Buzz
You’ve wrapped your gift, and now all you need is to add a charming bow to make it perfect. Pre-made bows are easy to find in stores, but if you wrap a ribbon around the gift box and tie it into a bow, it will look even more delightful. Tying a bow is quite simple, and once you’ve mastered the basic technique, you can experiment with unique styles, like wrapping the ribbon diagonally or weaving it in creative patterns.
Steps
Basic Ribbon Wrapping
Wrap a ribbon across the top of the box. Leave one end of the ribbon hanging off the side of the box by about 10-20 cm to form the bow's tail. Don’t cut the ribbon just yet.
- Ensure that the ribbon hanging off the box is long enough. It’s better for it to be too long than too short. If needed, you can easily trim it later.
Guide the ribbon beneath the box and loop it back upwards. Avoid flipping the box, as it might misalign the ribbon. Instead, lift the box and slide the ribbon under the bottom. Once you pull the ribbon across to the opposite side, set the box down again.
Stretch the ribbon across the top of the box. Bring the ribbon towards the center of the lid, then overlap the short end with the long one. Twist the ribbon so both ends run vertically.
- If your ribbon has a front and back, you may need to twist it twice to ensure the right side faces outwards.
Loop the ribbon under the box and up onto the lid. Lift the box once more. Pull the long end of the ribbon until it extends from the opposite side. Set the box back down.
- Use your thumb to hold the twisted part of the ribbon in place as you wrap it around the box.
Measure the ribbon to match the short end and cut it. Pull the ribbon to the center of the lid. Align the short end and cut when they match.
Wrap the ribbon beneath the twisted section. Pull the ribbon diagonally over the twist, thread it underneath, and return to the starting point. Tighten both ends to tie a knot.
Tie the ribbon into a bow. Fold both ends of the ribbon into two bunny loops. Cross the left loop over the right to form a smaller loop in the center. Pass the left loop through the small loop and tie it.
Adjust the bow and trim the excess ribbon. Take a moment to adjust the bow loops and tails. If you're using wired ribbon, you can puff it up. You can also cut the ribbon ends at an angle or in a V-shape to add a stylish touch to the bow.
Wrap the ribbon diagonally.
Wrap the ribbon over the top-left corner. Leave about 10-20 cm of ribbon on the left side of the box corner. Keep the other end in the ribbon roll.
Thread the ribbon beneath the box and diagonally across the top-right corner. Hold the ribbon end still in the roll and thread it under the box, crossing diagonally from the top-right corner toward the bottom-left corner.
- Place your thumb on the ribbon at the top-left corner to keep it from slipping out.
Wrap the ribbon diagonally across the bottom-right corner and tuck it beneath the bottom-left corner. Make sure to wrap it tightly so the ribbon doesn't slip off the corners.
Pull the ribbon back toward the top-left corner. At this point, stop to adjust the ribbon's position around the corners. If the ribbon looks like it's about to slip off, pull it deeper into the corners.
Trim the excess ribbon. Pull both ends of the ribbon toward the top-left corner. Measure the untied end of the ribbon against the short end and trim it to match.
Cross the ribbon and tie the bow. Cross the left ribbon under the right ribbon and tie them together. Fold both ends of the ribbon into two bunny loops, then cross the right loop over the left one—just like tying shoelaces!
Trim the excess ribbon. After tightening the bow, cut off the excess ribbon from the bow’s tails. To make the bow look more elegant, you can cut the ribbon at an angle or in a V-shape.
Weave the ribbon in an interlaced pattern
Cut 4 ribbons to wrap along the length of the box. You will need 4 ribbons long enough to wrap around the length of the box, plus an additional 5 cm.
- For a more unique look, you can use 2 narrow ribbons and 2 wider ones. You could also go for two contrasting colors.
- Thick ribbons and/or ribbons with wire are not ideal. Satin ribbons or balloon-tie ribbons are the best choices.
Cut 4 ribbons to wrap around the width of the box. Use the same type of ribbon as in the previous step. This time, cut the ribbons long enough to wrap around the box’s width, adding 5 cm more.
Arrange the first set of ribbons side by side on the table. Lay the 4 ribbons on the table, making sure to keep them parallel and no more than 0.5 cm apart.
- If using ribbons of different widths and/or colors, be sure to alternate them.
Place the box on top of the arranged ribbons. Turn the box upside down and set it on top of the ribbons. You can place the box in the center or slightly off-center, depending on where you want the ribbons to sit.
Wrap the ribbons around the box and secure them with double-sided tape. Apply each ribbon one by one, rather than all at once. Pull the ribbons tight around the box to ensure they fit snugly and neatly. The ends of the ribbons should overlap by about 2.5 cm.
- Make sure you only stick the top ribbon onto the one beneath it, not onto the box itself.
- You can also use circular double-sided adhesive (available at craft stores) instead of the usual tape.
Attach the second set of ribbons just above the first set. Place a strip of double-sided tape at the top of each short ribbon. Lay the ribbons above the first long ribbon, making sure the ends align perpendicularly.
- As before, ensure the ribbons are spaced no more than 0.5 cm apart.
Flip the box and weave the short ribbons with the first set. Wrap the short ribbons around the top of the box. Weave the first ribbon up and down in an alternating pattern with the ribbons below. Continue this weaving until all four short ribbons are done.
Affix the ribbons to the bottom of the box. Flip the box over once again. Place a strip of double-sided tape on the end of each ribbon and press them onto the bottom of the box, making sure the ends align properly.
- For a more refined look, weave the short ribbons in with the long ones at the bottom of the box, just like you did on the top.
Decorate the top of the box if you wish. The woven ribbons are already a decorative element of the box. If you feel like something is still missing, you can purchase or tie a matching bow and attach it to the box. Rather than covering up your hard work, place the bow to the side so that the woven ribbons remain visible.
Advice
- Wrap a thin ribbon over a thicker ribbon to create a more stylish look.
- Satin ribbons or embossed ribbons make beautiful gift wraps, but for maintaining the shape of bows, you should use ribbons with wires.
- If the gift wrapping paper is a solid color, choose a contrasting ribbon to make it pop (e.g., red ribbon on green wrapping paper).
- Pick a ribbon color that complements the wrapping paper. For instance, a gold ribbon works well with a red box, and a silver-white ribbon pairs perfectly with a blue box.
- If the wrapping paper has stripes or patterns, choose a ribbon that matches one of the colors from the pattern.
- If the ribbon’s ends are fraying, you can lightly heat them over a flame for a few seconds.
- Check out How to Tie a Bow to learn more advanced bow-tying techniques!
- If you prefer the wired ribbon but dislike the visible wire, you can cut the ribbon open and pull the wire out like straw.
- Try using a ribbon with a pattern that contrasts with the gift wrap. For example, if the wrap has polka dots, go for a striped ribbon.
- In general, for larger gifts, you should choose a wider ribbon; for smaller boxes, opt for a narrower ribbon.
- Don’t hesitate to use a wider ribbon on a small gift for a bolder effect.
What You Need
- Gift box
- Ribbon
- Scissors
- Double-sided tape (for weaving the ribbons)
