How to Tie a Velvet Bow 5 Different Ways

Velvet bows add color and texture to Christmas trees, wreaths, and wrapped gifts, but getting the loops to sit neatly takes a little practice. The ribbon can twist as you tighten the center, leaving its backing visible or one loop larger than the other.

This guide covers five styles, from a simple tied bow to fuller designs assembled with a secured center. Start with a small practice bow, then adjust the proportions for your display. Burgundy velvet works against Christmas greenery, while emerald, eggplant, ivory, and brass details help carry a jewel-tone palette through the room.

You don’t need every bow to be identical. Smaller loops suit tree branches and gifts; longer tails give a wreath more movement. The aim is to learn a method you can repeat, then size it for where the bow will go.

What You Need Before Tying a Velvet Bow

Gather your ribbon, sharp fabric scissors, a ruler or measuring tape, and a separate attachment tie. For the assembled styles, you’ll also need floral wire or strong craft thread to hold the layers together.

The featured burgundy velvet ribbon measures 1 inch wide and comes on a 10-yard spool. Its velvet front and nylon backing make it single-faced, so you’ll need to watch which side faces outward as you work. The listing does not specify wired edges, so don’t expect it to hold sculpted loops like wired ribbon.

Wired ribbon lets you reshape the edges of each loop. Non-wired ribbon produces softer bows, and shorter loops generally hold their shape better than large, loose ones. Choose your proportions accordingly rather than trying to force a narrow ribbon into an oversized bow.

Before cutting several pieces, make one complete sample. Measure the length it uses and keep that measurement for the remaining bows. Allow a little extra for final trimming.

How to Tie a Velvet Bow 5 Different Ways

The first two styles are tied with a knot. The remaining three are assembled from folded ribbon and secured at the center, which gives you more control over the layers and the visible velvet surface.

Work on a clear surface and check the front of the bow after each step. It’s easier to correct a twisted loop before tightening the center.

1. Tie a Classic Two-Loop Velvet Bow

Start with this style for small Christmas tree accents or gift wrapping. It uses one length of ribbon and creates two loops with a pair of tails.

1. Form two loops. Make one loop in each hand, leaving a tail below each. Keep the velvet surface on the outside of both loops.

2. Cross the loops. Lay the right loop over the left, leaving a small opening beneath the crossing point.

3. Pass one loop through. Bring the right loop behind the left and through that opening, just as you would when tying two shoelace loops together.

4. Tighten gently. Pull the loops in opposite directions until the center holds. Avoid pulling so hard that the knot crushes the ribbon.

5. Adjust the shape. Ease ribbon through the knot to balance the loops and tails. Turn any twisted sections so the velvet shows at the front.

6. Trim the ends. Cut both tails at an angle, then attach the bow using a separate tie passed behind its center knot.

With single-faced ribbon, some backing may show inside the knot. Focus on keeping the outward-facing loops and tails neat rather than repeatedly tightening the center to hide every small fold.

Test the bow on one tree branch before making a full set. If the loops collapse, make them smaller and try again.

2. Tie a Long-Tail Velvet Bow

A long-tail bow uses the same basic knot, but the proportions change. Modest loops keep the center tidy while the tails extend below the bow.

1. Choose the hanging length. Hold the ribbon against the wreath, branch, or gift where the bow will sit. Decide where you want the tails to end.

2. Form the loops above the tails. Leave the desired length hanging beneath each loop, with a little extra for adjustments.

3. Tie the two loops together. Cross one over the other, pass it through the opening, and gently tighten.

4. Refine the loops. Keep them relatively compact so the long tails remain the main feature.

5. Straighten the tails. Untwist the ribbon below the knot and turn the velvet face forward.

6. Attach before trimming. Position the bow, let the tails hang naturally, then make the final cuts.

On greenery wreaths, this style works near the bottom or slightly to one side. Leave some foliage visible around the center so the bow looks connected to the arrangement.

For a Christmas tree, let the tails fall between branches rather than stretching them tightly over ornaments. Keep their ends clear of the floor and nearby walkways.

3. Make a Double-Loop Velvet Bow

This version has two loops on each side. Instead of tying a bulky knot, you’ll build two folded sections and secure them together.

1. Fold the first section. Lay a length of ribbon velvet-side down. Bring both cut ends toward the middle and overlap them slightly, creating a flattened loop with the velvet facing outward.

2. Make a second section. Repeat with another piece of ribbon. Make it slightly shorter if you want the back loops to remain visible.

3. Stack the sections. Place the smaller folded section over the larger one, keeping their centers aligned and overlapped ends at the back.

4. Pinch the middle. Compress the center of both layers into a few small folds.

5. Secure the layers. Wrap craft thread or floral wire firmly around the pinched center. Keep any wire ends tucked behind the bow.

6. Add tails and cover the center. Secure a separate tail piece behind the bow, then wrap a short strip of ribbon around the middle. Fasten that strip at the back with thread or a small stitch.

Gently separate the upper and lower loops on each side. You want both layers to show without pulling them out of the center fastening.

