Ribbon and Bow Projects

Flower Girl Accessories

A vintage striped linen-silk band makes a neat sash for the flower girl's simple white dress (from J. Crew). Wide satin ribbons tied around her feet at the arch dress up simple ballerina shoes (from Little Raggio), while a small fabric flower pinned to her hair continues the theme. Complete her outfit with a basic Nantucket basket that's spruced up with a ribbon fringe and handle -- perfect for holding her petals.

Make this Flower Girl Basket

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Ribbon Ring Pillow

For the ring-bearer, consider this 6-inch-square linen ring cushion, adorably decorated with yellow ribbon of doubled-faced satin that swerves and curves down its center. 

Make this Ring Pillow

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Ribbon Boutonniere

A natty nosegay of fabric blossoms that manages to look festive yet restrained can be pinned to a ring bearer or groomsman's lapel.

Make this Boutonniere

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Ribbon and Fabric Bouquet

To create blooms in a variety of textures, sizes, and shapes, use ribbons and rickrack in different widths and weaves. The folds of each flower are clustered around artificial stamens; stems are individually wrapped in floral tape before all are bundled together and bound in wide white grosgrain.

Make this Bouquet

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Ribbon and Paper Table Decorations

Vivid yellow accents lend dazzling freshness to our table for 10. Paper loop-de-loop centerpieces and votive wrappers match the circles and drops that hang above the table; even the tulips, placed into similarly wrapped 5-inch-tall vases, echo the arrangements' bulbous shapes.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Ribbon and Paper Place Setting

At each seat, a 3-inch paper teardrop bearing a guest's name and embellished with a tiny yellow strand of ribbon serves as both napkin ring and place card; a larger ribbon, tied in a single-loop slipknot, lashes each napkin to its salad plate. 

Make These Table Decorations

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Escort Card Board with Ribbons

Before the meal, guide guests to their seats with the help of a beribboned bulletin board. Wrap the perimeter of a piece of plywood in paper tape to cover its rough edges. Then, using ribbons and fabric strips in assorted colors and patterns, cut pieces long enough to stretch across the board and around to the back. Stretch each ribbon across the surface, stapling both ends to back of board.

To create seating cards, print a grosgrain pattern on 3-by-3-inch pieces of card stock (choose one to download below); then write or print each guest's name above the ribbon motif, and fold the card in half horizontally. Insert the back halves of the cards between ribbons and board.

Herringbone Ribbon Template
Ribbed Ribbon Template
Ruffled Ribbon Template
Thin Grosgrain Ribbon Template
Woven Ribbon Template

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Ribbon-Wrapped Wedding Favors

Do guests a favor and present them with tokens of affection that you've planted inside these petite flower-topped boxes. Wrap each small box with a belt of layered ribbons or a strip of woven fabric, and cap it off with a single fabric blossom. Then line the boxes up under an arrangement of branches wrapped in seam binding and bedecked with more blooms for a minimalist look that holds maximum appeal. Use branches from your own yard, or purchase from a local nursery.

Make These Bows

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Napkin Bow

Spread a dinner napkin out, lying flat. Fold opposite sides in so they meet at the center. Then fold again at the center to form a narrow, ribbonlike shape. Next, fold short ends in so they meet at the center. Cinch in the middle with a ribbon in a coordinating color, and glue at back.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Bouquet Handle

For the bows on these streamers, we used two very different ribbons in the same color. The streamers themselves, and the centers of the bows, are of velvet ribbon that is 7 millimeters wide; the bows themselves are of satin ribbon that's 24 millimeters wide. Use scalloping shears to cut the satin ribbon into 2-inch segments for the bows, and use regular shears to cut the narrower velvet ribbon into 3/4-inch segments. You will need 40 of each. Wrap a narrow ribbon around the center of each satin bow, and glue at the back with high-tack adhesive. Attach the bows to the streamers: Glue them to a 1-yard-long piece of the narrow velvet ribbon, spacing them about 1/4-inch apart and starting from each end. Be sure to leave 8 inches at the center untouched for wrapping around the handle of your bouquet.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Vase

We used paper and ribbon in coordinating colors to decorate this vase, which is filled with sweetpeas. For the bow, we chose matching ribbon in two widths: 100 millimeters (about 4 inches) and 25 millimeters (about 1 inch). Wrap a 5-inch-tall glass cylinder vase with colored paper in the same shade as the ribbons, and secure with double-stick tape. Make the bow by folding the ends of a long piece of the wide ribbon in to meet in the middle. Cinch in the middle, and secure by wrapping the narrow ribbon around it so the ends meet at the back, gluing them in place. Attach the bow to the vase with double-stick tape.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Fabric Boutonnieres

