Make a Bow

Posted by Mary Welling-Bonney Aug 27, 2007

There is something about a bow that makes the package inside so much more. I am not talking about the bag of store bought bows that come twenty to a bag. Let's face it, they don't excite.

I call this caterpillar style because it is long and has bumps. I know that doesn't sound attractive, but when it is long with bumps in a beautiful ribbon, it works.

Materials Needed:

• Stapler
• Ribbon -approx 1 1/2 yards
• Scissors
• Tape

We are going to look at this as if it is running up the side of an eight-inch ruler that is positioned north and south. Tape the end of the ribbon flat on the table beginning at the three-inch mark and extending to the eight-inch mark. At the eight-inch mark loop the ribbon up and over and back so that it returns to the center with one bump. You will need to keep the center secure while you are continuing. It helps to have someone help you.

Now keep going to the southern most end of the ruler and once again, loop the ribbon up and over and back to the center. You have now made your outermost bumps. Now when you head in the northern direction, the bow will only go as far as the first bump allows. Usually this bump’s farthest most point is around six inches. Now you will return the ribbon to the south end and at about the two inch mark will turn the ribbon to the center again.

Trim all but about four inches from the ribbon an turn the last end over for a center loop. You know have a strip of five bumps in a row. Carefully insert the stapler into the center loop and staple through all of the ribbon layers.

You can use any left over pieces of ribbon to make an embellished bow. Do this by taking a 12” piece of ribbon and fold it in half so that it forms a “V”. Attach it to the gift at the point and adhere the caterpillar bow on top of it. Trim the two ends at an angle.