How to Make a Wreath Bow: A Simple Layered Loop Bow

Learning how to make a wreath bow comes down to one repeated movement: make a loop, pinch it at the center, twist the ribbon, and make the next loop on the other side. Everything is held in one hand until a piece of floral wire binds the center, so the bow never has to be tied in a knot.

This guide makes a layered loop bow with four or six loops, a small center loop and two tails, using wired-edge ribbon about 2.5 in (6.5 cm) wide. Made with loops about 4 in (10 cm) long, the bow is roughly 8 in (20 cm) across, a comfortable size for a wreath that measures 16 to 20 in (41 to 51 cm) when finished.

What You Need

• Wired-edge ribbon about 2.5 in (6.5 cm) wide: about 2 yd (1.8 m) for four loops, about 2.5 yd (2.3 m) for six
• Floral wire, one piece about 12 in (30 cm) long
• Sharp scissors and wire cutters
• A ruler or tape measure for the first bow

Work from the spool and cut the ribbon only after the loops are made.

Why Wired-Edge Ribbon

Wired-edge ribbon has a fine wire sewn into each edge. That wire is what lets a loop stand open in a rounded shape and stay where you bend it. Soft ribbon without wire makes a drooping bow.

The wire only helps with shape. Ribbon of any kind fades in sun, sags when wet and frays in wind, so a bow keeps its looks longest on a covered door or indoors.

Scaling the Bow to the Wreath

A bow that is too small looks lost, and one that is too large hides the wreath. As a starting point, aim for a bow about a third to a half as wide as the finished wreath, and remember that finished width is larger than the size of the base.

Adjust these by eye. A bow is a strong focal point, and the guide to balanced wreath composition explains how to place it so it does not compete with flowers.

Forming and Wiring the Loops

1. Measure a tail and pinch. Measure about 10 in (25 cm) from the end of the ribbon for the first tail. Gather the ribbon across its width at that point and pinch it between thumb and forefinger, with the tail hanging down. This pinch is the center of the bow, and it stays in your hand until the wire is on.
2. Make the first loop. Take the ribbon about 8 in (20 cm) farther along, fold it back to the pinch to form a loop about 4 in (10 cm) long, and pinch it in with the rest. If the ribbon has a right side and a plain back, give it a half twist at the pinch so the right side faces out on the next loop.
3. Add loops on both sides. Make the second loop on the opposite side, the same length, then pinch and twist again. Repeat until there are four loops, two on each side. For a six-loop bow, add one more on each side, making the last pair slightly shorter so they sit on top.
4. Wire the center and cover it. Leave a second tail about 10 in (25 cm) long and cut the ribbon from the spool. Slide the floral wire around the pinched center, pull it tight and twist it firmly at the back, leaving both wire ends long. Then wrap a short piece of ribbon, about 5 in (12.5 cm), around the center as a small loop that hides the wire, and catch its ends in the wire twist at the back.

Fluffing the Bow

A newly wired bow looks flat. Put two fingers inside each loop and open it into a rounded shape, then pull the loops apart: lower loops out to the sides, upper loops angled slightly up and forward. Bend a gentle wave into each tail.

Finishing the Tails

Cut ribbon ends fray less and look intentional when they are shaped. There are three common finishes:

• Straight cut. Cut square across. Plain, and it suits narrow ribbon.
• Angled cut. Cut the end at a slant. Cut the two tails so they slant in opposite directions.
• V notch. Fold the tail in half lengthwise and cut at a slant from the folded edge up toward the wired edges. Unfold it to find a neat notch.

The same slanted cut is used on the strips of a tied ribbon wreath on a wire frame, where it keeps dozens of ends tidy.

Attaching the Bow to the Wreath

Push the two wire ends through the wreath, one on each side of a frame wire or a sturdy vine, and twist them together tightly at the back. Cut off the spare wire and bend the sharp ends back into the wreath.

On a foam ring there is nothing to twist around, so wire the bow to a pick or use floral pins. The options are compared in the guide on attaching materials with wire, glue, picks and pins. A wired bow, unlike a glued one, comes off for storage.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Loops slide out of the center. The wire is too loose. Tighten it by turning the bow, or add a second wire.
• Loops are uneven. Measure the first loop, then match each new loop against it before pinching.
• The plain side shows. A half twist was missed. Undo back to that loop and twist at the pinch.
• The bow spins on the wreath. Take the wire ends around two parts of the base, not one.