How to Tie a Christmas Bow

Editor's Choice Make Your Christmas Gifts More Attractive with Festive Ribbon

Dec 11, 2008 Peter John Shearing

Christmas bows play a leading role in festive designs, so it makes sense to take a little time to perfect your bow-tying technique with some Christmas ribbon.

Most people learn to tie a shoestring bow as a child, but the two following bows offer a more professional touch to your Christmas presents and can also be used to adorn homemade Christmas cards.

How to Tie a Double-Loop Bow

  1. With the Christmas ribbon still on the roll or the length untrimmed, form a loop toward the cut end of the ribbon and hold with one hand.
  2. Make a second loop of the same size a little further along the ribbon, away from the cut end, and hold in your other hand.
  3. Take one loop and pass it over the top of the other loop.
  4. Pass this loop over and back through between the two loops.
  5. Pull the loops tight (if your ribbon has a right and reverse side, like a velvet, you may need to twist it to turn the right side uppermost). The loops may be longer than desired, so pull the ends of the ribbon to shorten the loops.
  6. Cut the bow from the roll or length of ribbon and trim the ends into a ‘V’ shape.

How to Tie a Multi-Loop Bow

  1. With the Christmas ribbon still on the roll or the length untrimmed, make four loops, with the top loops slightly smaller.
  2. Cut the loops from the roll or length of ribbon and pinch the centers of the loops together between your fingers.
  3. Take a 4" (10cm) length of thin wire (gauge 34) and wrap it tightly around the center of the bow several times. Twist the ends of the wire together and trim with scissors or pliers.
  4. Take a length of the same ribbon and tie in a knot around the center of the bow.
  5. Pull the ends of the ribbon tight to cover the wire around the loops.

These bow-tying techniques will make your Christmas gifts much more eye-catching and will add a professional look.

You can also use ribbons to adorn Christmas cards, gift tags, envelopes and boxes, which can be co-ordinated with the gift wrap.

One alternative use for Christmas ribbon is to cut two slits in the spine of a homemade Christmas card and to thread the ribbon through and ending in a flamboyant bow. Or a length of ribbon can be tied package-style around a card, finishing with a double-loop bow at the center. A Christmas card resembling a gift is guaranteed to grab attention!

The copyright of the article How to Tie a Christmas Bow in Crafts is owned by Peter John Shearing. Permission to republish How to Tie a Christmas Bow in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Make Your Gifts More Attractive with Ribbon, Steph Shearing Make Your Gifts More Attractive with Ribbon