Making A Bow . . .

A Bow can complete a design!

I make bows by pinching and twisting the ribbon in the direction desired. I secure the bow with a piece of wire wrapped with floral tape. I then place the bow to the arrangement, in a corsage, or wherever it is needed.

 The ribbon I use is either a florist grade satin or FloraSatin,   which is a plastic.  The florist satin ribbon has a front and back.   The front of the ribbon is shiny, the back is grainy. FloraSatin is   shiny on both sides. The size of the ribbon usually used in   Florists is #9,#3, and #40. #9 is about 1½” wide, #3 is about ¾”   wide. And # 40 About 2” wide. #9 is usually used on tall vases,   #3 on budvases, and #40 for large bows used in Funeral work.​ 

---

Begin making the bow by making a tail about 8” long.  Cut the bottom of the ribbon at an angle. The length of the tail depends on the height of the vase the bow will highlight. Pinch the ribbon, then twist the ribbon to create a loop over your thumb. This loop should be about 3 inches tall. Pinch the ribbon, then twist the ribbon to place the next loop at the top of the center loop. Pinch and twist the ribbon so the shiny side goes to the bottom of the center loop. These three loops should be the same size to make a fuller bow. Pinch the ribbon and twist it so it goes to the top and left, a little bit taller than the previous loop. Pinch the ribbon and twist it so that it goes to the bottom and opposite side of the center loop. Pinch and twist the next loop to go top and opposite the last loop. Pinch and twist next to go bottom and opposite. Pinch and twist the next loop to the center of the two top loops a little taller. Pinch and twist the next loop to the center of the bottom loop, the same as the previous loop. Pinch and twist the next loop to the bottom of the bow, then pinch and twist the next loop to the opposite side of the bottom of bow. Pinch and twist the ribbon to form the last tail of the bow. Cut the ribbon tail, at an angle, about 2” longer than the other tail. This forms the streamers of the bow.
Complete the bow by taking the wrapped wire through the loops by running the wire over your thumb toward the top of your hand. Push the wire around the center of the pinched ribbons toward between your middle and ring finger, and down the bow. Turn the bow upside down, remove your hand, and secure the wire by tightly twisting close to the ribbon. Adjust the wire downward to make the bow front facing. Holding the bow by the wire, near the ribbon, you can adjust the loops to fluff out your bow.

Bows are added to a design depending on the need.  A bow in a corsage is worked into the flowers securing the bow by way of taping the wires. The bow can be attached to a wood pick and placed in the front of the arrangement at the top of the vase. A large bow is also secured to a wood pick before adding to the design.