Creating Wedding Bows: Ribbon-Tying Techniques For Beginners

Wedding bows made out of ribbon can be used to decorate gifts, wreaths, bouquets, and chairs. They can be made with any kind of ribbon, such as silk, grosgrain, velvet, or wired ribbon. Wired ribbon is a popular choice as it is easy to shape and mould into dramatic sizes. To make a wedding bow, you will need a long piece of ribbon, a zip tie or floral wire, and sharp scissors. The process involves looping the ribbon, cutting it to the desired length, and securing it with a zip tie or floral wire. You can then attach the bow to your desired surface using hot glue, wire, or a chenille stem.

How to make a bow for your wedding car

Planning and Preparation

First, you'll need to decide on the colour palette for your ribbon. If you're stuck for ideas, you could use the wedding colour scheme or consider the wedding theme. For example, if the wedding is taking place in a forest, you might use complementary colours like green, maroon, and brown.

Next, check the weather forecast for the day of the wedding. If it's going to rain, make sure you have waterproof supplies. Also, think about the ground conditions—if it's going to be muddy, opt for a darker-coloured ribbon that won't show dirt.

Attaching the Ribbons

Now it's time to start decorating! You can secure ribbons to the hood of the car using mounting putty, avoiding tape which could damage the paintwork. You can also attach ribbons to the windows by pulling each ribbon back in a diagonal to form a V shape up toward the rearview mirrors. Secure the other ends by tying them around the rearview mirrors or rolling them around the front windows.

For a traditional look, cut several lengths of ribbon that are long enough to trail 2-3 feet behind the car when hung from the rear bumper. You can slip the ribbons through the bumper or bundle the ends and close them in the trunk.

Adding the Finishing Touches

For a simple, colourful look, drape tulle over the hood of the car, securing it with mounting putty. You can also tie ribbons and streamers to the antenna, being careful not to obstruct the view of other drivers.

Finally, it's time to add a big bow! You can stick this on the hood of the car or near the latch of the trunk. If you've pulled ribbons in a V shape across the hood, place the bow where the ribbons meet to cover any messy ends.

Tips and Tricks

• Always use more ribbon than you think you need—you can always cut it shorter, but if your ribbons are too short, you'll have to start again.
• Cut the ends of your ribbon tails diagonally to give them classy points, or cut an even triangle from the centre of the ribbon so the point sits in the middle of the tail.
• If the car is a rental, check with the company before decorating and find out if they offer decoration packages.
• Avoid using tin cans on the bumper, as these can create sparks when they hit the asphalt at high speeds. Instead, use plastic soda bottles or heart-shaped Mylar balloons.

How to make a large cluster bow

Materials:

• Ribbon (any kind, such as silk, grosgrain, velvet, or wired ribbon)
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun or other adhesive
• Pipe cleaners
• Wire cutters (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Cut a long piece of ribbon, ideally at least 2 yards long. The length will depend on how big you want your final bow to be, but remember that you can always cut the ribbon shorter if needed.
• Create a small loop at the end of the ribbon, securing it with a small amount of hot glue or a piece of duct tape. This will be your center loop, so keep it relatively small.
• Twist the ribbon around the back of the center loop, ensuring that the same side of the ribbon is still facing up.
• Make a larger loop on one side of the center loop, then twist the ribbon again and create a matching loop on the other side.
• Repeat this process, creating more loops on each side until you achieve your desired size. Make it as full and voluminous as you like!
• Use a pipe cleaner to tightly wrap around all the loops, including the backside of the center loop, to secure them in place.
• Fluff and adjust the loops to create your desired shape.
• For the tail of the bow, cut a separate strip of ribbon, fold it in half, and secure it to the center loop using tape or hot glue.
• You can use the tail ends of the pipe cleaner to secure the bow to your project, or trim the pipe cleaner if you will be using another method of attachment.

Tips:

• If your ribbon has a design on one side, twist the ribbon each time you make a new loop so that the design always faces outwards.
• Don't be afraid to play around with different types and widths of ribbon to create unique and beautiful bows.
• Remember that you can always cut ribbons shorter, but you can't easily make them longer, so it's better to start with longer pieces.
• If you're making a large bow, wired ribbon can be a good choice as it allows you to create a more dramatic shape and size.

