How to Make Christmas Bows

Making the perfect Christmas bow for wreaths and holiday décor may look difficult, but looks can be deceiving. The trick of course, is to keep things simple. That's why I love this no fail technique for making bows. With a few simple steps, you too can make beautiful bows for Christmas and other special occasions.

You Will Need:

• Ribbon
  
• Scissors
  
• 2 dowels
  
• Floral foam
  
• Wire

• Cut a section of floral foam to a length of 10 to 12 inches. This will form the base to make your bows.
  
• Insert two dowels into the foam spaced at the distance of the desired bow width. Mark the center point between the two dowels with a pencil.
  
• Calculate the amount of ribbon you will need. Keep in mind that each loop of the bow requires a section twice the distance between the dowels. For example to make a single 6-inch bow you will need 12 inches of ribbon for the loops. For a "double bow", you will need 24 inches of ribbon.
  
• Add 12 to 24 inches to the measurement for the "tails". The amount of ribbon required for the tail depends on the length you prefer. For six-inch tails, you will need to add 12 inches of ribbon to your original measurements.
  

Making the bow

• Grasp the ribbon in one hand so that the "tail" hangs freely. Begin wrapping the ribbon loosely around the dowels. Ribbon should be wrapped tight enough to hold it in place, but loose enough to remove it easily.
  
• Pinch the ribbon in the center - above the marked center point on your floral foam - and tie it off with a section of craft wire or thing ribbon. I like to use gold or silver ribbon on mine to add a decorative touch.
  
• Slip the ribbon off the dowels and gently tug the loops to form the finished Christmas bow.
  

For a permanent form for making your bows, nail large nails or spikes into a section of 2x4. Of course, if you are in pinch and do not have time to make a form, wrapping the ribbon around two hands from a willing partner work well too.