Beautiful bows are easy!  Follow the simple steps below and with a little practice, you'll have beautiful bows in no time.

To make this bow, you'll need at least 1 1/2 yards of 1 1/2" wide ribbon.
Narrower widths of ribbon require slightly less, wider widths will require more.

Since a bow is really a knot, we'll use knot-tying terminology when referring to the parts of the ribbon you're working with.

For this bow, start with a simple over-hand knot (like the first part of tying your shoe laces).  Don't tighten it all the way.
This loose knot will be the decorative puffy center of your finished bow.

Make a loop (also called a bight) using the standing end of the ribbon.

Wrap the running end of the ribbon around the bight (again, just like tying your shoes).

Push the running end through the wrap you just made to form another bight (Yup, you guessed it, just like your shoes).

Pull on the two bights to tighten up the knot.  Be careful not to pull too tightly or you'll ruin the little puff created in step 1.

The back side of the bow is what you would normally use as the front.  Since we made the decorative puff in step 1, that is actually the front for this bow.
The photo above shows that the knot is fairly loose at this point.

Continue arranging the bights of the bow until the back knot tightens up sufficiently and you are happy with the look of your bow.

Eventually, the back knot will tighten up if you work at it a little.

The result is a beautiful bow!

Go here to see all of our ribbons, both wired and not, so you too can make beautiful bows.

Next (Bow Style #2)