Decorative Packaging

Creating a Bow Attached to a Craft Stick

The stick makes it easy to insert into a flower arrangement, a vase, a basket, or any type of arrangement you desire. 

You will need approximately 7 feet of Decorative Wired Ribbon to tie this simple but beautiful bow.

The mystery in bow tying is that we need to forget what mom taught us about tying a bow in our shoes, or in our hair ribbon.  The secret art of tying a bow like this is that it’s actually about loops and wire, not actually tying a bow. 

So lets begin, choose the ribbon you want, I chose 7 feet of this 1 ½ inch wired novelty print sheer ribbon. Begin by cutting 2 feet off the ribbon to be used later.  I like to start in the middle of my 5 feet of ribbon so the tails will end up the same length, but what ever is easiest for you will work.  Start in the middle of the ribbon and fold it double, measure down 10 inches and open the loop by bringing the pinched point of both ends up to meet the center mark.  That is your first 10”loop. 

Then continue folding the ends back and forth making 3 total loops with 1 6 inch tail hanging down to one side left over. Fold a 1” loop and lay it flat to one side with the 6”tail on the other side opposite the 1^st 6 inch tail.

Hold together while you lay the 24 inch strip of ribbon out flat; lay the loops on top of the center point of the 24inch ribbon.  Fold the wire in half making it 12” long, slide it under the ribbon,

Wrap the craft wire around the center of your loops like a bread tie and twist a few times making sure that there is an end on each side of the middle point. Make sure the bow is tightly twisted and can’t slip out. 

Then wrap the ends of the wire around the stick so it resembles a flower on a stem.  I start at the top and wrap down ¾ of the length of the stick and back up constantly wrapping around the stick. 

Fluff your bow loops and arrange the ends so they are wavy.  Don’t forget to snip the tail ends of the ribbon at an angle or notch a V out of the center. 

Now you are ready to attach the bow to the stick if you choose.   

24 inches of 30 gauge Craft wire,

12” of very fine wire, like the wire in a ribbon,

6” craft stick 1/8” in diameter, (found in the silk flower section)

3 10”loops

1 8”loop

1 1”loop

2 12“tails

2 6”tails