Quck answer
To tie a bow with wired ribbon, follow these steps:
1. Start by forming a loop with the ribbon, making sure the patterned side is facing up.
2. Cross the longer end of the ribbon over the loop to create a second loop, and hold it in place.
3. Bring the longer end of the ribbon through the center of the loop you just created.
4. Pull both ends of the ribbon tightly to secure the bow.
5. Adjust the loops and tails of the bow to your desired shape and length.
6. Use the wire in the ribbon to shape and secure the bow in place.
7. Trim any excess ribbon if necessary.
Wired ribbon adds a touch of elegance to gifts and home decor, as the wire helps the bows maintain their shape even when placed outdoors. The key to tying bows with wired ribbon is to take your time and ensure that the ribbon doesn’t twist or bend in unwanted ways. Other than that, it’s similar to working with any other ribbon, string, or shoelace.
The Traditional Two-Loop Bow
A two-loop bow is one of the most common and also the easiest to make. It is similar to tying your shoelaces, but with wired ribbon.
- Unroll enough ribbon from the spool to create a bow with long tails, and cut the ribbon at that length. A bow with tails that are 12 inches or longer may require more than 4 feet of ribbon.
- Create a basic “M” shape with the ribbon, and then squeeze each side to form a loop in each hand.
- Fold one loop over the other, tucking the top loop behind the first and up through the hole between the loops, just like tying a knot or a shoelace. Gently pull both sides to slightly tighten the center knot.
- Carefully adjust the size of each loop to make them equal. Shape the loops to make them look as full as possible, rather than flat.
- Once both loops are even, straighten the knot by inserting your fingers inside it.
- Pull both loops simultaneously to tighten the knot further.
- Adjust the tails and loops to achieve the desired appearance. The wire in the ribbon helps it maintain its shape.
Tip
If you are unsure how much ribbon to use for a large decorative bow, practice with a piece of yarn or string first. Once you have made a bow of the desired size, untie it and measure it. Cut the ribbon to the same length or slightly longer to allow for full, dimensional loops.
Additional Details: Adding Extra Tails
You can enhance the appearance of your two-loop bow, or any bow, by adding extra tails. Cut a piece of ribbon that is slightly longer than twice the length of each bow tail. You can use the same ribbon as the original bow or choose a contrasting color, such as black for an orange Halloween bow. Cut a short piece of floral wire and thread it through the back of the knot on the original bow, with the ends of the wire sticking out on each side. Gently fold the additional ribbon in half and tie it to the back of the bow by twisting the floral wire. Make sure the nicest side of the ribbon faces down, as the bow is face down at this point. Flip the bow over and adjust all the tails to your liking.
More Elaborate Ribbon Bows
Wired ribbon is also suitable for more intricate designs.
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Elevate the appearance of your gift or decor project by creating a bow with multiple loops. This style of bow is not tied in a simple knot like a shoelace bow; instead, it entails layering ribbon folds on top of each other and securing them in the center with a piece of floral wire that matches the ribbon.
- To begin, unwind enough ribbon to create one tail and one loop for the bow. For example, if you want a 10-inch tail with a 5-inch wide loop on each side, you will need 20 inches of ribbon.
- Place a piece of masking tape on the table to mark where the tail ends and each loop begins.
- Loosely fold the ribbon back and forth over itself to form loops that stop at the tape. Then, fold the ribbon back over to achieve the desired loop size.
- Repeat this process until there are a minimum of four loops on each side. At this point, the ribbon should resemble old-fashioned ribbon candy.
- Unwind enough ribbon from the roll at the end to create the second tail, making sure it is the same length as the first tail and positioned on the opposite side of the bow. Cut the ribbon at this point.
- Cut a piece of floral wire that matches the ribbon, ensuring it is at least 6 inches long. Fold the wire into a U-shape. If you want to attach the bow to a wreath or a gift wrapped with ribbon, you can use a longer piece of wire.
- Place the bend of the U over the center of the folds, then gently twist the floral wire to hold the bow’s shape together.
- Adjust each loop of the bow to achieve the desired shape. Fluff up the loops to conceal the wire in the center.
- Shape the tails of the bow as desired.
