Bow making tutorial

The leftovers have been eaten and Thanksgiving is a sweet memory.  I don’t think anyone went away hungry especially me, the scales told me that this morning.  Also my jeans feel a little snug around the waist.  How can one day of feasting do that to a person? It looks like I have my work cut out for me this week to do some damage control.  :o(
What a lovely day we had though with friends and family.  And of course the Patriot’s won their game so that was the frosting on the cake!  I do insist that all televisions be turned off while we eat.  Nothing annoys me any more then having a tv blaring during a meal, especially when I have spent the last three days getting it ready.  I did not win any popularity contest on that one but they all survived! heehee! 


I have wrapped most of my Christmas shopping except for the bows so decided to get started on that last night and it seemed a good time to do a tutorial.  My mother in law taught me how to make bows many, many years ago and it has served me well all these years.  She has been gone for a long time and I still miss her, she was an amazing woman.


First you put your ribbon around the gift package and tie it.


Next take the ribbon and make a circle noting the size of the package and making the circle accordingly.  You don’t want a bow that is too big or too small for the package.  Just eyeball this.

I loop at least six loops, a couple more if the ribbon is thin but it’s best to use a heavier ribbon and imperative to use the kind with the wire in the edges.

Next flatten the ribbon and fold in half.  Make sure your halves are the same length.

 
Cut your notches, you will need heavy scissors to cut through the layers and the wire.


At this point you can take a piece of the matching ribbon and cut about a five inch strip of the wire and tie it tightly around the notches OR you can lay it on the ribbon you tied around the package and tie it.  If you want to save the ribbon for another time you have to tie it with a piece of the ribbon with the wire in it other wise when you open the gift the ribbon with come apart.

Next you start pulling out the loops from the inside out and twist them around a bit.



When you get all the loops outs shape your bow the way you like it making it look puffy and pretty.  Very easy but practice a bit with some inexpensive ribbon.  I get all my ribbon on sale or at Sam’s Club.

 


Have fun!

Colleen at Lucky Duck Dreams is having a fun give away of some vintage 90's Christmas fabric.  Go on over and throw your hat in the ring!!! It closes the 30th so hurry! If you are anything like me you have lots of patterns you'd like to do and this would be a fun collection of fabric to use.