How to make a bow with wired burlap ribbon

Here are DIY instructions on how to make the perfect burlap bow! It’s an easy project for weddings, parties and mantels. Decorate with a burlap bow.

Yesterday I  bought Bok Choy.

Seriously.

Me.

I know that has absolutely nothing to do with how to make a burlap bow….but I really like to work my Bok Choy purchase into conversation.

You see yesterday I started trying to eat healthy.

*sigh*

It’s a big stretch for someone who eats gas station pizza and Pringles and the leftover piece of Chicken McNugget and two french fries from the Happy Meal.

But the thing about me is I just can’t do anything half-way.  So I deleted the gas station number from my phone kissed the Pringles can goodbye and filled my grocery cart with carrots and celery and cucumbers and lettuce and tomatoes and zucchini and apples and oranges and bananas…..

….and Bok Choy.

I have no idea how to eat it.  I have no idea how to cook it.  I just really like to say it and talk about it and mention casually to random people in the aisles of Wal-Mart that I’m buying it and talk about it while I’m teaching you all to make a burlap bow.

What type of burlap ribbon is best to make bows with?

This completely depends on what type of bow you are interested in making.  For example, in this tutorial, we will be using a large 5″ wide ribbon to make our bow.  The larger the ribbon you use, the larger the bow.  The larger ribbon also takes less time to create the bow.  You get more impact with a single large bow than several smaller bows.

Where is the best place to put the burlap bow on a wreath?

I like to place my bow on the bottom left-hand side slightly off center.  If the wreath were a clock, the bow would be at 4:00.  There’s really no wrong place to put the bow, that’s just my personal preference and where I’ve always placed it.

How many bows can you make with a spool of ribbon?

Most ribbons come with between 6′ and 10′ on a spool of ribbon.  I used half of a spool to make this bow or about 4 1/2′.  If your bow is smaller, you will use less ribbon per roll.

What are some ideas to decorate with burlap bows?

I have so many different ideas on my site on how to decorate with burlap bows.  I’ve used them on a wreath (see above) and decorated a mantel (see above).  One of my favorite ways to decorate with burlap bows is to wrap them around a few stems of pine cones and hang them up instead of a wreath.  I’ve also printed my own burlap ribbon with Christmas lyrics and decorated with it for Christmas.

Where is the best place to buy burlap ribbon?

I buy my burlap ribbon at the craft store.  You can also order it online from etsy or other online sellers.  Burlap bow comes in a variety of patterns and textures and colors to use for any home decor design scheme.

Can you make your own burlap bow?

Yes.  I do this all the time.  Simply cut strips of burlap and then fray the edges.  This ribbon isn’t as strong as purchased ribbon with a hemmed edge, but it’s a great cost-effective alternative if you are creating a lot of bows for an event like a wedding.

How To Make a Burlap Bow

(otherwise known as what I was doing instead of cooking Bok Choy)

Supplies:

burlap ribbon

florist Wire

scissors

Step 1:  Find your ribbon

I know.

Ummm…obvious.

1. I added this step because there are so many different types of burlap ribbon.  I had no idea how many different types there were until I asked where the burlap ribbon was and they pointed me towards an aisle.
2. There are wired, non-wired, big, small, medium, printed, and colored burlap ribbon.  The burlap ribbon makers are working overtime.
3. For this project, I selected a really big ribbon with a small print on it.  I love this print.  It gives a little texture to the ribbon and makes the bow a little more interesting.  You can’t go wrong with polka dots, either.
4. The bigger ribbon makes it so much easier to make a bow that’s fluffy and the bow also looks so much harder to make than it actually is.

Just my burlap ribbon .02.

Step 2:  Fold ribbon

1. Decide how wide you want your bow to be.
2. Fold the ribbon halfway.  The edge will already have a hem on it, so there’s no need to cut it to start.  Just begin folding.
3. The end of the folded piece of ribbon is where the center of your bow will be.
4. This half a bow measures between 4 and 5 inches, so my entire bow is between 8 and 10 inches.

Step 3:  Continue folding the ribbon

1. Each time you make a fold make it just a little smaller than the previous fold (as shown).
2. Cut last fold of ribbon so it ends in the center.
3. Trim the ribbon where you want it to be and place the rest of the ribbon away for your next bow project.
4. For ribbon as large as the one I selected, I typically make three folds.
5. If your ribbon is smaller, you will want to make more folds to make the bow fluffier.

Step 4:  Wrap florist wire

1. In the center of the folds, wrap a piece of florist wire around the burlap.
2. Tie it off as tightly as you can.  It has a tendency to loosen, so you’ll want to make sure it’s extra tight when you tie it.
3. Twist the ends together.
4. Leave the ends of the florist wire hanging.

Step 5:  Wrap center

1. Wrap the center of the bow with a piece of burlap and fasten at the back of the bow with florist wire.
2. Make sure you cut it long enough so that the bow has “tails” after you wrap the center.
3. Trim the burlap bow tails to about 6″ in length.
4. Cut the ends in a diagonal line.

Step 6:  Fluff

This is my favorite part.

This is the part where the bow comes alive.

1. You twist the folds this way and that until you have the exact look you want.
2. The wonderful thing about burlap is because it is so thick, it holds its shape really well.
3. The burlap has a natural curve with it.  Work with the curve, not against it.  You can see the curve in the drape of the end of the ribbon in this picture.
4. A typical spool of ribbon will make two bows.

Burlap bows really are amazing.

I have them all over the house on wreaths or mantels or vases or pillows or slipcovers.  The best part?  They only take minutes to make.  This is great news if you are planning a wedding or hosting a family reunion or inviting the governor over for sweet tea.  I think the first bow took me about 10 minutes to create, but after that, I could make one in about five minutes.

I’m so glad I decided to eat healthy.  If I didn’t I might have never discovered the perfect combination.