Make an Easy Bow with ‘Cheater Loops’

How To Make an Easy Bow For Wreaths & Garlands

My video tutorial for making a Florist bow got a wide range of comments. Everything from Yeah right to Thanks for breaking it down into steps. If you’ve ever tried making a big loopy florist bow and had a lessthangreat result, I have a super easy way to get the look of a big bow, without all the frustration.

This trick, called “Cheater Loops”, takes about 30% LESS ribbon than a traditional florist bow. I’m not kidding. Not to mention the fact that anyone – and I mean anyone – can do this.

You can’t use cheater loops for wrapping a package, but for wreaths, garlands, and centerpieces? It’s fabulous.

You just cut some strips of ribbon about 7-9” in length, and two or three tails, gather each one, and wrap it with wire or floral tape. If you use wire, I recommend 22 or 24 gauge wire.

Wire comes in different gauges. The lower the number, the thicker the wire. I used 22 on these loops, leaving enough wire to secure it into the wreath. But it’s quicker to hot glue the gathered end into the wreath, or whatever you’re designing.

You just place the loops in a circular pattern with one, two or three in the middle – depending on how many loops you’ve made.

Add a tail on either side. If your tails are fairly long, just twist two pine branches over each tail. That’s it! You have a bow without all of the ribbon, practice, frustration and finger cramps.

Another great thing is you can easily add cheater loops in a coordinating ribbon, no matter what width. Fun, huh?

Leave your ‘bow’ as is, or add some florals, ornaments, or any other decorations.

Cheater loops are my absolute favorite ‘florist trick’. But I only show them after you’ve tried to make real bows. Otherwise, you might never make a ‘real bow’!

So! Even if you’re done with your decorating, look around. Are there some pieces you could add some loops to?

Another tip: if you wire them in, you can remove them after Christmas and have a ‘clean’ wreath to start with next year!

If you think that’s my last ‘florist trick’, nope. I’ve got more, friends. Which, hopefully, I’ll squeeze in this week. Otherwise they’ll have to wait ‘til next Christmas and I’ll probably forget I even have them – which is why I always wait ‘til the last minute to buy presents. (not really. But it sounded good, didn’t it?)