These beautiful bows are my favorite this season. They are outrageous to buy them, and you know that would never work for me! So I learned how to make them myself, when I bought a gift earlier this year at a beautiful boutique. I asked her to show me how, and she was so nice that she did!
You will need ribbon that is at least 3/4 inch wide, I like white 
because I can use it year round. First you make a big loop with the ribbon, and then keep going around and around and around. The more ribbon you use, the fuller and prettier the ribbon will be. For small bows you can use as little as 5 feet, but for big ones I suggest up to 5 yards. The average size bow needs about 8 feet of ribbon.
because I can use it year round. First you make a big loop with the ribbon, and then keep going around and around and around. The more ribbon you use, the fuller and prettier the ribbon will be. For small bows you can use as little as 5 feet, but for big ones I suggest up to 5 yards. The average size bow needs about 8 feet of ribbon. Once you have it all looped together, try to make the ends even, so the tails will be even. Next squish the ends together, so that you can determine the middle of the ribbon bunch.
Fold tightly so that you have a good crease as a cutting guideline. Next cut a long notch into each side, cutting about a third of the way into each side, so that you have about a third left in the middle. Next take a small piece of the same ribbon and tie it tightly around the skinniest part of the notch.
The next step takes a little practice and patience, but you will get it, I promise! Grab one side for leverage, and starting with the innermost loop of the loose side, pull down the loop tightly, pinch it at the base and twist it once or twice. Each time you pull the next loop, twist it the opposite way to give diversity. When all of your loops are twisted and turned, fluff and pull them until you have it just right.
It seems like a slow process until you have a few under your belt. Once you have it down pat, I suggest looping and tying a bunch at once, then twisting them and fluffing. To attach them to the gift, simply use self stick name tags and use the tails of the bow (after you pull them together and trim them neatly if needed) and put the name tag on top of the bow, using it like tape to hold the bow on. So easy, so elegant, so cheap! I made about 20 of these bows for a $2.25 spool of ribbon bought at Big Lots. I saw the same bows at a "frilly store" here in town for $2 for 3 of them. They turned out so very pretty.
Now go sit and watch your favorite Christmas movie and twist, turn and tie away. (Make sure to practice first so you don't miss the movie!) See what works for other people over at Rocks in My Dryer. To see how other people pull off being frugal, check out Biblical Womanhood.
