If you’re looking for guidance on how to make a bow for a wreath, you’ve come to the right place! Learn how to make a Terri Bow (my version of it) by hand. This is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have any bow-making tools like the ProBow.
Hey, y’all! I love making all types of bows for my wreaths! With so many different styles, ribbon colors, and designs, the number of possible bow combinations is endless. And exploring that creativity is SO much fun.
But there’s a problem that wreath makers often encounter: leftover ribbons.
You know what I’m talking about – the ends of the ribbon that are too long to throw away but too short to use. Now I have a way for you to use them!
Today, I want to share with you how to use your leftover ribbons to make a quick Terri Bow for your wreath without using a bow maker. You’ll be using your hands instead! If you’re intimidated by the thought of making a bow with your hands, don’t be. This tutorial (and included video) has you covered.
I love making Terri Bows and using them on my wreaths. They add just the right “pop” of color to many of our wreath designs.
If you want to see some of our designs that use Terri bows, check out our Fun Frog Wreath and DIY Stuffed Ladybug Deco Mesh Wreath designs!
What Is A Terri Bow?
The Terri Bow is a DIY wreath bow that typically uses 6 different ribbons, making it a great way to add lots of colors to your wreath and use up any leftover scrap ribbon!
This technique was developed by Terri Marshal with Mil & Dil Designs using the ProBow bow maker. Her original method uses six different ribbons, but you can alter this any way you like.
The way it looks just depends on the style you want to create There’s tons of flexibility with the final outcome, thanks to the color variance alone!
Ways To Use Terri Bows
Although Terri Bows were primarily created to be used to decorate all different types of wreaths, there are many ways to re-purpose them!
Here are some other places to use Terri Bows:
- As a door hanger(without a wreath)
- In a floral arrangement
- As the bow on a gift
- In your centerpieces
- To accent holiday decorations (ex: on a pumpkin)
- On top of your Christmas tree
- All around your Christmas tree
- As centerpieces for special events (ex: a wedding)
- As chair decorations at special events (like reserved chairs at weddings)
A Clever Way To Use Leftover Ribbon
Most projects that need to be done with ribbon are usually done with the same type(s) of ribbon in larger quantities. What do you do when you get near the end of your ribbon but don’t have enough to make some of those larger projects?
This is another reason for making Terri Bows. Not only do they look amazing and complicated, but they are the PERFECT project for using up smaller quantities of your favorite ribbons.
Ok, it’s time to get to work! Here’s the process of how to make a Terri Bow by hand.
Video Tutorial
I am acutely aware that some people learn more effectively by watching someone walk through the process they are trying to learn. If you prefer a video over written instructions, check out this video where I walk you through the process step-by-step.
How To Make A Terri Bow By Hand
While the original bow by Terri was created on a ProBow Bowmaker, that doesn’t mean that you can ONLY use that bow maker tool to make your own Terri Bows.
People have told me over and over again that they have tried to make them by hand but have not been successful at doing so.
Even though I have always turned to the ProBow for making Terri Bows, I’m here today to show you that you don’t need a tool to make beautiful Terri Bows. All you need are your hands—and lots of ribbons, y’all!
Here is a list of tools and materials you need to get started.
Materials Needed:
- (3) 1.5″ ribbons
- (3) 2.5″ ribbons
- 1 piece of 26 gauge floral wire(28” long)
- Wire cutters
- Scissors
Ribbon Lengths Needed:
- 1 piece of 1.5” ribbon that is cut 19” long
- A piece of 2.5” ribbon that is cut 34” long
- 1 piece of 1 ½” ribbon that is cut 36” long
- A piece of 2.5” ribbon that is cut 37” long
- 1 piece of 1 ½” ribbon that is cut 40” long
- A piece of 2.5” ribbon that is cut 42” long
- 1 pipe cleaner
Once you have all of your tools and materials, here are the written tutorial instructions I created on how to make a Terri bow by hand. Follow along with these instructions (or the video) and give it a try!
Instructions
Here’s the step-by-step process to follow.
Step 1
Cut a piece of floral wire 28″ long.
Step 2
Cut your 19″ ribbon to make a center loop. Fold it in half, then measure 4.5″ and pinch the ribbon in the middle. Wrap your wire around the pinched part and twist your ribbon to tighten the wire.
Flip one of the tails up and flatten it against the other side.
Step 3
Grab a wider ribbon and cut it to 34.” Dovetail the ends.
Measure out 7″ and pinch it. Measure out 10″ and pinch it. Fold the two pinches together. Twist the ribbon around, then measure another 10″ and pinch it. Fold the pinch together.
You’ll have two loops and two tails. Add this layer below your other layer and twist the wire around to secure both layers together.
Step 4
Measure out your next 1.5″ ribbon to 36″ and dovetail the ends. Measure 11″, twist, then measure another 11 inches and pinch it. Fold the pinch together.
Stack this layer right under the previous layer and twist the wire around it to secure it in place.
Step 5
Take your next 2.5″ ribbon and measure it to 37 inches. Dovetail the ends. Measure 7″ and pinch, then measure 11.5″, pinch and twist then measure another 11.5″ and pinch. Fold it in half and place it right underneath your stack so you can twist the wire around it.
