Tying a Ribbon Bow

Trying a bow from a length of ribbon isn’t as easy as it sounds. Our step-by-step instructions will help you get the knack so you can make bows from your favourite ribbons, any size you like. It's easy when you know how, but I'd recommend lots of practice, as it takes time to perfect your technique...

Materials and Tools

• A good length of your favourite ribbon
• A little time and patience at first...

Instructions

1. Take your length of ribbon and make a loop in it, and hold the loop between your left forefinger and thumb, so that the shorter end of the ribbon is at the front.

If your ribbon has a right and wrong side, make sure that the right side is facing outwards when you make your loop.

2. Take the long end of the ribbon with your right hand and take it behind your left forefinger (over the nail of this finger), then bring it around across your thumbnail and through the loop which is around your forefinger (you have to slip your finger out as you do this).

3. Pull the ribbon through, being very careful as at this stage as the bow is very loose. To tighten the bow, you need to pull on the two loops, and then pull down on the two ends of ribbon to adjust the size of the loops. If you want a small bow you will need to do this several times. When you are happy with your bow, trim the ends to size.

4. If you want forked ends on your ribbon bow, fold the ribbon in half at the end, and make a diagonal cut with a sharp pair of scissors, from the fold line, about half of a centimetre from the end of the ribbon, down to the outside edge at the end of the piece of ribbon. Repeat this at the other end of the ribbon.

Hey Presto! A lovely ribbon bow! Or you could cheat and try some of our ready made bows...