Six Easy Bows for Beautiful Decorating & Gift Wrapping

If you’ve ever stood with a roll of ribbon and thought, “Why can’t I make it look like that?”, this is for you! In this post, I’m walking you through six simple, beautiful bows that you can use for:

• Gift wrapping
• Wreaths and door hangers
• Baskets, cutting boards, and decor
• Everyday crafting projects

All of these bows are from my Bow Making Made Easy video series on YouTube, and they’re all named after birds (I do have a thing for birds, if you couldn’t tell by the name Hammons Nest).

Each one of these bow styles is a concept that can be adapted into different variations as well. The name of the bow is a reference for how they are built. You can adjust ribbon lengths, widths and number of pieces for different looks!

Here is the Beginner-Friendly Bow Making Video Part One with the Sparrow, the Martin and the Starling Bows:

This post may contain referral links to products used. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase at no additional cost to you. I only refer products I use & love

Supplies To Get You Started:

• Sharp Fabric/Ribbon Scissors
• Green Cutting Mat
• Cast Iron Holder with Jute String (not the exact one I have, but very similar)
• I love shopping for ribbon & will buy it almost anywhere….but my 2 favorite places are Hobby Lobby & CraftOutlet.com

The Sparrow Bow

A classic, looped bow that looks far more complicated than it is.

The Sparrow is built from simple ribbon circles with no fancy looping technique required. Once you learn the basic construction, you can change the look through different ribbon widths, patterns, number of strips, or by adding tails.

Supplies:

• 2.5-inch wired ribbon
• Sharp scissors or a rotary cutter
• Hot glue or a stapler
• Jute string, wire, or a zip tie
• One 30-inch tail piece + four 20-inch strips

How to make it:

1. Cut your ribbon. You’ll need four 20-inch strips and one 30-inch piece.
2. Create your circles. Overlap the ends of each 20-inch strip just slightly and secure with hot glue or a quick staple. These loops will become the bow’s layered “petals.”
3. Hold and stack. Decide which side is the “front” (the clean side without glue). Pinch one loop in your hand, then layer the other three on top, alternating direction for a full shape.
4. Tie it tightly. Wrap jute or wire around the center and double-knot. A tight center makes all the difference.
5. Add the tails. Dovetail both ends of the 30-inch strip, then tie a knot in the center of that strip. This knot becomes the bow’s decorative middle.
6. Attach the knot to the loops. Secure it around the bow center, adjust the tails so the printed side shows, and fluff the loops.

This bow looks beautiful on wreaths, baskets, garlands, and of course—gift packages. You can also make tiny Sparrow bows or combine two different ribbons for a layered look.

The Martin Bow

Rustic, textured, and full..oh so perfect for farmhouse décor and natural holiday themes.

Think of the Martin bow as a stacked, layered bundle of ribbon strips without loops. Texture is the star here, and you can mix patterns, fabrics, widths, or even natural materials like raffia or mesh.

Supplies:

• 10–12 ribbon strips, each about 10 inches long
• Wired ribbon (2.5 inches), velvet ribbon, burlap, raffia—whatever combination you love
• Scissors
• Optional bow maker to help hold the stacked ribbon strips
• Jute string, wire, or a zip tie

How to make it:

1. Prepare your ribbons. Cut your selected ribbons into 10-inch strips and dovetail or angle the ends (except burlap, which looks great left rustic).
2. Start with texture. Crisscross two strips of burlap in your hand. Add a small handful of raffia.
3. Layer the patterns. Place each ribbon strip diagonally, alternating directions as you go. This keeps the bow visually balanced.
4. Repeat. Once you’ve used each ribbon type, start the pattern again until you’ve added 10–12 total strips.
5. Top with more texture. Add one more pinch of raffia on top before tying.
6. Secure tightly. Flip the bundle over, tie with jute or wire, and pull it tight. Tightness is especially important for this style.
7. Fluff. Fan out the strips, bend the wired pieces for dimension, and trim any extra raffia.

This bow is stunning on cutting boards, baskets, rustic Christmas décor, or tucked into floral arrangements. You can even add a button or small embellishment to the center for a finished touch.

The Starling Bow

A festive, full bow made from half-loops and ideal for gifts and home décor.

The Starling bow mixes 1.5-inch and 2.5-inch wired ribbons for a layered, dimensional look. It’s made from strips folded into half-loops and secured with a single staple.