How to make a large wedding bow

To make a large wedding bow, you will need a roll of wired-edge ribbon (at least three yards), florist wire, and a pair of scissors. Wired ribbon is best for making a large bow as it will help to hold the bow's shape.

Step 1:

Start by making a loop with the ribbon. The length from the tail of the ribbon to the loop should be 7-8 inches.

Step 2:

Continue making loops that are 7-8 inches in length until you have at least 5 loops on either side. Cut the ribbon so that the remaining tail is facing the opposite direction of the beginning tail.

Step 3:

Pinch the center of the loops so that both sides are the same length.

Step 4:

Wrap the pinched center with your florist wire.

Step 5:

Pull the loops apart to make your bow. Twist the ribbon to get the desired result. Finish by pulling the tails out to make the tail of the bow.

Tips:

• If you want to make a large bow, start with long ribbon strands. You can always cut long tails shorter, but if your bow tails are too short, you will have to start over.
• To make a nice-sized bow with 1-inch thick ribbon, cut a piece of ribbon between 15 and 20 inches long. Adjust the length accordingly for ribbon thickness.

How to make a bow for a wreath

A beautiful bow can be the perfect addition to a wreath, adding a designer touch and a splash of colour. Here is a step-by-step guide to making a bow for a wreath:

Supplies:

• Ribbon (wired ribbon is best for shaping and maintaining the bow's form)
• Zip tie, chenille stem, pipe cleaner, or floral wire
• Wire cutters and scissors

Step 1:

Begin with a loop. Leaving a long length of ribbon at the base, make a loop at the top. This will be the starting point for your bow.

Step 2:

Add a second loop. Make another loop on top of the first, ensuring it is perfectly aligned. You can make the loops around 6 inches in length.

Step 3:

Continue adding loops. Keep making loops, layering them on top of each other. You may want to clip the loops together as you work to keep them in place.

Step 4:

Tie the loops together. Gather all the loops and tie them together tightly with wire, a chenille twist, or a pipe cleaner. Cover the tie with another loop of ribbon, then secure it at the back with wire or chenille twist.

Step 5:

Pinch and arrange. Cut the ends of the ribbon to your desired length, then fan out the loops to give them body and shape. You can also pull and fluff the loops to make them look fuller.

Step 6:

Attach the bow to the wreath. Use wire, a chenille stem, hot glue, or floral wire to attach the bow to your wreath. You can also use a zip tie to secure the bow, especially if you plan to attach it with wire or chenille.

Tips:

• The amount of ribbon you use will depend on how large and full you want your bow to be. For a proportional look on a 12-inch wreath, use around 36 inches of ribbon for a 4-inch wide bow.
• You can use any type of ribbon, such as velvet, grosgrain, satin, or burlap. Wired ribbon is ideal for fuller bows that hold their shape, while satin and velvet are better for softer, flowing loops.
• Get creative and use multiple ribbons for a unique, colourful look. You can also add embellishments like buttons or pins to the centre of the bow.

How to make a floral bow

Materials:

• Wide ribbon of your choice
• Thin satin ribbon of your choice
• Scissors
• Wire or pipe cleaner (optional)
• Hot glue or floral wire (optional)

Step 1: Cut your ribbon

Cut two pieces of ribbon, one short (about 12 inches or 30 cm) and one long (one to two yards or 90-180 cm). The longer the ribbon, the bigger the bow.

Step 2: Create a loop

Create a small loop with the end of your long piece of ribbon, then twist the ribbon where the loop ends.

Step 3: Create another loop

While still holding the first twist taught with one hand, make another loop on the opposite side of the bow. Then twist.

Step 4: Repeat

Repeat these steps while making alternating loops until you achieve your desired size. We recommend making four loops on each side. You should still have some hanging ribbon, which will become one of your tails.

Step 5: Secure the bow

Use the shorter piece of ribbon you cut in step one to tie the bow loops together. Double knot at one end, leaving the second longer end loose—this will be the second half of your tail.

Step 6: Cut and fluff

Cut the tails and fluff individual loops to your preferred length and fullness.

Optional: Secure with wire or glue

If you want to attach your bow to a wreath, gift, or bouquet, you can use wire or hot glue to secure it.

Frequently asked questions