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How to Make Fabric Bows: Easy Tutorial for Large & Small Bows

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Learn how to make fabric bows with this easy tutorial, including measurements to make bows of any size!

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If you’re as much of a Pinterest-lover as me, you’ll know that bows are having a big moment in home decor.

In the last couple of years, I’ve been seeing big oversized bows, made from beautiful fabrics like linen and organic cotton, hanging on cottage doors and beautiful antique wardrobes.

But these bows can set you back quite a bit, with some being sold for as much as £95.

Well, I knew as soon as I saw this trend that I could make my very own DIY fabric bows for much less money, using some fabric scraps around my house!

So here it is a tutorial, complete with measurements, for how to make fabric bows. Just be prepared to make twenty – it’s addictive!

A large red and white checkered fabric bow lies on a wooden surface with blue and white spools of thread, a green striped cloth, dark red cloth, ribbon, and scissors.

Watch the Video Tutorial for DIY Fabric Bows

Follow along with the video tutorial here, or skip to the written instructions below.

Three fabric bows of different sizes are arranged on a wooden surface: a large solid red bow, a medium red-and-white checkered bow, and a small green-and-white striped bow.

How to Choose the Perfect Bow Size (With Measurements for Each)

The joy of making your own bow is that you can make it exactly as you want it! But it always helps to have measurements ready to go.

So here it is just for you – suggested measurements for different sizes of bow:

Large Fabric Bow

(eg for decorating a door or hanging on the wall)
Bow piece: 45cm x 90cm or 17 3/4″ x 35 1/2″
Tail piece: 40cm x 120cm or 15 3/4″ x 47 1/4″
Center piece: 9cm x 20cm or 3 1/2″ x 7 7/8″

Medium Fabric Bow

(eg for the top of a Christmas tree)
Bow piece: 30cm x 60cm or 11 3/4″ x 23 1/2″
Tail piece: 25cm x 80cm or 10″ x 31 1/2″
Center piece: 6 x 12cm or 2 3/8″ x 4 3/4″

Small Fabric Bow

(eg for gift wrapping, fabric hair bows, hair ties or hair accessories)
Bow piece: 15cm x 30cm or 6″ x 11 3/4″
Tail piece: 12.5cm x 40cm or 4 7/8″ x 15 3/4″
Center piece: 5 x 8cm or 2″ x 3 1/8″

A large, deep red fabric bow with long tails lies on a wooden table, beside a spool of blue ribbon and a pair of small scissors.

DIY Bow Tree Topper: How to Hang Your Bow on Your Christmas Tree

Nothing says Christmas like a big ol’ red bow tree topper! Here’s how to turn your DIY bow into a Christmas tree topper.

Make either the medium or the large bow. Which you make depends on the size of your tree – for a tree of 5 feet or less I’d suggest a medium bow and for larger trees, a large bow.

Thread some floral wire or a cable tie through the centre band of the bow and tie it around the top branch of your Christmas tree – super easy!

  • A decorated Christmas tree with a large red DIY bow tree topper stands in a cozy living room behind a white sofa with green and beige pillows, adorned with ornaments, ribbons, and twinkling lights.
  • A decorated Christmas tree topped with a large red fabric DIY bow tree topper. Ornaments, including white and red balls, hang from its branches, while warm white lights are draped around the tree.

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How to Make DIY Fabric Bows

Supplies

This list of supplies is for a medium-sized bow (around 40cm tall) – of course, if you plan to make a larger or smaller bow it may require more or less fabric!

1/2 metre of fabric (see below for fabric recommendations!
Fabric scissors or rotary cutter
Cotton quilt batting
Thread
Needle for hand sewing (optional)

You will also need the usual sewing essentials – you can find my favourites here.

A green and white striped fabric bow sits on a wooden table near black and gold scissors, a red and white checkered bow, and a light-colored folded fabric.
SHOP THE PROJECT

Favourite Fabrics for Soft, Dreamy Bows

Shop the fabric I used for my bows

Hand-loomed red gingham cotton

Cloth House London

Red cotton twill

Selfmade

Green gingham cotton

Higgs & Higgs

green ticking stripe

Cloth House London

All seam allowances are 1cm. (That’s a 3/8″ seam allowance if you’re in the US!)

step 1: Cut your fabric rectangles

Cut three rectangles of fabric, using the measurements suggested here.

  • A person demonstrates how to make fabric bows by using scissors to cut a piece of red and white checkered fabric on a wooden surface.
  • A person’s hands hold a piece of red and white checkered fabric on a wooden table showing the pieces needed to make fabric bows.

Step 2: Create the bow piece

Take the ‘bow piece’ rectangle – this will become the piece at the top of the bow.

Fold it in half lengthways (so the longest sides are together), and with right sides together sew along the long edge with a 1cm (3/8″) seam allowance. Press the seam and turn the rectangle out to the right side.

  • Two hands are folding or adjusting a red and white checkered cloth on a rustic wooden table, demonstrating how to make fabric bows.
  • A hand holds the top of a red and white checkered fabric strip laid flat on a wooden surface, showing a visible seam—perfect for learning how to make fabric bows.

Step 3: Insert the Batting

Cut a piece of quilt batting the same size as the new rectangle and slide it inside.