Step 6
Take 1.5″ ribbon and measure 40 inches. Measure 7″ tail and pinch, then measure 13″, pinch and twist then measure another 13″ and pinch. Fold it in half, add it to the bottom of your stack, and twist the wire around it to secure it in place.
Step 7
Grab your last 2.5″ ribbon and measure it to 42 inches then dovetail the ends. Measure your 7″ tail and pinch, then measure 13.5″, pinch and twist before measuring another 13.5″. Fold it in half and add it to the bottom of the bow. Twist the wire around it.
Step 8
At this point, your bow just looks like a stack of looped ribbons. We need to attach the bow to the wreath frame so you can fluff out your bow.
Working on one ribbon layer at a time, spread out the loops and tails. Offset each layer so you can really see the colors and patterns of your bow!
Now your bow is done!
FAQs
Here are a couple of common questions I see from readers about making a Terri bow by hand.
Do I have to make these bows by hand?
The answer is no. You don’t HAVE to use your hands to make a Terri Bow.
You can use a couple of tools when making bows for your wreaths. Or, you can use the EZ Bow Maker which is one of my favorite tools for making bows. Keep in mind that you can make a Terri Bow with Bowdabra
, EZ Bow Maker, or ProBow Bow Maker
.
Find the tool that works best for you, but keep in mind that this basic method will also give you a beautiful bow when you are through. You can learn more about the other bow makers.
Can a Terri Bow be made with different ribbons?
YES! It takes six different styles of ribbon to make an “official” Terri bow (and you can use scraps!), but that is not even necessary. You can change it up to suit your needs. For example, use 3 different styles and just double them. That is the beauty of this style.
You can also mix different widths of ribbon in your Terri Bow like I did with this handmade version. Wired ribbon (no matter which size) is the easiest ribbon to use for bow making because it will hold its shape.
The best piece of advice I can give about bow making is to practice with some inexpensive ribbon. Once you do it one time, take it apart and practice again before using a brand new expensive ribbon.
There you go, y’all! I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and video showing you how to make a Terri Bow by hand.
More Bow-Making Inspiration
If you find that you love making bows or just want to expand your skill set, here are some other posts to check out.
- Bow Making Tutorials
- Damon’s Top Bow Maker (+ Must-Have Bow Making Tools)
- Everyday Bow Tutorial
- How To Make An Everyday DIY Wreath Bow
As always, feel free to leave us a comment or question below or share this post with a friend. We appreciate getting your feedback and can’t way to provide y’all with more amazing content!
If you need any help with centerpiece-making, bow-making, wreath-making, or crafting in general, be sure to check out more of our tutorials on How to Make Wreaths.
We would love to see your beautiful bows! Please share with us over at the How To Make Wreaths Facebook Group.
Finally, if you’re interested in more info on learning how to make wreaths, where to buy supplies, and being in a community of like-minded crafters, check out our Creative Coaching Subscription Group.
How To Make A Terri Bow by Hand
Materials
- 1.5 wired ribbon 3 different patterns
- 2.5" wired ribbon 3 different patterns
- Pipe cleaners
- 26 gauge floral wire cut to 28" long
- Scissors
Instructions
- Cut a piece of floral wire 28″ long.
- Cut your first 1.5" ribbon to 19″ to make a center loop. Dovetail the ends. Fold it in half, then measure 4.5″ and pinch the ribbon in the middle. Wrap your wire around the pinched part and twist your ribbon to tighten the wire.Flip one of the tails up and flatten it against the other side and twist the ribbon, if needed so the pretty sides are all up.
- Grab a 2.5" ribbon and cut it to 34.” Dovetail the ends.Measure out 7″ and pinch it. Measure out 10″ and pinch it again. Fold the two pinches together. Twist the ribbon around, then measure another 10″ and pinch it. Fold the pinches together.You’ll have two loops and two tails. Add this layer below your other layer and twist the wire around to secure both layers together.
- Measure out your next 1.5″ ribbon to 36,″ cut, and dovetail the ends. Measure 11″, twist, then measure another 11 inches and pinch it. Fold the pinches together.Stack this layer under the previous layer and twist the wire around it to secure it in place.
- Take your next 2.5″ ribbon and measure it to 37 inches. Dovetail the ends. Measure 7″ and pinch, then measure 11.5″, pinch and twist then measure another 11.5″ and pinch. Fold it in half and place it right underneath your stack so you can twist the wire around it.
- Take 1.5″ ribbon and measure 40 inches. Measure 7″ tail and pinch, then measure 13″, pinch and twist then measure another 13″ and pinch. Fold it in half, add it to the bottom of your stack, and twist the wire around it to secure it in place.
- Grab your last 2.5″ ribbon and measure it to 42 inches then dovetail the ends. Measure your 7″ tail and pinch, then measure 13.5″, pinch and twist before measuring another 13.5″. Fold it in half and add it to the bottom of the bow. Twist the wire around it.
- Your bow looks like a stack of looped ribbons. Attach the bow to the wreath frame so you can fluff out your bow.Working on one ribbon layer at a time, spread out the loops and tails. Offset each layer so you can really see the colors and patterns of your bow!
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