How to Make a Christmas Bow With Wired Ribbon (10 Steps)

For a Christmas tree bow, cut about 2 m (2 yd) of 4 cm (1.5 in) wired ribbon, make 6 loops of 10 cm (4 in), 3 on each side, give the ribbon a half twist at the center after every loop and tie the middle with thin wire. For a front door or wreath, use wider 6.3 cm (2.5 in) ribbon and about 3 m (3.3 yd), then cut the tails into a V so they don’t fray.

A bow that looks messy almost always shows the back of the ribbon on every other loop. There’s one cause: the half twist at the center got skipped, and it’s step 3 below. Right after the steps you’ll find a chart of how much ribbon each bow takes (from a small gift to the tree topper), which ribbon to use where, the pom-pom bow and the simple bow that never sits crooked.

Wired ribbon bow in 10 steps (the florist bow)

The looped bow is the Christmas bow you see most often on trees and wreaths, because it turns out full and round. You’ll need wired ribbon, 20 cm (8 in) of thin floral wire or paper-covered wire, sharp scissors and a ruler.

1. Set aside the first tail: leave 30 cm (12 in) of ribbon loose and pinch the ribbon between your thumb and index finger, pretty side up.
2. Make the center: wrap the ribbon once around your thumb to form a small ring with the pretty side out. This ring will hide the wire at the end.
3. Twist the ribbon: right below the center, give the ribbon a half twist so the pretty side keeps showing on the next loop.
4. First loop: form a 10 cm (4 in) loop to the right and bring the ribbon back to the center, holding it with your fingers. Give it another half twist.
5. Opposite loop: make a loop the same size to the left and twist once more at the center.
6. Finish the loops: repeat until you have 6 loops, 3 on each side, turning each pair slightly so the loops form a circle rather than a bow tie.
7. Second tail: leave another 30 cm (12 in) of ribbon and cut.
8. Tie it off: thread the wire through the center ring, wrap it around the middle of the bow and twist the ends tightly at the back, leaving 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 in) of wire to attach the bow to the tree.
9. Fluff and shape: pull each loop outward, twisting gently, until the bow looks round. Add soft waves to the tails with your fingers.
10. Finishing touch: fold each tail in half lengthwise and cut on the diagonal to make the V.

How much ribbon each bow takes: from 60 cm (24 in) to 4.5 m (5 yd)

The math behind a Christmas bow is simple: every loop uses twice its length in ribbon, and the tails are counted separately. A 10 cm (4 in) loop uses 20 cm (8 in) of ribbon. The chart below gives reference measurements with a little extra built in for the center and for trimming the ends.

For the tree, a practical rule of thumb is 8 to 12 small bows on a 1.5 m (5 ft) tree and 12 to 18 medium bows on a 1.8 m (6 ft) tree. Make one test bow before you buy the whole roll, so you know exactly how far a spool will go.

Wired, satin, velvet or burlap: which ribbon to use where

The ribbon shapes the final bow more than technique does. Wired ribbon has a fine wire along both edges that holds the loops in place, which makes it the go-to for trees, wreaths and doors. Ribbon without wire works better on gifts, where the bow is smaller.

Porches and front doors that get strong sun need a tougher ribbon. For those spots, choose synthetic wired ribbon, which fades less than satin and velvet and doesn’t soak up moisture the way burlap does.

In a summer Christmas, as in Australia and New Zealand, a front door or porch can sit in strong sun for the whole season, so synthetic wired ribbon is the safer pick outdoors there too. Save velvet and satin for the bows that stay inside.

Burlap and linen ribbons pair beautifully with rustic Christmas decor built around natural materials like wood, pinecones and dried greenery.

Pom-pom bow for gifts: 9 wraps around a 4 in card

The pom-pom bow is the full, fluffy Christmas bow with no tails that sits on top of gift boxes. All it takes is a rectangle of cardboard and a pair of scissors.

1. Cut a cardboard rectangle 10 cm (4 in) wide.
2. Wrap the ribbon 9 times around the cardboard, without pulling it tight, and cut.
3. Slide the coil of ribbon off the cardboard carefully, keeping it intact, and flatten it with your fingers.
4. In the middle of the flattened coil, cut a small triangle into each side, on both edges, without reaching the center. This narrows the middle.
5. Tie the center tightly over the cuts with a piece of thin ribbon or wire.
6. Pull the inner loops out one at a time, twisting them in alternating directions, until the bow forms a ball.

Ribbon 2 to 2.5 cm (3/4 to 1 in) wide works best: wider ribbon makes the center too bulky, and ribbon that’s too narrow gives you a limp pom-pom.

A simple two-loop bow that never sits crooked

The simple bow, the same one you use to tie your shoes, is the fastest Christmas bow for gifts, jars and napkins. When it comes out crooked, with the loops standing vertically, the culprit is the direction of the wrap, not the ribbon.

• First knot: cross the ends and tie the first knot firmly on top of the package.
• First loop: make a loop with the bottom end.
• The right wrap: take the other end around the loop and push it through the opening to form the second loop. If the bow ends up vertical, undo it and take the end around the other side of the loop: the direction of the wrap is what makes the bow lie flat and horizontal.
• Adjust: pull both loops outward at the same time until they’re the same size.
• Ends: leave tails of 10 to 12 cm (4 to 5 in) and cut them into a V or on the diagonal.

How to attach and store Christmas bows

A well-secured Christmas bow lasts the whole season without slipping. On the tree, wrap the leftover wire behind the bow around a sturdy branch close to the trunk, and tuck the ends into the greenery. Bows usually go on after the lights and before the ornaments, so they sit deep in the branches instead of floating on top.

On a wreath, wire the bow to the frame, ideally at the bottom or on one side. A wreath with a solid base handles a large bow best. On gifts, use double-sided tape under a pom-pom bow instead of glue, so whoever opens the present can reuse the ribbon.

A good time to make your bows is the weekend of November 28 and 29, 2026, when Advent begins. Leftover ribbon turns into inexpensive decorations: tie scraps around napkins, jars, cabinet knobs or the backs of dining chairs.

For storage, fill the loops with crumpled tissue paper and place the bows in a rigid box, with nothing heavy stacked on top. Keep the box somewhere dry and out of direct sun, because the heat of a stuffy attic or top closet shelf can warp synthetic ribbon.

A large, well-secured bow is also an easy way to dress up your front door for the holidays.

Make one bow, step back and look at it: once the twist clicks, the rest of the roll goes quickly, and the tree starts looking like Christmas one loop at a time.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make a bow hold its shape without wired ribbon?

Spray the loops with laundry starch and let them dry with crumpled paper inside. Another option is to glue a thin craft wire along the inside edge of the ribbon before you make the bow.

How do I keep the ends of the ribbon from fraying?

Cut the ends into a V or on the diagonal with very sharp scissors. On fabric ribbon, a thin layer of white glue or clear nail polish along the cut edge holds the threads in place.

How do I get the creases out of stored Christmas ribbon?

Wired ribbon smooths out with your fingers if you gently pull along the edge. Satin and grosgrain ribbons can be pressed with a warm iron, always with a thin cloth between the iron and the ribbon.

Can I reuse bows from one year to the next?

Yes, especially bows made with wired ribbon, which spring back into shape once you reshape them. Store them with the loops filled with tissue paper, in a rigid box, somewhere dry.