I went a little bit traditional with my Holiday decor ideas Holiday front door décor this year, using cuttings from the bottom of my Christmas tree to make boughs. I also made a big burlap bow to top it, along with embroidery hoops, glittery paper, and trim as embellishments.
Materials for Your DIY Burlap Bow
To make a burlap bow that holds its shape, choosing the right material is key. When I say burlap, I actually mean jute upholstery webbing. It has a great texture and the red stripe adds a festive touch. However, you could do this with wide burlap ribbon, wired burlap ribbon, or any type of stiff fabric. I love upholstery webbing because it is thick, keeps its shape, and is so inexpensive. You might even find similar types of ribbon at the Dollar Tree for an easy DIY.
- Roll of burlap webbing or ribbon with wire
- Twine or floral wire
- Scissors
- Hot glue gun
- Christmas tree cuttings (boughs)
How to Make a Big Burlap Bow: Step-by-Step
This burlap bow tutorial uses a folding technique rather than tying a traditional shoelace knot, which helps make the perfect shape for large burlap bows.
Step 1: Create the Loops. First, cut two 20-inch strips of webbing. Fold each strip into thirds, overlapping the ends about an inch. Hot glue the ends to make a loop. You are left with two loops about 9.5 inches long when you lay them flat. This will form the loops on each side of your bow.
Step 2: Prepare the Center. Cut an 18-inch strip of webbing. This will serve as the tails and the base.
Step 3: Assemble the Stack. Center the two loops over the 18-inch strip. You essentially stack the piece of burlap loops on top of the strip.
Step 4: The Scrunch. This is the trick to make burlap bows look professional. Scrunch up the middle of the bow for the perfect burlap bow for a wreath. loops with your fingers. Simultaneously, grab the strip underneath and scrunch it up around the center along with the two loops.
Step 5: Secure It. Tie some twine tightly around the middle to form your faux bow. You can also use a piece of wire to secure your burlap bow for a wreath. if you need more stability for your burlap bow around the wreath.
Here it is from the back. Trim the end of the ribbon tails into a V-shape or slant if desired. And there you have your simple burlap bow!
Attaching the Bow to Boughs
You can do anything with your big burlap bow. I chose to make boughs. My mom is the one who taught me to use the bottom branches of your Christmas tree. It’s usually quite branchy there and you want to trim it away to make room for presents anyways.
To attach the bow to the bough, I insert a piece of floral wire through the back of the bow, threading it through the twine knot. Then I wrap the ends around the center stems of the bough. This makes the bow in place secure but easy to remove and reuse at the end of the season. This method works great for Christmas wreaths or a spring wreath too.
Adding Embellishments
I wanted an ornament of some sort to hang from the bow. You can do any kind, but I used embroidery hoops because I heart them and they are perfect for a bow around the wreath. I put some white fabric into a 4-inch embroidery hoop. Then I took some glittery card stock and free-handed some holiday shapes (a bell, a star, and a bird), which I glued to the fabric. I also added pom pom trim to the hoop sides, creating a beautiful bows effect.
To attach the embroidery hoop, I tied a piece of twine through the top screw of the hoop and threaded it through the twine in my bow and tied a knot. For the door itself, I used three embroidery hoops to spell out the word JOY.
I hot glued the three embroidery hoops to a long strip of webbing. I tied that strip to the back of the bow through the twine. I love the festive and traditional look, with a pinch of quirk from the embroidery hoops and pom poms.
Conclusion
This was so inexpensive and quick to do if you’re looking for a last-minute idea. Making a beautiful bows for your holiday decor. Big Burlap Bow and boughs from Christmas tree cuttings is a fun and easy diy project for crafting burlap bows for wreaths. that is perfect for decorating your home for the holidays! By following our simple instructions on how to make a burlap bow, you’ll be able to create a beautiful decoration that will brighten up any room with large bows. Whether you use it as a door hanger, a wreath for my front door, or even tree toppers and beautiful bows to enhance your holiday decor., the possibilities are endless. Let us know in the comments below how your burlap bow diy turned out!
FAQs
Q: How do I make a big burlap bow for a fall wreath?
A: To make a big burlap bow for a fall wreath start with a long piece of burlap ribbon or a piece of burlap ribbon cut to the desired length, loop the burlap to create large loops, pinch the center of the bow, and wrap the center with a narrower strip or floral wire to hold the bow. This easy burlap method works well for wreath using wired ribbon or plain burlap; adjust the width of the bow and the number of loops for a larger bow or a simple bow look.
Q: Can you explain how to make a simple burlap bow without special tools?
A: A simple burlap bow can be made by folding a piece of burlap ribbon into loops, pinching the center, and tying it with twine or a piece of ribbon to make your own burlap bow. Learn how to make the bow tighter by wrap the center several times and then fluff the loops back to the center to create beautiful bows—this is a great tutorial approach for beginners who want easy burlap projects.
Q: What is the best way to tie a burlap bow so it holds on a wreath?
A: To tie a burlap bow that will hold, tie a strong piece of twine or wired ribbon around the center of your bow and then secure that tie to the wreath frame or grapevine. For extra hold, use floral wire threaded through the back of the bow and twist it onto the wreath base; back to the center adjustments and fluffing the loops will help the bow look perfect burlap and keep it in place.
Q: How do I choose the right length and width of the bow for a large wreath?
A: The length of ribbon and the width of the bow depend on wreath size: for a larger bow on a big wreath, use wider burlap (2.5–6 inches) and longer lengths (several feet tied into loops). Measure the wreath diameter and figure out how to make the bow proportional—more loops or a longer piece of burlap ribbon will create a fuller, larger bow for a fall wreath or holiday wreath.
Q: Are there video tutorial or great tutorial resources to learn how to make burlap bows?
A: Yes, there are many video tutorials and great tutorial articles available that show step-by-step how to make a bow, tie a burlap bow, and attach a bow to a wreath. Look for a video tutorial that demonstrates making bows, wrap the center techniques, and variations using wired ribbon or different types of ribbons to help you learn how to make one bow or multiple bows for seasonal projects.
