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The Easiest Burlap Bow Tutorial (The Secret to Making a Burlap Bow!)

Burlap Bow Tutorial: How to Make a Bow for a Wreath

Want to know the easy way to make a burlap bow for a wreath or home decor? Discover the secret to making a burlap bow in this simple step by step tutorial!

I’m way too cheap to spend $12 on a burlap bow in a retail store or online.  Also, pre-made bows often times aren’t the right size or can be hard to attach.

However this tutorial shows you how to customize a burlap bow to any project, whether it’s a wreath, a mantel, a mason jar or a teacher gift. 

I have a little secret to making a professional looking bow and it’s so stinkin’ easy!    Whether you are new to crafting, or you’re  a wreath maker, burlap bow tutorial includes an easy little trick to have in your craft arsenal for any bows you need to make – burlap or otherwise!

This is a great tutorial for you if you:

  • want to save money by making bows instead of buying them
  • need to add a big burlap bow to your front door wreath
  • decided to decorate for your wedding with burlap bows on pews and chairs
  • like to look of burlap bows on home decor

making a burlap bow

(As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my full disclosure HERE).

 

When my daughter Morgan was about 6 months old, I decided that I needed a way to work from home.  For some reason, my answer to that dilemma was a hair bow business. 

This seemed like a really good idea at the time and it lasted about a year.    After too many hot glue burns and 2 a.m. Dr. Pepper breaks, I decided it would be best to take an early retirement from the bow making business.  

Fortunately, I got to work with a really great shop in town called And Sew On.  Here are a few of my Aggie bows:

Burlap Bow Tutorial

 

The nice thing about my hair bow venture was that my daughter has an unlimited, almost disposable, hair bow collection.  But more importantly, I learned how to make a bow for any and every type of home decor including wreaths, mantels, mason jars and teacher gifts.  

Here are some other fun ideas for how to to decorate with burlap bows:

Burlap Bow DIY Projects

 

burlap bow tutorial

 

I’ve used this same technique to make a lot of burlap bows for various craft and home decor projects but I’ve used the same steps to make bows of any type ribbon including small grosgrain bows, a large wired bow for our tree topper, and even bows for my daughters here.  For hair bows, I just don’t add the tails!

diy bow tutorial

 

The Secret to Making a Burlap Bow: Supplies

Mini Hot Glue Gun  – THIS one is my absolute favorite!
Scissors –  I love these scissors so much that I bought two pair of them.  I use them for everything!
 
 


 

How to Make a Bow for a Wreath: Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: How to Make a Bow with Burlap Ribbon

The bow I’m making below is for an 18 inch grapevine wreath.  For this same size, cut your 3″ wired burlap ribbon to a length of around 52″. 

If you wanted it fluffier, loopier, add a few inches and if you want it flatter bow, subtract a few inches.  I would consider the bow with the boxwood wreath above to be a fluffier bow and the bow with the cotton wreath to be a little flatter

Lay out your ribbon and figure out the center point.  Make a light pencil mark there to give you an idea of where the center is when making your burlap bow.

 

How to Make a Large Burlap Bow

If you want to make a big burlap bow for wreaths or home decor, follow the directions above using the 3″ wired burlap ribbon.  If you want an even bigger bow, you can do one of two things:  You can increase the length of your ribbon by 6-12″.   If that’s still not big enough, you can get thicker ribbon you can find here:

Burlap Ribbon, 3 Inch | Burlap Ribbon, 4 Inch | Burlap Ribbon, 6 Inch

 

How to Make a Small Burlap Bows

For smaller burlap bows, use a smaller thickness of ribbon, like 1 – 2″ wired ribbon.  Also, decrease the length of your ribbon significantly.  You want to look at the picture of the figure 8 below and make your figure 8 for the little burlap bows proportional to the big one.  Every other aspect of the tutorial is exactly the same!  🙂  Here are some sources for thinner ribbon: 

Burlap Ribbon, 1/2 Inch | Burlap Ribbon 7/8 Inch | Burlap Ribbon 2 Inch

 

 

Step 2: Make a Figure 8 to Start Your Burlap Ribbon Bow

Make a figure 8 just like below by pulling each end of the piece of ribbon around and to the center. 
 
One end of the ribbon goes to the left and goes to the center and the other end will go to the right and come back to the center.  Put a small line of hot glue to hold the figure 8 in place.
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial
 
 
 

Step 3:  How to Make a Bow for a Wreath with Wire

Take a second to cut 12 inches of craft wire and have it ready. 
 
Now bring each top and bottom of the figure 8 in so it is flat against the center of the 8.  It should look like this for one end.
 
making the perfect bow
 
Do the same thing with the other side and you should have something similar to this:
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial
 
 

Step 4:  Making the Loops for your DIY Burlap Bow

Hold the burlap bow in place in the center and flip it over.
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial
 
 

Step 5: Fold the Center of your Burlap Bow

While holding the bow tightly with one hand, fold the center so that you make three “wrinkles” in it.  It’s fine if they aren’t exactly equal. 
 
If you have a smaller bow, just try to get two wrinkles in the center.
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial
 
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial
 
 
 

Step 6:  Adding Wire to the Center of  Your Burlap Bow

Then wrap your wire tightly around the center of the bow to keep the “wrinkles” in place.  Twist the ends together towards the back of the bow.
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial
 
 

Step 7: Add the Center Ribbon to Your Wreath Bow

You can see the bow starting to take shape.  Take a 6 inch piece of your ribbon and roll it up length-wise so it is about an inch wide.  Wrap this piece around the center and hot glue the backs on each side.   Cut off any excess ribbon.
 
