow, use string or twine to make the bow you want, then undo it and measure the length.

Bow #1: How to Make a Classic 2-Loop Bow With Wired Ribbon

Follow these step-by-step instructions on how to make a basic 2-loop bow using the “M” method.

I call this bow the “Easy M”. It is a simple bow and my “go-to” bow. It works with any kind of ribbon, but best with wired ribbon. It works well to attach using glue to hair barrettes and clips.

Follow these easy steps to make one.

1. Make a loose “M” shape with ribbon.

2. Cinch each side to start to form loops.

3. Hold each side with your hands where you cinched ribbon.

4.  Cross loops and put one through the opening under the crossed loops – just like the way you tie a shoelace.

5. Once one loop is through the opening, pull both loops to tighten knot in center. It will look like this.

This is the step where most beginners who are not used to making bows think they have failed Bow Making 101 and give up.  Don’t ! You just need to primp the ribbon a little now to give the bow shape.

6. Lay bow right side up on a flat surface. Hold tails and pull one loop at a time to make them even. Place your fingers in the inside of a loop to fluff add fullness.

The wire in the ribbon will help you shape each loop.

7.  Pull the loops at the same time to tighten knot. Twist loops if needed to get them straight and even with each other.

8. This is the most important step.  Put your index fingers under knot to pull and straighten the knot.

Pull the edge of ribbon to each side of knot.

9. After you primp, the bow should look like this.  A dimple should be in each loop near the center knot.

Adding Wire to the Back of the Bow

1. Turn bow face down. Thread one end of a 12-inch long piece of wire or a chenille stem under and through the back of the knot.

2. Center wire and twist wire against knot to secure.

How to Trim the Ribbon Tail Ends

For the finishing touch, when cutting the ends of the ribbon, I like to nock or notch the ends of the tails into an inverted “V” shape. A simple angle cut looks nice also.

1. Fold end of tail in half lengthwise and cut on an angle from the outer edge to the folded edge of the ribbon with the sharpest scissors you have.

2. Unfold the ends and flatten with your fingers to smooth.

TIP: To make the wire edge of ribbon smooth, run the wired edge through your thumb and index finger to smooth and get kinks out.

Variation: Add Multiple Tails to Add Fullness to Bow

1. Determine the desired length of the new piece of ribbon, double that measurement, then cut.

2. Find center of cut ribbon and place it over the wire on back of bow.  Twist wire to secure.  Cut tails.

When Using a Ribbon Bow For Gift Wrapping

Tie a gift tag around the back of the bow and let it hang from the center of the bow.

To add some bling to your wired ribbon bow, pin a brooch style pin on the knot as I did in an a photo above in this post.

Bow #2: How to Make a Multi Loop Ribbon Bow

This six-looped ribbon bow is made using only one length of ribbon that includes the center loop that looks like a covered button. This center is only a small loop you make in the ribbon as you make the bow.

This style of bow that some call a florist’s bow or a multi-loop bow, I call a Macy’s bow. It looks best when you make it with stiff or wired ribbon.

I like this bow best when holiday decorating. It looks festive when made with plaid ribbon and placed on a front door.

I learned to make this wired ribbon bow when I worked as a visual merchandiser at Macy’s. I made hundreds!!!

It was the only bow we were allowed to make for the store to place on stacks of display gift boxes, garlands and trees.

Instead of a step-by-step photo tutorial to show you how to make this bow, I made a video. Watching the bow actually being made will make it easy for you to see how to make one or more for your home’s decor or when wrapping gifts.

It starts with one end of a long piece of ribbon or making the bow while the ribbon is still on the spool and not cutting it off until the bow is made. This way you will know you can make the bow with as many loops as you want.

Bow #3: How To Make a Ribbon Bow With a Stapler

A stapled bow? Yes, they are easy to make, especially when you want a larger bow. It is one of the bow making tricks I learned as a retail display designer.

The stiffer the ribbon you use to make a bow this way, the more poufy the bow will be.

For this bow, I used satin ribbon so the loops softly fall to the sides of the bow.

I looped ribbon around a cardboard snowflake that I had previously used as place mats for a holiday table setting.

To attach the snowflake to the bow, I wired it to the back of the knot on the bow. I used a dot of hot glue on the back of the bow to attach it to the mirror. You could also attach with a Command Brand Picture Hanging Strip.

1.  Fold loop section in half.

2. Fold over again as shown and staple in the center to create the loops for the bow.

3. It should look like this. Set aside.

4. Find the center of the tail section, fold over, pinch together and staple.

5. Making sure right sides of ribbon are facing front.  Match up the staples on the tail and loop sections and staple them together.

It will look like this.

6.   Lay the knot section underneath and fold one edge over.

7.  Tuck the raw edge under the folded edge, overlap to fit snugly and staple twice.   If you have one of those little staplers – you can slide the stapler right in between the knot section and the loop and tail section so the staple will lay flat. 

