1. I often find beautiful wire-edged ribbon at my local dollar store. You will need 3 – 4 yards of ribbon to make an oblong blow.

2. I use chenille stems instead of thin wire. They come in pretty colors, are easier on the hands than floral wire, and are very simple to use. Always bend your chenille stem into a hairpin or paperclip shape before you begin and have it nearby at the ready for twisting.

3. Make a loop a bit shorter than your index finger, this uses about five inches of ribbon. Use your right hand to do the looping and twisting, and the left hand to gather together and hold the loops firmly. If you are left handed reverse the process.

4. The most important step is TWISTING the ribbon after each loop is made. Holding the loop in your right hand, grab the dangling ribbon, not the short tail, and firmly twist it so that the right side of the ribbon is facing you once again. Fashion another loop pointing downward exactly the same size as the first loop. You MUST twist the ribbon into an upward facing position after each loop is made.

5. The next four loops are created pointing to the right, up and down, and then to the left, up and down. You can switch this order around if you desire, but remember, the most important rule, twist, twist, twist after each loop is made and hold the centers firmly together with your non-working hand. Make these next four loops about an inch beyond the edge of the first two loops. Check photograph to get an idea of how the bow loops should look as they graduate in size.

6. At this time you will be holding six loops in your hand. Don’t let go! The next four loops are also made about an inch longer than the previous four loops. These loops will once again point more toward the center rather than to the right and left as the middle level loops do.

7. Your bow is ready to secure with the previously bent chenille stem at this point. Point the free ends down around both sides of the middle of the bow. Flip the bow over and using your right hand twist the stem two to three times tightly. Don’t be tempted to twist the stem too many times. It will crack and your bow will unfurl all over the floor. This does happen. If you do lose the grip on your bow, start again, and make an attempt to twist in exactly the same spots as you did when you initially made the bow. This will keep the creases created by twisting from showing in your second attempt.

And there you have a perfect bow. To make the bow completely round make all the loops the same size. Have fun and happy decorating!