Supplies:

• Eight 14-inch strips of ribbon
  • Four 2.5-inch wide
  • Four 1.5-inch wide
• Stapler (a fun bow building hack..don’t knock it until you try it)
• Scissors
• Jute, wire, or a zip tie

How to make it:

1. Fold & staple. Fold each ribbon strip in half, leaving one tail and one loop. Staple at the center fold.
2. Prep the ends. Dovetail the 2.5-inch ribbons and angle cut the 1.5-inch ribbons.
3. Build the bow. Holding the center of each piece, start layering the loops and tails in opposite directions to create a fanned shape.
4. Secure. Tie tightly with jute or wire.
5. Shape. Bend each wired loop so it flares out, then gently curl or angle the tails.

You can also make a variation with all the tails going in one direction—a beautiful option for wreaths, long gift boxes, or basket handles.

Here is the Beginner-Friendly Bow Making Video Part Two with the Robin, the Cardinal and the Lark Bows:

The Robin Bow

A classic, traditional bow made from one continuous loop

The Robin bow is simple, timeless, and looks wonderful on wreaths, larger gifts, and front doors. It’s made from just a few long pieces of ribbon and a continuous loop.

Supplies:

• 2.5″ wired ribbon (or 1.5″ for a smaller version)
• One 60″ piece of ribbon
• One 30″ piece of ribbon (for tails)
• One short 4–6″ piece (for the center wrap)
• Jute, wire, or a zip tie

How it comes together:

• The 60″ piece is wrapped around and around to create stacked loops, about 8″ wide overall.
• The center is pinched and tied, creating multiple loops on each side.
• The trick with the Robin bow is to leave that middle loop in the center and pull the other loops out from underneath so the bow looks balanced.
• The 30″ piece becomes your tails, attached to the back of the bow.
• The small 4–6″ strip is folded and wrapped around the center for a finished, polished look.

You can make the tails shorter, use different ribbon widths, or swap the center wrap for a button, bell, pinecone, or other embellishment. It’s a great “everyday” bow that still feels special.

The Cardinal Bow

Showy, layered, and surprisingly easy

The Cardinal bow is bold and eye-catching, with layers of ribbon stacked together. It’s wonderful on door hangers, wreaths, large chalkboards, and statement pieces.

Supplies:

• Six long strips of ribbon:
  • Two at 32″
  • Two at 28″
  • Two at 24″
• Coordinating 2.5″ and 1.5″ wired ribbons
• Scissors
• Jute, wire, or a zip tie
• Optional: extra ribbon for a center wrap or tails

How it comes together:

• Each strip is folded into a zigzag: loop–tail–loop–tail, so you end up with two loops and two tails per piece.
• The longest pair goes in the back, the middle-length pair in the center, and the shortest pair on top.
• Everything is stacked and pinched in the center, then tied tightly.
• A small coordinating strip of ribbon can be folded and wrapped around the middle to create a beautiful finished center.

This style looks especially lovely in classic Christmas colors and checks, but it also works in neutrals, spring pastels, or patriotic colors—completely depending on what you love.

My favorite variation of this bow is to only cut 2 pieces, zig zag & stack…perfect for smaller presents & comes together so fast!

The Lark Bow

Soft, layered loops with a pretty focal point

The Lark bow is a triple-stack bow: three pieces of ribbon, each slightly shorter than the last, folded into loops and tails, then stacked.

Supplies:

• Three strips of ribbon in coordinating patterns or colors:
  • Back layer: 30″
  • Middle layer: 26″
  • Top layer: 22″
• 2.5″ and/or 1.5″ wired ribbons
• Scissors
• Jute, wire, or a zip tie
• Optional: a bell, button, or decorative center piece

How it comes together:

• Each strip is folded so you have two loops on the top and two tails pointed down
• Ends are dovetailed or angle cut before assembling.
• The longest piece is folded to about 8″ wide, then the next two are folded slightly shorter so each layer peeks out from behind the one on top.
• All three are stacked, pinched in the center, and tied tightly.
• A decorative center—like a rustic bell—can be glued right in the middle.

The Lark is gorgeous on vintage baskets, wreaths, and gifts. You can make a variation that is oh so simple by skipping the other 2 layers and just fold the one piece. Perfect for smaller gifts & craft embellishments!

Which Bow Will You Try First?

Six bows, endless possibilities! I’d love to know which you plan to try first: the Sparrow, Martin, Starling, Robin, Cardinal, or Lark?

And if you are struggling at all, my biggest tip is to PRACTICE. The more you work with ribbon, the more you’ll understand how different textures behave, how tight to tie the center, and how to fluff everything just right.

And one last note, these two videos are Part One and Part Two of a THREE Part Bow series. If you would like a more rustic, primitive style of bow, TAP HERE for details on the Making 3 Fabric Bows!

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