How to Tie a Butterfly Bow
Learn how to fold, wrap, and knot wired or satin ribbon around your fingers to form a symmetrical, multi-layered decorative butterfly bow.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Fabric shears
- ✓ Measuring tape
- ✓ Sewing clips
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ 1.5-inch wide wired ribbon (30 inches)
- ✓ Thin floral wire or 1/8-inch ribbon (8 inches)
- ✓ Fray check liquid or lighter
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Keep fingers clear of fabric shear blades when cutting tensioned ribbon.
- • Hold flame at least 1 inch below ribbon edge when heat-sealing synthetic fibers to prevent scorching.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Measure and Cut Ribbon Base
Measure out a 30-inch strip of ribbon using your measuring tape. Hold the ribbon taut and make a clean, single cut across the ribbon at a 45-degree angle using sharp fabric shears. If using synthetic ribbon, quickly sweep a lighter flame along the cut edge to prevent fraying.
- • A single 30-inch ribbon strip resting flat on the table with crisp, angled ends.
- • Chewing through ribbon with dull scissors causing frayed edges.
Set Up Hand Anchor and First Wing Loop
Extend your non-dominant hand with your index and middle fingers spread in a 'V' shape. Drape one tail of the ribbon over your thumb, leaving roughly 4 inches dangling downward. Wrap the long working end behind your index finger and bring it forward through the gap between your two fingers.
- • Ribbon anchored securely over thumb with working length threaded between spread index and middle fingers.
- • Spreading fingers too wide or pinching them completely closed.
Weave the Butterfly Wing Loops
Wrap the working ribbon around the outside of your middle finger, crossing over the front toward the index finger to form a figure-eight pattern. Repeat this figure-eight wrap two full times around both fingers to create the upper and lower butterfly wing layers. Ensure the ribbon stays flat without twisting along the knuckles.
- • Two distinct stacked loops visible around each finger with a neat crossover point centered between them.
- • Twisting the ribbon upside-down during the figure-eight wraps.
Insert Center Binding Wire
Slide an 8-inch piece of floral wire or thin ribbon beneath the ribbon wraps, right through the gap between your index and middle fingers. Bring both wire ends around to the front of the ribbon bridge. Cross the wire ends tightly over the center junction and twist firmly three times to bind the waist.
- • Tight wire cinch cinching the middle of the ribbon wraps between your fingers.
- • Placing the tie off-center, making one set of wings longer than the other.
Slide Off and Fluff Butterfly Wings
Carefully slide the bundled loops off your fingertips, holding the central wire knot securely. Pull the upper left and right loops upward, and pull the bottom loops downward to spread the wings outward like a butterfly. If using wired ribbon, gently cup each loop with your thumb to give the wings hollow, rounded dimension.
- • Four distinct, flared bow loops radiating from a tight center knot resembling butterfly wings.
- • Crushing the loops flat while removing them from fingers.
Dovetail and Shape Tails
Fold each dangling ribbon tail in half lengthwise with the pattern facing inward. Cut upward at a 45-degree angle from the folded edge to the outer corner to create clean inverted-V dovetail points. Arrange both tails so they hang naturally below the lower butterfly wings.
- • Two symmetrical ribbon tails ending in crisp V-shaped dovetails hanging beneath the bow.
- • Cutting from the open edge to the folded edge, which creates an outward point instead of a dovetail.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Zack D. Films — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Wired ribbon? Grosgrain ribbon or heavy satin ribbon
- No Floral wire? Twist tie or sturdy sewing thread
- No Fray check liquid? Clear nail polish