A double-loop bow adds fullness to a gift or wreath while staying relatively compact. If you’re choosing other decorative ribbons for this method, check their width and construction first, since those details affect the finished shape.

4. Make a Multi-Loop Velvet Bow

A multi-loop bow builds on the previous method with three folded sections, giving you six loops in total. Wired ribbon helps larger loops hold their shape; with narrow non-wired velvet, keep the bow small and softly layered.

1. Prepare three folded sections. For each piece, fold the ends toward the middle with the velvet facing outward. Overlap the cut ends at the back.

2. Vary the lengths slightly. Make one section largest, one medium, and one smallest so the layers don’t completely cover one another.

3. Stack and pinch. Align the centers, placing the smallest section at the front. Pinch all three layers together.

4. Bind the center firmly. Wrap with craft thread or floral wire, checking that every folded section is held securely.

5. Spread the loops. Rotate the sections gently into a shallow fan so the six loops are visible.

6. Add the finishing pieces. Attach tails behind the center, then conceal the fastening with a short ribbon wrap secured at the back.

Open each loop with your fingers rather than pulling sharply at its edge. If a non-wired loop droops, reduce its length on your next sample instead of adding more layers.

This style can provide a fuller accent on a tree or garland. Position it after the ornaments and Christmas string lights are arranged so you can judge the available space and keep the lights visible.

5. Make a Layered Two-Color Velvet Bow

Combining burgundy and emerald lets you repeat the Christmas palette within one bow. Use a larger bow at the back and a smaller one in front so both colors remain visible.

1. Choose the color order. Place the color you want to dominate in the larger back layer.

2. Make the back bow. Use the folded-section method from the double-loop tutorial, securing its center firmly.

3. Make a smaller front bow. Use a contrasting ribbon and shorter folded sections.

4. Position the layers. Center the smaller bow over the larger one. Check that the back loops show on both sides.

5. Join the bows. Bind their centers together with thread or floral wire, keeping the fastening at the back.

6. Finish with tails. Add tails in one color for a simpler result, or use both colors with slightly different lengths. Cover the center with a narrow ribbon wrap.

The hunter emerald green velvet ribbon offers a coordinating color for the burgundy. When using ribbons of the same width, make the front loops noticeably shorter so the second color doesn’t disappear behind them.

Try the combination against your actual greenery before making several bows. Emerald can blend into dark branches, so burgundy may work better as the larger layer on a tree. Against ivory wrapping paper, both colors have more contrast.

Simple Fixes for Uneven or Twisted Velvet Bows

Small adjustments usually work better than starting over. Check the bow from the front, then identify whether the problem is the knot, the loop size, or the fastening.

• The backing faces forward. Loosen the knot or center binding slightly, turn the affected section, and secure it again. Pulling harder usually makes the twist more difficult to correct.

• One loop is larger. On a tied bow, gently draw ribbon through the center until the loops balance. On an assembled bow, check that the folded sections were centered before binding.

• The loops look flat. Open them with your fingers. If soft ribbon won’t hold the intended shape, use smaller loops.

• The layers slide apart. Tighten the center binding before adding the decorative wrap. The wrap should conceal a secure fastening rather than hold loose layers together on its own.

• The tails are uneven. Attach the bow in its final position before trimming. A slight difference can look natural, but it should be intentional.

• You’re running short of ribbon. Finish and measure one sample before cutting the next batch. Include the tails and center wrap when calculating what each bow uses.

If the velvet has been compressed in storage, check its care instructions before using heat. Test any permitted treatment on an offcut first.

Finish Your Christmas Display With Velvet

Once your bows are tied, repeat the velvet texture in a few nearby details. Add small burgundy bows to the tree branches, leaving space for ivory ornaments and a few brass or eggplant accents.

An emerald green velvet tablecloth can be gathered around the outside of the tree stand to create a tree-skirt effect. The 120-inch round cloth has no purpose-made trunk opening, so fold and overlap it to suit the space. Keep the stand stable, watering access clear, and excess fabric out of walkways.

For a separate photo corner, the ready-made giant burgundy velvet bow carries the same color into a larger display. Its foam-supported structure and seven-foot overall height make it different from the small ribbon bows in this guide. Plan room for its long tails rather than treating it as a standard tree ornament.

A plain background made with velvet backdrop curtains helps the oversized bow stand out. Keep the surrounding decorations restrained, such as a few wrapped gifts or a low greenery arrangement.

Burgundy Velvet Ribbon

Emerald Green Velvet Tablecloth

Giant Burgundy Velvet Bow

Make One Practice Bow Before Decorating

Start with the classic two-loop bow and adjust it until the proportions suit your tree, wreath, or gift. Once you’re comfortable keeping the velvet face visible, try longer tails or build a fuller bow with folded layers.

Keep a note of the ribbon length used for each successful sample. That makes it easier to repeat a style without wasting ribbon or ending up with noticeably different sizes.

For the finished Christmas display, choose one main bow style and repeat it where it fits. A few well-placed burgundy bows, emerald fabric at the tree base, and smaller ivory or brass details can connect the room while leaving your favorite decorations in view.