How To Make Christmas Bows

Many people are always asking me how to tie those perfect bows during Christmas. I decided to start helping you master the craft of tying bows for the Christmas holiday by sharing with you simple recipes for making gorgeous bows.

I am going to teach you how to make Christmas bows using two simple recipes for tying bows. You will see lots of examples of different combinations of ribbon. You will be inspired and learn the techniques to how to make Christmas bows for your next Christmas wreath or swag.

Make Your Own Decorative Christmas Bows

These Christmas bows are super simple and will help not take away from your floral arrangements. Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed to Make Christmas Bows

• Ribbon
• Cable ties
• hot glue

Tools Need to Make Christmas Bows

• EZ Bowmaker
• Scissors

How to Make a 1-2 Christmas Bows

1. Following the 1-2 recipe using a 4-inch ribbon. If you have text on your ribbon you will want to cross over the ribbon very lose and gather simply in the middle. This will help keep your wording going correctly. Once you have it gathered in the middle push it down into your easy bow maker.
2. This is reversing the recipe into a 1-2.
3. Pull your tails to 20 inches. With 4 inch ribbon, I always get the bottom straight, no angling. I then take the end and fold over slightly underneath and tack it with a little hot glue.
4. Time to grab your second ribbon. The ribbon it the video uses a ribbon that the Santa is going in both directions so no need to worry about the direction of this ribbon.
5. Using the second ribbon start by making the end of the ribbon straight like the first ribbon. Make your ribbon tails an inch shorter than your first tail you just made.
6. Now make your loops at 6 and a half inches. You will repeat this twice leaving you with two loops on each side.
7. You can fold under the tails and tack with glue on these tails as well.
8. Now go back and fluff your loops and position them how you want them.
9. Grab your 8-inch cable tie and run underneath and pull tight but not too tight.
10. If you feel creative this bow can also have a cute ornament in the middle.
11. Now with the bow flipped over-attach the longer cable tie that will help you attach your bow to your project through the back of the cable tie that is holding your bow secure in the center.
12. To cover up the cable ties grab any ribbon you think will look great and cut a little piece and use it cover up your cable ties.

How to Create a 2-1 Christmas Bow

1. Grab two different 2.5-inch ribbon to make this Christmas bow creation.
2. Measure out 20-inch tails and come to the center and twist. No need to worry about the direction of this ribbon but check your pattern and see how it is printed on your ribbon.
3. Make the first loop 7 inches and twist then measure out 7 inches on the other side and scrunch it. Then make the second tail 20 inches as well. Trim the tails over the square and fold over and tack with a little hot glue.
4. Now make the next tail on the other side you didn’t start the first one. Repeat the same steps again with 7-inch loops on each side and scrunch in the middle. Cut your tails a little shorter than your first and fold over by bending the wire.
5. Now it is time to add in your second ribbon. Go ahead and cut your tail into a square and fold it under.
6. Measure out your tail about a half an inch shorter and make your one loop at 6 and a half inches and repeat on the other side and scrunch. This is why it is called a 2-1 bow. 2 loops with the first ribbon and just one loop with the second.
7. Now you want to run your cable tie around the center to hold it place but do not make it super tight yet.
8. Now thread your longer cable tie along the back side. This is where you will be securing your bow to your craft.
9. Now you can go ahead and tighten that center cable tie to secure it all tightly in place.
10. Finish this bow off by folding a piece of ribbon to cover your center to cover the cable ties. Match this ribbon with your bow. Now trim your excess of that ribbon off

2-1 Green and Red Glitter and Christmas Plaid

1. Start with the green and red glitter ribbon and make a 20” tail and pinch into the center of the EZ Bow Maker. Make two 7” loops on each side and another 20” tail. Cut the tail ends at an angle.
2. Add the Christmas Diagonal Plaid and make a tail slightly shorter than the first. Make one 6 ½” loop on each side. Trim your second tail slightly shorter at an angle.
3. Slide your cable tie just beside the center dowels and pull the bow off. Before you cinch it too tight, add a second cable tie into the back to use for attaching later. Cinch closed and clip off the end. Don’t forget to fluff your loops!
4. Use the small strip of the green and red striped ribbon that you cut earlier. Fold over lengthwise. Tie around the center of your bow to hide the cable tie. Clip the extra ribbon from the back.

Other Christmas Bow Layouts You’ll Love!

3-1 Deer Ribbon with Brown and Cream Stripes

1. Start with a 20” tail of your 2 ½” Deer Ribbon on your EZ Bow Maker. Cut the end at an angle. Twist every time you add the ribbon in the center.
2. Make two 7” loops. Twist and pinch in the center and make two more 7” loops. If your tail has the design upside down, trim it and add your second tail right side up into the center of your Bow Maker and trim at an angle.
3. With your brown and cream stripe ribbon, make a tail a couple inches shorter than the 2 ½” ribbon. Make two 6” loops on each side and trim your second tail at an angle.
4. Make a bow tie with your 2 ½” Deer ribbon with a 5” loop on each side. Overlap the ends and pinch in the center. Add into your EZ Bow Maker dowels.
5. Slide your cable tie just beside the center dowels and pull the bow off. Before you cinch it too tight, add a second cable tie into the back to use for attaching later. Cinch closed and clip off the end. Don’t forget to fluff your loops!
6. Cut a small strip of the brown striped ribbon and fold over lengthwise. Tie around the center of your bow to hide the cable tie. Clip the extra ribbon from the back.

3-1 Snowman Ribbon and White Glitter Polka Dot

1. Start with your Snowman Ribbon and cut your end at an angle and make a 20” tail. Make two 6 ½” loops on each side for a total of four loops. Twist and pinch into the center dowels each time. Trim your second tail at an angle.
2. Add the white polka dot and make a tail slightly shorter than the first. Make one 6” loop on each side. Trim your second tail slightly shorter at an angle.
3. Make a bow tie with the Snowman ribbon by making a large loop that will have 5” loops. Overlap the ends in the back and gather the center together. Add into your EZ Bow Maker dowels.
4. Slide your cable tie just beside the center dowels and pull the bow off. Before you cinch it too tight, add a second cable tie into the back to use for attaching later. Cinch closed and clip off the end. Don’t forget to fluff your loops!
5. Cut a small strip of the green and red striped ribbon and cut part of it off so you only see the red glitter. Fold over lengthwise. Tie around the center of your bow to hide the cable tie. Clip the extra ribbon from the back.

2-1-1 Gnome Candy Cane and Black and White Polka Dot

1. This bow requires a 2 ½” wide ribbon and a 1 ½” wide ribbon. Start with your 2 ½” Gnome ribbon spool and start with a tail into the EZ Bow Maker. Make a 7” loop and twist in the center. Make another 7” loop on the other side. Repeat so you have two 7” loops on each side.
2. Scrunch in the center of your bow maker and make a long tail. Cut at an opposite angle as your first tail.
3. Add the 1 ½” polka dot ribbon onto your EZ Bow Maker and make a tail that is two inches shorter than the Gnome ribbon. Twist in the center and make a 6” loop on each side. Trim your tail two inches shorter than your Gnome ribbon.
4. With the Gnome ribbon on the spool, lets make a bowtie! Make a large figure eight loop so each loop of the bowtie will be 5”. Overlap the ribbon slightly and pinch the center down into your Bow Maker.
5. Slide your cable tie underneath the center and pull your bow off together. Take a minute to fluff each loop. Before you cinch it too tight, add a second cable tie into the back to use for attaching later. Cinch closed and clip off the end.

Now go get started making your own Christmas Bows for this Holiday season!