I rummaged through all my junk drawers and could not find one, so I had to staple on the outer edge of the ribbon because the bottom section of the stapler would not wedge under the ribbon.

It works, but the ribbon edges are raised up when they should be overlapping and then stapled.

Fluff the loops with your fingers.  All done!  This ribbon is 2-1/2 inches wide and the knot comes out a bit too wide for my liking. I use a variation to attach the knot section – next photo.

When using wide ribbon, you can fold it in half before tying onto the loops or you can tie the ribbon around the loop and tail sections so the knot gets more “scrunched”.

I used a 7” piece of ribbon and tied it around the center of the loop and tail section, then made a double knot.

Trim the excess and hot glue each end down on the back of the knot so they stay flat.

A “scrunchier” – knot.

8. Cut the tails. I prefer a simple angle cut.

How to Attach or Hang a Stapled Bow

One glue dot or dab of hot glue on a sealed or slick non-porous surface will come right off without damaging the surface.

Or hang the bow with wire using my tip. Thread a piece of wire or a chenille stem through the back of the knot, wrap around and twist to secure.  Use the ends of the wire to tie your bow on to any object.

Bonus: The Easiest Bow To Make

The easiest bow to add to a wrapped gift is simply taking a long length of ribbon that will go around the gift box once or twice and then bringing it up to the top and tying the ends of the ribbon like you would your shoelaces.

Once the bow is tied, primp the loops with your fingers until they look nice. Cut the ribbon ends into notches.

Ribbon tied into bows used to wrap a gift

The Best Places to Buy Ribbon to Make Pretty Bows

The best resources and places to find beautiful ribbon inexpensively is at HomeGoods, Marshalls, TJ Maxx.

Online, both Amazon and Etsy sellers have a wide variety of ribbons. In the site’s search bars, type in what color, type and width ribbon you want. Along with the words, “by the yard” or “rolls of ribbon”.

Other places to find pretty ribbon are Hobby Lobby, Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics.

Key Takeaways for Making One or All Three of These Ribbon Bows

I hope that by reading through the post you are now feeling inspired to try one or all of the bow-making techniques yourself.

Add Your Own Style: Use your creativity to come up with unique ways to make the bow perfect for your needs by using two different patterns or colors of ribbons in one bow.

And don’t stop there, add embellishments like buttons and decorative pins to the center of a bow. These additions will make extra beautiful bows for all your needs be it for the holidays, your home’s decor, to place on a gift or to make a accent on a hair clip.

FAQ – Common Questions About Making Ribbon Bows

What type of ribbon works best for making bows?
Wired ribbon is the easiest ribbon to use when making bows because the wire helps the loops hold their shape. It’s especially helpful when making bows for wreaths, garlands or outdoor decorating. Non-wired ribbon can also work well for gift wrapping bows or softer decorative looks.

How do you make a bow look full and fluffy?
The key is fluffing the loops after the bow is tied. Gently pull each loop outward and adjust them so they spread evenly around the center. Wired ribbon makes this especially easy since you can shape each loop with your fingers.

How much ribbon do you need to make a bow?
For most bows used on wreaths or gifts, about 2 to 3 feet of ribbon is enough. Larger decorative bows may require more ribbon depending on how many loops you create.

Can you make a ribbon bow without wired ribbon?
Yes. Many gift wrapping bows are made using standard satin or grosgrain ribbon. The loops will simply be softer and less structured than bows made with wired ribbon.

What size ribbon works best for wreath bows?
Ribbon that is 2½ inches wide is commonly used for wreath bows because it creates fuller loops that are visible from a distance.

Now You Know How to Make a Perfect Bow

Once you learn these simple bow techniques, you’ll start to notice how often a ribbon bow can add just the right finishing touch. I find myself using them all the time — on wreaths, gift packages, baskets, garlands and especially during the holidays when ribbon seems to appear everywhere around my home.

If you have a favorite way you like to make or use bows when decorating or wrapping gifts, I’d love to hear about it in the comments. I always enjoy learning new little decorating tricks from readers.

Save this post so you’ll always have these easy ribbon bow techniques handy when decorating or wrapping gifts.

If you enjoy decorating with ribbon, you may also like my ideas for decorating shelves with ribbon trim, making a ribbon tassel to hang from a drawer key, a ribbon memo board for the inside of kitchen cabinet or other simple ribbon decorating projects.

More Decorating With Ribbon Projects and Ideas

• How to Make a Ribbon Memo Board
• Scrap Fabric Handmade Christmas Tree Photo Ornaments
• How to Hang a Wreath with Ribbon
• Ribbon Organizer That I Made in an Hour
• How-To Make an Easy Hanging Ribbon Organizer