With the seam you’ve already sewn facing down, fold the rectangle (with the batting inside) in half so the short raw edges meet. Sew along this seam.

  • A person uses scissors to cut a long strip of white batting laid on top of a red plaid fabric on a wooden table.
  • Two hands insert the batting into the main piece of the fabric bow
  • A person’s hands folding a red and white checkered piece of fabric on a worn wooden table.

Press and turn so the raw edges are on the inside.

Place this piece to one side for now.

  • Two hands turn the main piece of the fabric bow so that the seam is on the inside.
  • Two hands turn the main piece of the fabric bow so that the seam is on the inside.
  • Two hands hold the main piece of the bow in red and white gingham fabric

step 4: create the tail piece

Next, take the ‘tail piece’ rectangle – this will be the piece forming the tails of the bow. Fold it in half lengthways and then in half again widthways with right sides together. Cut a smooth curve on the corner where the raw edges are.

Unfold the last fold you did and then sew all the way around the raw edges, leaving a small gap in the middle as indicated in the photo below.

  • A person demonstrates how to make fabric bows by cutting a piece of red and white checkered fabric with scissors on a wooden table.
  • Two hands unfold a piece of red and white gingham cloth, ready to make the tails of the bow.
  • A hand indicates the place to leave a small gap when sewing the tails of the fabric bow.

Turn the piece through the gap, and press well.

  • Two hands turn the tails of the fabric bow.
  • Two hands fold a red and white checkered cloth for the tails of a bow on a rustic wooden table.

Step 5: Create the center piece

Now take the smallest rectangle – this will be the center piece – and fold in half right sides together, so that the long edges are aligned.

Sew along the long edge, then turn so that the seam is on the inside. If you’re making a small bow you’ll need a loop turner or a straw and chopstick to help you – this blog post has some helpful methods for turning loops.

With the seam facing down, fold the piece in half so the short sides are aligned, and then sew the short ends.

  • Two hands are folding a piece of red and white checkered fabric on a wooden table, demonstrating how to make fabric bows.
  • Two hands turn a small loop of fabric for the centre of a fabric bow.
  • Two hands fold a small piece of gingham fabric in half for the centre of a fabric bow.

Turn the loop so the seam is on the inside.

Place the bow piece on top of the tail piece and thread the center piece over the tail and then over the bow part.

  • Two hands hold a small loop of red and white gingham fabric, for the centre of a fabric bow.
  • Two hands hold a small red and white loop for the centre of a fabric bow over a rustic wooden table.
  • Two hands demonstrate how to make fabric bows by tying a red and white checkered cloth into a neat bow on a light wooden surface.

Step 6: Finish the bow

You’ll need to give everything a good wiggle to get it all sitting neatly. Form some pleats in the middle with your fingers.

If you’d like to, add a few hand stitches through the middle of the bow to hold everything together.

That’s it – your bow is complete!

  • Two hands are demonstrating how to make fabric bows by tying a large red and white checkered bow on a wooden surface.
  • A person’s hands hold a large red and white checkered fabric bow on a rustic wooden surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much fabric you’ll need will depend on the bow size – a small bow could be made with a piece of fabric that’s less than half a metre (yard), a medium bow with about half a metre (yard), and a large bow will require a metre (yard) of fabric.

You can use this bow for just about anything!

They look great hanging on a front door or on a wall, on top of the Christmas tree or as a Christmas wreath bow.

You could even make smaller versions to add to gifts or use them as hair accessories by sliding metal hair clips through the centre loop.

Just about any medium weight woven fabric would work for making these bows.

You can find my fabric recommendations here.

I haven’t made a pattern for this project because the bow only requires rectangles and is easy enough to cut by simply marking the rectangles onto your fabric.

If you think a pattern would be helpful, drop me a message on Instagram and I’ll see what I can do!

It depends a little on your sewing experience, but most people will find this takes less than an hour. The most recent bow I made only took 15 minutes!

You can thread a little velvet ribbon through the loop in the center of the bow and tie it to the tree.

If you’re attaching the bow somewhere outdoors, you might want to use something a little stronger, like a zip tie.

Your Fabric Bow Is Finished — Here’s What to Do Next

And there you have it — a bow that’s all your own, stitched from scraps or favourite offcuts and ready to make something feel special.

Tie it onto a present, sew it to a cushion, or clip it in your hair — they’re far too pretty to make just one.

Why not add another little gem to your Christmas decor and make your very own Christmas stocking? Head here to try it.

Three fabric bows are arranged on a wooden surface: a large solid red bow, a medium red-and-white checkered bow, and a small green-and-white striped bow.
A green and white gingham fabric bow on a wooden table, with a red ribbon, fabric scraps, and sewing scissors nearby—preparing materials for a handmade bow.
A large red and white checkered fabric bow sits on a wooden table, surrounded by ribbon, scissors, and another green striped bow—perfect inspiration if you're learning how to make fabric bows.

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6 Comments

  1. Do you happen to have a video of this project? I’m having trouble understanding the written directions. Thanks!

    Reply

  2. This is a sweet little sewing project, but I agree with Jeck, it’s a little difficult to understand. The Instagram video was most helpful, but I am still uncertain how to attach the center band.
    Thank you for this idea.

    Reply

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