Tips And Techniques

How to tie a favour box with personalised ribbon

October, 9th 2009

Wedding favour boxes tied with personalised ribbon are always a favourite. Here we share our technique for wrapping the ribbon and tying the bow so that the box stays flat and your details are at the front. NB: you may need to reverse the instructions if you are left-handed.

This is what we are aiming for:

Assemble your favour box and cut a length of ribbon about 1 metre long (as you get more practice, you should be able to use less ribbon).

Now take your ribbon and place across the top of the box leaving approx 30cm to the left. The printed side should be facing up.

Holding in place with your thumb on the centre top of the box, wrap the ribbon to the right of your thumb around the bottom of the box. When you get back to the top, stick this under your thumb too.

You now need to fold the ribbon back on itself and then at right angles so that you can wrap it around the box on the remaining 2 sides - again use your thumb to hold it all in place.

The ribbon should now be wrapped around the box on all four sides with a cross over point at the centre top and 2 ends of ribbon - one underneath and one on top. 

Keeping your thumb firmly on the cross over point, tuck the end of the top ribbon under the cross over point from the top right segment so that it comes out in the bottom left segment, this time with the print facing down.

Now you can lift your thumb and pull the two ends of ribbon together tightly. This can take a bit of practice so don't get frustrated if it doesn't work first time - it does get easier with practice - I promise!

Now you can tie your bow. Form the first loop, keeping the printed side of the ribbon on the outside. As you form the second loop and pull it through, turn the ribbon around so the the printing is on the outside for this loop too.

Keep the bow slightly loose while you make any adjustments, then pull tight. Trim the ends of the ribbon to neaten.

Shop here for personalised ribbon