How to Tie a Bow With Ribbon: 3 Neat Styles for Wedding Crafts

A bow that tilts to one side or shows the dull back of the ribbon is rarely a ribbon problem. It is almost always one small move made in the wrong direction, and once you know which move, every bow comes out the same.

This guide covers how to tie a bow with ribbon in three styles that wedding crafts use again and again: the classic two-loop bow, a flat tailored bow, and a full multi-loop bow for larger decor. Practice each one on a scrap length before you cut your good ribbon.

Choose a ribbon that suits the bow

The same steps behave differently in different types of ribbon, so match the ribbon to the job.

• Satin is smooth and soft, and it slides while you tie. Double-faced satin is shiny on both sides, which hides a twisted loop.
• Grosgrain has fine ribs that grip, so knots stay put. It is the easiest choice for tailored bows, tags and cards.
• Organza and other sheer ribbons are light and airy. Narrow loops collapse, so choose a wide ribbon or layer it over satin.
• Wired-edge ribbon has a fine wire in each edge and stays where you shape it. It is the best choice for multi-loop bows and chair backs.

How much ribbon a bow needs

Bows use more ribbon than they seem to. As a rough guide, a classic bow takes about six times its finished width, with tails about as long as the bow is wide. A bow 4 in (10 cm) wide needs about 24 in (60 cm), plus whatever length goes around the box, jar or chair.

A multi-loop bow needs about ten times its finished width. The tailored bow has an exact cutting list, given below.

The classic two-loop bow

A crooked bow comes from wrapping the second end the wrong way around the first loop. Follow the direction in step 3 and the knot lies flat.

1. Cross the left end over the right end, tuck it under and pull snug. One end now points up and one points down.
2. Fold the lower end into a loop and hold it at the base with your thumb. If the ribbon has a dull side, keep the shiny side facing out.
3. Bring the upper end down over the front of the loop, then around behind it. This front-then-back wrap is the step that keeps the bow level.
4. Push that end, folded into a second loop, through the small gap behind your thumb. Give it a half twist as it goes through so its shiny side faces out too.
5. Pull both loops sideways at the same time, slowly. Tug the loops to tighten and the tails to shrink the loops until both sides match.

The flat tailored bow

This bow is not tied at all, so every one in a batch is identical. It suits cards, tags and anything that has to lie flat. For a bow 3 in (7.5 cm) wide in ribbon about 5/8 in (16 mm) wide, cut three pieces: 7 in (18 cm) for the loop, 5 in (13 cm) for the tails and 2 in (5 cm) for the center band. That is 14 in (36 cm) per bow.

1. Bring the two ends of the long piece to the middle so they overlap by about 1 in (2.5 cm) and fix them with a dot of tacky glue. You now have a flat loop 3 in wide with the join at the center back.
2. Pinch the center into a small pleat.
3. Lay the tail piece behind the pinch, at a slight angle if you like.
4. Wrap the short band around the pinched center and the tails, and glue its ends together at the back. Hold for about a minute.

To resize, cut the loop piece to twice the finished width plus 1 in for the overlap.

The layered multi-loop bow

This full bow for larger decor is about 6 in (15 cm) wide and uses roughly 60 in (1.5 m) of wired-edge ribbon 1 1/2 in (4 cm) wide, plus a short piece of floral wire.

1. Leave an 8 in (20 cm) tail, then pinch the ribbon between thumb and finger. This pinch is the center of the bow.
2. Make a loop about 3 in long on one side and bring the ribbon back to the pinch. Twist it half a turn at the center so the right side stays outward.
3. Make a matching loop on the opposite side and twist again.
4. Repeat until there are three loops on each side, making the last pair a little shorter so the layers show.
5. Leave a second 8 in tail and cut. Wrap floral wire tightly around the center, twist it at the back and turn the cut ends inward.
6. Pull the loops apart and open each one with a finger. Knot a short ribbon scrap over the wire to hide it.

Finishing the tails

Cut tails last, with sharp scissors, in one clean snip. An angled cut is the quickest. For a V cut, fold the tail in half lengthwise and cut from the folded side up toward the open edges.

Satin and organza fray quickly. Run a very thin line of clear-drying glue or fray sealant along the cut edge with a toothpick and let it dry for about ten minutes.

Attaching a bow to your project

• Glue: tacky glue or a foam adhesive dot for paper and card. A low-temperature glue gun is quicker on jars, wood and fabric.
• Wire: leave the floral wire ends long on a multi-loop bow and twist them around a hoop, garland or sign corner.
• A stitch: two or three stitches through the back of the knot hold a bow on fabric, such as fabric favor pouches, and can be snipped out later.

The classic bow is the one to use on ribbon chair sashes, where a wide sash simply scales the same steps up, and it is the usual finish for a ribbon-wrapped bouquet handle.