Christmas tree bows add a classic touch to your holiday season decorations. Whether making a Christmas tree topper or small bows for Christmas tree decorations, ribbon is the key to this festive holiday decor.
Start with more than you need so you can cut various lengths of ribbon to come up with your DIY Christmas bows.
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Christmas tree topper bow
A ribbon bow makes a major statement when placed on the top of the tree, so choose a wide ribbon in a color scheme that pairs well with your other Christmas decorations. Choose wire-edged ribbon that's about 2 1/2 in. wide, and a long piece that's about 25 yards if you plan to make a big bow with long tails with the ends of the ribbon. Though it looks complicated, this beautiful bow is fairly easy to make, and has about 18 loops on each side. Use a piece of floral wire at least 2 feet long and set on the table, perpendicular to your loops of ribbon.
Make one loop about 7 in. wide on one side of the wire, then fold the ribbon atop itself and make another loop the same size. If the ribbon has a pretty side and a plain side, give the ribbon a 1/2 twist each time to make sure the loops show pretty or right side out. Use a paperweight or a bowdabra in the middle to keep the stack of loops in place. Make 18 loops on each side, or how ever many you prefer.
Tip
A bowdabra makes bow making easier, as it holds the loops of ribbon in place as you work.
Once you've made all the loops, twist the floral wire around the center to keep the loops intact. Fluff up the ribbon loops so they make a large poof. Cut long pieces of ribbon to serve as the tails or streamers if you like, secure them with floral wire, then secure the entire structure to the top of the tree with floral wire. Your DIY Christmas tree topper is complete.
Easy bow tutorial
Making ribbon bows for the tree is a nice Christmas craft that gets easier as you go. If you know how to make bows when tying your shoes, you already know one way to make tree ribbon bows; this style is ideal for wreath bows as well, and looks nice for a small table top tree or for a tree with small decorations. Making slightly fancier bows is another easy DIY project, and it's quite similar to making the tree topper bow.
Choose wired ribbon or unwired if you like; either way, it's easiest if you choose a ribbon that looks nice, and the same, on both sides. Make a flat circle with the ribbon and then repeat that two or so times; each circle equates to how many loops the bow will have on each side. Also cut a piece to be the tail; half the ribbon dangles on either side for the tail piece. Wrap a piece of floral wire around the center of the stacked ribbon circles; after it's wrapped once or twice, add the center of the ribbon tail and wrap it more to secure it.
Tip
Wired ribbon makes it easier for a bow to maintain any shape you choose, and it’s easy to adjust again when taking it out of storage each holiday season.
Cut a smaller piece of the ribbon to tie around the floral wire in the center of the bow, covering the wire. Tug at the ribbon bow loops to make the ribbon look as nice as possible, then secure the bow to the tree with floral wire. Continue attaching ribbon bows to the tree, then stand back and enjoy the fruits of your crafty afternoon.