Burlap Bow Tutorial

 

Step 8: The Secret to Making a Burlap Bow

Here’s where I cheat a little to make this process so much easier!   Cut two 10 inch pieces  of burlap ribbon for the tails like this.  Figure out where they would look best on the back of your bow before hot gluing them to the back.  
 
Once you figure out the best location, just glue them on!
 
making a burlap bow
 

Step 9:  The Last Step to Making a Simple Burlap Bow

Last, cut a long piece of wire.  Place a dab of hot glue on the back of your bow and stick the center of the wire through the glue.
 
Now, use the wire to attach the bow to your wreath!  
 
 
Now you have a perfect burlap bow to attach to any wreath or home decor.  You can even use this method for making gift bows!
 

DON’T FORGET TO TAKE A PICTURE!

Now that you are done, I’d love to see how it turned out! ❤️  Post the picture of your bow here!

 
diy bow tutorial
The method of making hair bows is a little more difficult, which is why we cheat by adding by gluing on the tails in my Burlap Bow Tutorial.  I tell a little about my bow business venture in my post The Kind of Mom I Never Want To Be.
 

 

Burlap Bow Tutorial: Related Posts

Here’s are a few wreaths where I have followed the same instructions above in my Burlap Bow Tutorial:

How To Make A DIY Cotton Wreath For Less Than $10!

Simple Hydrangea Wreath for Spring

How to Make an Easy Peasy Lemon Wreath

 

making a burlap bow
 

 

DIY Hydrangea Door Wreath {Why Spring Is The Season of Hope}making a burlap bow

 How to Make a Bow for a Boxwood Wreath

making a burlap bow
 

To get this same look, Amazon sells a wreath almost identical to this one:  20″ Boxwood Wreath    Then, just attach your burlap bow and you are done!


How to Make a Bow for a Christmas Tree Topper

To make a bow for Christmas tree toppers and Christmas wreaths, use the same instructions above!
 

Rustic Glam Christmas Wreath with a Burlap Bow

To see the full tutorial on how to make this rustic glam wreath click here: Rustic Glam Christmas Wreath with Ornaments and Wooden Balls

Burlap Bow Tutorial – FAQ’s:

The Best Place to Put a Burlap Ribbon on a Wreath

You can put a burlap ribbon wherever you prefer.  The instructions from this tutorial still apply!  You can put the bow at the top, at the bottom or at 4 o’clock if you want to add some hydrangeas or an initial.  It’s totally up to you and there are several options!

How to Make a Layered Burlap Bow

If you want to make a thicker, layered burlap bow, you can repeat steps 1-6 to make two separate bow “bodies”.   Before adding the center strip of ribbon, stack the two bow bodies and then hot glue them together.  Then continue with adding the center strip and continue the bow as usual.  This is a great way to make a fluffy layered burlap bow easily!

How to Make Burlap Bows for Pews

If you are wondering how to make burlap bows for wedding decor you can easily use this tutorial!  Use the instructions in step 1 to customize the bow to whatever size you need for the pew or for making burlap bows for wedding chairs. 

You can hot glue the bow to a longer piece of ribbon that attaches to the pew or chair.  Be sure to twist or gather the ribbon with wire before hot gluing it to the bow before attaching it.  That will make it look like you made the bow from one long continuous piece of ribbon.  No one will know the difference!!!

The Best Type of Ribbon for a Burlap Bow

If you can get wired ribbon, that usually helps the bow to stay in place and also be fuller.  However, if you can’t find wired ribbon, you can see the tip below.  You can find lots of burlap wired ribbon here:  Wired Burlap Ribbon in All Colors

How to Make a Bow for a Wreath Stiff

If you can’t find wired ribbon, you can just as easily use ribbon without wire.  To make it extra stiff and full, just spray the finished bow with a thick layer of hair spray.  Let it dry and your bow will be stiffer than if you used burlap wired ribbon.

How to Tie a Burlap Bow on a Mason Jar

Use the instruction in step 1 to make a small burlap bow.  When you are done, hot glue a piece of ribbon around the jar.  Hot glue the end and cut off any excess.  Then, just hot glue the bow to the ribbon on the jar to make it look like one continuous piece.

 

Making a Bow for Wreaths and Home Decor – Final Thoughts

Burlap bows are such a fun way to add farmhouse style to any wreath or home decor project.  Knowing how to make them yourself will save you so much money and give you a lot more options.  These easy tips and burlap bow tutorial will help you make the perfect bow every single time!

 

Be sure to save this pin so you can comment on it later with your before and after pics! Pin it here:

burlap bow tutorial

 
 

What are your thoughts, my friend?  Do you think the makeover was worth it?  Can you relate to what it feels like to be broken?  I love to hear your thoughts and questions!  Scroll down to leave a comment and I WILL reply! ❤️

Blessings,

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diy bow tutorial

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Comments

  1. I just want to tell you.. I LOVE everything on your site! I literally want to do everything! I found you because I’m renovating an old desk and I’ve searched high and low for the right “How To” I’m so glad I stumbled across yours! Every question I’ve ever had is answered! You rock!

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