How to Make Bows with Ribbon Like a Pro

Whether you’re wrapping holiday presents or just love all things frilly and decorative, there are many easy ways you can make a bow out of ribbon! Read on to learn how to tie a beautiful bow of any shape or size in just a few simple steps, with pointers from arts and crafts specialists Amy Guerrero and Diane Henkler.

Simple Ribbon Bow Tutorial

An illustration of a step-by-step guide on how to tie an easy bow out of ribbon.

Wrap one end of the ribbon around your middle finger twice.
Loop the other end around your thumb and middle finger 3 times.
Bring the tail end over and around the loop.
Slip the tail through the wrapped middle.
Remove the ribbon from your fingers and tighten by tugging on the tails.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Make an Easy Double Bow

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1
Choose a ribbon around 1 ft (12 in) long. The longer your ribbon, the longer your bow’s tails and loops will be. We suggest starting with a 1 foot (12 in) cut of ribbon and going from there. Remember, it’s always best to cut more than you think you’ll need, as you can take more away later.
- This bow-tying method can also be done with forks or markers, but we prefer the finger method—it’s way easier!
- Best for: This method is best for non-wired ribbon.
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Amy Guerrero is an arts and crafts specialist with over 15 years of experience in DIY projects.

Diane Henkler is a crafting and home DIY specialist who has been sharing her DIY skills on the internet since 2009.
Loop the ribbon around your middle finger twice, holding it in place with your forefinger.^{[1]
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Wrap the other end around your thumb and middle finger 3 times. On the same hand, bring the free end of the ribbon under and over your thumb, pulling the ribbon tail toward your face. Guide the ribbon up to your middle finger, wrapping around the space between the thumb and middle finger 3 times.^{[2]
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- Experiment with how many times you wrap the ribbon around. Wrapping it twice will give a looser look, while 3 or more times creates a fuller bow.
Guide the rail end of the ribbon over and around the middle of the loops you created between your fingers in a wrapping motion. Pull taut.^{[3]
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Bring the tail end down and through the middle wrapped piece of ribbon. Pull it through down toward your thumb. Once tightened, the bow will start to take shape!^{[4]
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Slide the ribbon out of your fingers to finish the bow. Slip your fingers out of the ribbon. Find the other tail end inside the formed loops, and pull it out. Reshape the bow as needed by tugging on the loops and tails.^{[5]
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- Add a dab of hot glue to the inside of the wrapped piece of ribbon to help it stay in place.
- For an extra layer of security, sew the ribbon in place with a couple of stitches through the middle section of the bow.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Tie a Basic Bow

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Cut a length of ribbon 1 foot (12 in) long. You can make your ribbon shorter or longer; it all depends on the size you’d like your bow to be. For a bigger bow, opt for a longer ribbon. It’s always best to cut a longer piece of ribbon to help ease the shape of the bow—ribbon can always be cut, but not added.
- Alternatively, leave the ribbon attached to the spool to avoid any waste. This way, you can play around with the bow’s size while you make it.^{[6]
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- Best for: This method can make bows using classic or wired ribbon.
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Bring both tail ends of the bow to the middle. Lay the ribbon on a flat surface. Then, cross each end up and over the middle, keeping the ribbon flap. In other words, create the shape of a ribbon with two loops and two tails.^{[7]
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- Check that both the loops and tails are the size you’d like and are symmetrical.
- Alternatively, secure the loops and tails in place by wrapping floral wire around the middle of the bow.^{[8]
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Fold the left loop over the right loop. Now, all that’s left to do is tie it all together! Take the left loop around the back and through the center hole of the right loop. Pull tightly at the center to secure in place.^{[9]
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- If the bow looks messy, don’t worry! Simply tug on the tails and loops until the bow looks perfect.

