How to make a bow with thin ribbon

Learn how to make a bow using a thin, long ribbon with easy-to-follow steps. They are perfect for Christmas ornaments, gift wrapping, home decor, and crafts.

When I recently made my heart ornaments, I knew I wanted to add elegant, thin bows to them. I was inspired by the pre-made bows for sale at West Elm and Pottery Barn, but the prices were shocking. One single thin ribbon bow for $9.50 at Pottery Barn and a set of six for $25 at West Elm (and they’re already sold out!).

There’s truly no need to pay designer prices when these bows are so easy and affordable to make yourself. In fact, I created 18 bow ornaments for under $10, and they look nearly identical to the ones that inspired me.

Below are the photos of the stunning inspiration bows, followed by the easy step-by-step tutorial so you can make your own at home.

Thin ribbon bow video tutorial

I made a short bow tutorial video. If it doesn’t load here on my blog then you can also watch it on my YouTube channel instead.

Step-by-step instructions

You might have seen easy bows made by wrapping and tying the ribbon around your fingers. (I’m quickly showing that DIY bow version in my video as well) This tutorial is the same concept but just done on a flat surface instead.

If you make them this easy way like I’m showing below then you can make the top smaller. If you wrap the ribbon around your fingers the bow top gets much bigger. That can look a bit odd with a thin ribbon.

1. Cut a piece of ribbon. I cut a 20-inch piece of ribbon, if you want the ends to be longer then make sure to cut it longer.
2. Loop the ribbon as pictured with the velvet side on the outside of the loop. (The loop shouldn’t be exactly in the center since one of the hanging ends will get used to tie the bow. That ribbon side should be slightly longer. It depends if you want the bow ends to hang evenly or not.)
3. Flatten the center of the top loop down to create two bow folds.
4. Then take the right side of the hanging ribbon with two fingers.
5. Fold that hanging ribbon up and over to the back. This is to create the center of the bow. Turn the bow around to show the back.
6. The left loop on the back is where you will have to slide the ribbon that you just folded to the back into.
7. Hold the two bow folds/bow loops with the thumb and index finger of your left hand while sliding the right-sided end of the ribbon into the loop.
8. Keep holding the two bow folds with your fingers flush to the work surface while pulling on the other ribbon end.
9. Pull the hanging ends tight while still holding the top bow loops/ears. This will create the bow knot.
10. Make any adjustments to the back of the bow by tucking and pulling as needed.
11. Turn the bow around and make more adjustments until you have the look that you want.
12. Hold the center point of the bow with one finger so you can slightly open up the loops with your other hand so they don’t lay completely flat.
13. You can insert some floral wire through the back of the bow to attach them to whatever you want. (Or you can hot glue them to hair clips or alligator clips with hot glue)
14. For a finishing touch, you can cut an angle with a pair of scissors to the hanging ends of the ribbon. And you are done with your beautiful thin ribbon bow.

Below is a photo where I am showing you one bow made by weaving the ribbon around your fingers and one bow (the one I’m holding in my hands) made the way I’m showing above.

Here are the expensive bows again: