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I'm really challenged when it comes to tying a bow AND having it look good. :? I've been mostly cheating by just tying a knot and trimming the edges, but it really isn't a true bow. I'm not too keen on punching holes into cardstock before making the bow. Any other techniques out there? I need your advice. Help!!
I find that if you wrap the knot towards you when you are tying instead of away from you, it seems to work better. Give it a try and let me know how it works.
Here's how I do it and it seems to work pretty well. I take a pencil and tie a bow just like I'm tying shoelaces. I can make it pretty small and tight by playing with it after the initial bow is tied. (pull the ends to make the bow smaller and then pull the loops to tighten, repeat until desired size is achieved). Trim ends. Slide bow off pencil.
The next thing that you have to do is punch a hole (1/8" sems to work best for most ribbons) where you want the bow to go. Then thread the part that was around the pencil through the hole and fasten with tape to the backside. Voila!
I have taught this technique (in person) to many students and everyone was able to do it very easily. Even people that were particularly clumsy were able to do it and were so happy to learn this technique. I hope it helps!
I just learned how to do that bow from a swap card I got! I took it apart to replace the color (just thought another color would work better - it wasn't any I got from a swap here
and noticed the punches and how it was tied - NEAT idea! It really does look good!!!
A customer of mine discovered that she could more easily tie the fat ribbon by folding it in half (lengthwise) and making the bow - once made should could re-adjust the bow to look the way she wanted it; it works really well.
wow everyone thanks for the instructions, i just did a bunch of bows for a swap and swore I would never use ribbon again, maybe I will change my mind!!
__________________ My avatar is my adorable niece, she makes me smile, thought she might make you smile too!!
I find that if you wrap the knot towards you when you are tying instead of away from you, it seems to work better. Give it a try and let me know how it works.
I finally figured this out. It makes the tails go toward the bottom instead of sticking out the top. Also, if you're making a bow up and down on the side, it lays flat.
__________________
“Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else.” – Fred Rogers
Here's how I do it and it seems to work pretty well. I take a pencil and tie a bow just like I'm tying shoelaces. I can make it pretty small and tight by playing with it after the initial bow is tied. (pull the ends to make the bow smaller and then pull the loops to tighten, repeat until desired size is achieved). Trim ends. Slide bow off pencil.
The next thing that you have to do is punch a hole (1/8" sems to work best for most ribbons) where you want the bow to go. Then thread the part that was around the pencil through the hole and fasten with tape to the backside. Voila!
I have taught this technique (in person) to many students and everyone was able to do it very easily. Even people that were particularly clumsy were able to do it and were so happy to learn this technique. I hope it helps!
I saw a tip on Aleene's craft show (how long ago was that?) about tying bows...
If you'll start tying the bow with the piece that's hanging on the bottom instead of hanging to the top, it'll be straight. I use this when I'm tying the strings on my gym pants all the time...so I don't have a dorky bow at the gym!
Martha, that's the technique I recently learned, and it has made all the difference for me! First you tie a knot, making sure one tail ends up going up and one down instead of side to side. Make a loop with the bottom piece, pull the top piece over the bottom one and make a loop with it behind the other one and push through to opposite side. This leaves both bow loops going right and left and both tails coming out the bottom. It's much easier to do than to explain! Hope it makes sense.
Wow, you guys, this is great advice. I'm inspired to try tying bows again. I'm going to have to go and get some ribbon and sit in front of the computer and try out everyone's suggestions. Maybe they will turn out now!
I also learned from a wonderful little lady at church to tie right over left- she always had such beautiful scarves with the perfect bow when I was growing up. That's been over 30 years ago and the technique still works for me. I just turn the card upside down like it would be if a bow was under my neck.
HTH!
Help Tying a Bow