To make this boutonniere, wrap ribbon around three fingers 7 times. Holding lightly at center, fan out loops into a circle. Pin to secure, and apply fabric glue between layers. Let dry, and remove pin.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Invitations

To make these programs (one letter-sized sheet yields two programs), arrange your text horizontally on the page in landscape mode over four columns. Cut the sheet in half, wrap a 10-inch-by-7/8-inch band around the center, and tape in back. Bend the ends of each program toward the center and tuck them under the band, making sure they overlap slightly.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Cake

This cake, by Francois Payard, has shimmering gold ribbon bands and a loopy bow that was pulled and formed from sugar, giving the fondant-covered layer cake a couture look.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Figure Eight

The figure eight, with its concentric loops, has just a touch of the rococo.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 1

Form a loop at one end of ribbon; then, glue in place using Magna-Tac glue.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 2

Wind the rest of the ribbon back and forth, forming a figure eight with each layer and making each a little larger than the one before it, until you've created three stacked figure eights. Glue the figure eights together at the points where the ribbon crosses. Hold together until the glue sets. Allow to dry.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 3

Knot the second length of the ribbon around the loops at the center; rotate the knot so the smooth side is at the front. Then, trim the ends of the ribbon to create a short tail.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Medallion Bow

The medallion shape, pleated and flattened, evokes the pageantry of parade bunting and the pride of winning first prize.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 1

Make a series of accordion folds (we used 1-inch folds), holding the folds in place with your fingers while you're working. Finish with both ends of the ribbon facing the same direction. Thread a needle and knot it, leaving a 1-inch tail. Pass the needle and thread through the layers, centered horizontally and slightly above the edge.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 2

Bring ends of thread together and knot them, close to the ribbon. Cut off any excess thread. Glue ends of the ribbon together, covering the knot. Shift the folds so they're evenly spaced.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 3

Press the center of the bow to flatten it, rotating the folds in one direction.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Rosette Chandeliers

For a twist on the fancy chandelier, hang these fluffy pom-poms instead. Each one is made up of several separately made rosettes; just combine two or three, sew or tie together at the center with white pipe cleaner, and fluff into pom-poms. Suspended almost invisibly from the ceiling by monofilament, these soft orbs recall clouds sailing across a blue sky; they also recall in color and shape the white peonies in the centerpieces.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Rosette Napkin Rings

The bow that encircles each napkin has a similar shape to the ribbon chandeliers.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 1

Wrap ribbon around hand 10 times (wrap more for a fuller bow; use fewer fingers for a smaller one). Cut a notch at the center on each side, and cinch with string at the notches.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 2

Spread loops outward, and twist, shaping them into a ball.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Tuxedo Bow

Many grooms would blanch at the thought of wearing something with ribbons, but these lapel accessories are so charming and downright dashing that yours will be eager to pin one on with pride. This tuxedo bow, whether rendered in grosgrain, satin, or velvet ribbon, bespeaks tailored elegance.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 1

Fold the ends of a piece of ribbon in toward the center, overlapping them; secure with fabric glue, and let dry. Flatten at center and glue to secure. Wrap a second piece of ribbon around loops at the center, gluing at back of bow.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

How-To: Step 2

Adjust the loops to the desired fullness. To add tails, cut notches in both ends of a length of ribbon slightly longer than the bow. Then, glue the bow on at center.

Ribbon and Bow Projects

Tie Your Best

We love each and every one of these ribbons. 1. Cupped sequins, M&J Trimming. Metallic thread, Tinsel Trading Company. 2. 4mm silk ribbons in colors 90, 132, and 10, YLI. 3. 20mm satin ribbon in color 56; 15mm satin ribbon in color 44; 25mm satin ribbon in color 44; 9mm satin ribbon in color 56, all from Mokuba New York, 212-869-8900. 4. 3/4" dupioni silk ribbon in Aegean, Midori. 5. 3" "Elegante" striped velvet ribbon, Hyman Hendler & Sons. 6. 1/2" chinois silk pearl-finish ribbons in sea mist, sea foam, and light blue, Raffit Ribbons. 7. 10mm floral ribbon in color 3, Mokuba New York, 212-869-8900. 3/4" grosgrain ribbon and 2" picot ribbon, both from Hyman Hendler & Sons. 8. Satin ribbon in aqua, Tinsel Trading Company. 9. 11mm organdy ribbon, Mokuba New York, 212-869-8900. Favor boxes (#22 in light green and light blue), U.S. Box Corp.