Instructions for Bows in Floral Arrangements

Cut a 5-yard length of ribbon to make a medium-size floral bow. Use less ribbon for a smaller bow and more ribbon for a larger bow. If you aren't sure how much to use, you can always roll a length of it off the spool but don't cut it yet.

Make one loop in the ribbon and pinch it to hold it together, leaving 4 inches of the end free as one of the tails. Use about 6 inches of ribbon for the loop.

Make a second loop of ribbon, twisting it so the right side of the ribbon is on the visible side of the loop. The back side of the ribbon should be hidden inside the loop. Pinch the middle to hold both loops.

Continue making loops of ribbon and pinching the middle until you have six to 10 loops fanning out from the center where you are pinching, forming the bow.

Make one final small loop over your thumb in the middle to cover the center.

Wire the bow together by threading 26-gauge wire through the middle of the final loop and around the rest of the crisscrossed ribbon strands, holding all of the loops including the small one in the center.

Trim the tails with an inverted V or by cutting across the ends at an angle.

Wire or glue your bow to a vase, bouquet wrapping or wreath.