Section 3 of 4:

Holiday Bow Variations

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Grosgrain Ribbon Bow Grosgrain ribbon bows are the voluminous ribbons that decorate the most gorgeous gift bows and festive wreaths. And while they may look elaborate, they’re pretty easy to make! Simply follow these instructions:^{[10]
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- Cut 6.5 feet (78 in) of ribbon.
- Wrap the ribbon lengthwise around your chosen gift or box. Use glue or tape to join the ribbon to the box.
- Make a loop with one end of the ribbon. Bring the loop back to the center to join and secure with tape.
- Create another loop with the tail of the previous loop, taping it in place at the center.
- Continue creating and taping loops until you run out of tail ribbon or your bow is the size you’d like.
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Floral Ribbon Bow A floral ribbon fans out with multiple loops to create a flower-like shape. This style of bow can be added to anything: gift boxes, wreaths, trees, mantels, you name it! And thankfully, these beautiful bows are easy to make:^{[11]
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- Cut a length of ribbon about 45 inches (3.8 ft).
- Make a loop measuring 8 inches (20 cm) from the end of the ribbon. Pinch it between your thumb and forefinger.
- Bring the long end of the ribbon up to make a 1 inch (2.5 cm) loop on the left of the pinched loop.
- Continue making loops, alternating each time to create pairs.
- Wrap thin gauge wire around the center of the bow once all of the ribbon has been looped. Twist tightly to secure and trim off excess wire.
- Wrap ribbon over the wire and secure in place with glue.

Section 4 of 4:

Bow Making Tips

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Make sure that the tails are as long as possible when making bows. As Henkler says, “It’s a good idea to cut more than you think you’ll need.”^{[12]
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Expert Source

Diane Henkler
Crafting and Home DIY Specialist

Expert Interview} You can always cut them shorter, but you can’t make them longer without ruining the loops of the bow.
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Cut the bow tails when you can. Cutting the tails prevents fraying of the ribbon and neatens the final look. Use a sharp pair of scissors suitable for cutting fabric. Try cutting the tails:
- Diagonally: This is a cut along a diagonal line along the tail fabric.
- Chevron: Choose a center point at the end of the ribbon's tail. Cut diagonally to this point from the left and then the right side. Meet the two in the middle at the chosen point.
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Choose a ribbon based on your tying abilities and project. If you’re new at tying bows, opt for a ribbon with more texture, like grosgrain, as it’ll be easier to hold and maneuver. If you’re more skilled at tying bows, opt for a slicker fabric like satin. Remember to keep your project in mind when picking a ribbon, too. Match the color, pattern, or overall style of ribbon to what you’re creating.
- For example, a candy can striped ribbon would look beautiful on a green-wrapped holiday present.
- Guerrero suggests using a wire ribbon on a wreath, as it’s easier to shape and is more durable.^{[13]
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Have fun! At the end of the day, bow tying isn’t serious—it’s supposed to be fun. So, don’t be afraid to experiment. Try different methods of ribbon tying, and play around with ribbon colors and textures.
- Guerrero recommends adding decorations to your bow for extra flair: “I love adding pom poms and tassels. You can go non-traditional with your bow and even suspend a little jingle bell from the center.”^{[14]
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Community Q&A

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Question

Make a big satin bow to put on presents or fancy box, which type of ribbon will I need?

Ashlyn Derby

Community Answer

You should use satin if you are more skilled, and grosgrain if you are a beginner. You can try different ones too, like velvet.

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How do I put a hair elastic in the bow?

Community Answer

When you create a bow that requires you wrapping the middle with wire, you can tie it around a hair elastic while doing so. Then you can conceal the wire and continue as instructed.

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How do I tie a ribbon bow to a Christmas tree?

Community Answer

Wrap the ribbon all the way around the tree, creating a circle. Then tie the bow.

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Tips

If using glue on ribbon, test an inconspicuous area first and let it dry. If the glue shows through the ribbon once dried, you'll either need to craft the bow to hide it or choose a different type of glue.

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To estimate the length of ribbon for tying it around a box, wrap the bow loosely around the box, then allow for an extra 24 inches (61 cm) on each side for making the bow.

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