Are you in the mood for making a Christmas tree bow topper with streamers? You can do it yourself and produce a very professional-looking result.
This will take a bit of practice; don’t leave it to the last minute. But after you’ve had a couple of tries, it will become easier.
Another secret is to have someone on hand for some of the time. You’ll be holding the “pinched” part of the bow, which is the center of the bow. I’m not saying you can’t do this without help, but it would be easier.
Have a look at the video and see what you think.
Supplies Needed
- Ribbon in Christmasy colors, at least 6 yards
- Pipe cleaners
- Scissors
- Optional: another person to be a second set of hands for you
Step-By-Step Instructions
Prepare The Streamers
It’s a good idea to prepare the streamers first; you’ll have one hand full of your bow topper at the time that you need to attach the streamers.
- Measure off 6 yards of ribbon.
- As you’re measuring, mark the center with a pipe cleaner.
- Repeat for the second streamer.
- Tie them together with the pipe cleaners, twisting them around. Leave the excess pipe cleaner lengths on; you’ll need them to handle it and then to attach it to the topper.
Pull off lots of ribbon, and leave it on the floor around you. You’ll be holding the center of the topper, so it’ll be easier to have the ribbon ready to pull into the topper.
When you begin, start about 1 yard into the ribbon; this will be a shorter streamer.
The “Bowtie”
- One yard in from the start of the ribbon, pinch the ribbon together.
- Pick up the ribbon about a foot along the length of the ribbon and fold it to the back of the pinched ribbon that you are holding, pinch it.
- Take the next foot section of the ribbon, twist it and bring it to the pinched section to make the “bowtie.”
The “X”
- Take the next section, about 1.5 inches longer than the bowtie sections and draw it into the pinched section, pinch it.
- Twist
- Repeat for the second loop.
- Repeat for the third loop.
- Repeat for the fourth loop.
- You’ve created the “X.”
Finishing The Bow
- Repeat making the “bowtie” and then the “X” until the bow is the size that you want.
- When you get to the last bowtie, make it the same length as the X, that is 1.5 inches longer than you have been doing.
- Bring one loop out the top of the bow and back down. This will form the streamer on the left side of the bow.
- Pick up 2 pipe cleaners together.
- Put the pipe cleaners around the middle of where you’re holding the bow together, and twist tightly.
- Pick up the streamers that you prepared earlier, add them to the back, and twist those pipe cleaners onto the pipe cleaners holding your bow together.
- Holding the pipe cleaner handle, pull each X out to arrange and fluff your bow.
- Cut the shorter streamers to the same length.
- Finish the ends of all the streamers by cutting a “V” shape out of the tips.
Putting It On The Tree
- Tie the topper to your tree 6 to 10 inches below the top.
- Arrange the side loops towards the back of the tree; they’ll almost go right around the tree.
Now you have an impressive Christmas bow tree topper!