Looking for an easy tutorial on how to make a big wreath bow. Here’s a how to add a bow and my best tip on how to tie it.
Adding a wreath to a bow is easy if you have a few tips. I also want to share my best source for oversized ribbons and what I used to make the bow.
I’m hosting a graduation party next weekend so I did all the things that a graduation party hoster does.
I cleaned the front door and the back door and everything in between.
I planned fun games and activities and arranged for the cutest front-door greeters.
I decided what the menu looked like and how the party would flow and thought about if a balloon arch was in this party’s future.
And then?
I ordered chair sashes to make the chairs look even cuter.
But when the chair sashes showed up?
A brilliant decorating arrived right about the same time.
And I decided that chair sashes are just for chairs because…
….you can do this with them instead.
Just in case you read that first paragraph and took a sip of coffee and asked yourself, “What in the world is a chair sash?”
You would not be alone.
Chair sashes are definitely an unknown to so many people.
Let me introduce to the CUTEST idea for a party. A chair sash is in essence a giant oversized ribbon for a chair. They typically are about 8 inches wide and 108 inches long. All you do is tie them around the chair (usually a folding chair) and they immediately elevate a folding chair into something fancy.
They come in zillions of colors (I almost went with the blue and white, but it’s more of a royal blue) so I’m going to add these to chairs on the porch.
You can see the chair sashes that I ordered here.
|| 20″ boxwood wreath || chair sash ||
And when the chair sashes showed up and I unfolded them from the package?
I was reminded that they are just giant oversized ribbons.
And guess what I had been looking for to put on the wreath on the back door (and maybe the front door now that this looked so cute)?
You GUESSED IT. A ribbon.
But here’s the thing. Do you know how expensive oversized wreath ribbons are?
Yikes.
But guess what’s NOT expensive?
Yep.
Chair sashes.
And those chair sashes make the perfect ribbon for a wreath because they are so easy to tie and the ribbon is so large that it looks extra fancy on a wreath.
|| striped rug || planters || topiaries || boxwood wreath || black house lanterns (similiar) ||
Like this.
Remember when we tied scarves on wreaths at Christmas time?
This is just like that.
Except a little more springy.
And here’s how I turned a chair sash into a wreath ribbon in five minutes.
How To Make a Big Wreath Bow
|| 20″ boxwood wreath || chair sash ||
1. wrap the chair sash
The challenge with using a chair sash as a bow is that you’ll discover the chair sash is actually little long for a bow.
It’s 108″.
No worries. You have a couple of options. First pull back the edges of the boxwood to reveal the wreath and then:
- You can just tie a bow and let the ends hang longer
- You can do what I did and wrap the chair sash around the wreath several times before you tie the bow
- I actually (you can see it in the picture) made a loop after I wrapped and pulled the ends through the loop
- You could also fold it in half and pull it through like a sash and let the ends hang
There are a lot of possibilities with a chair sash.
|| 20″ boxwood wreath || chair sash ||
2. Tie the bow
You’ve wrapped it or tied it once or looped it around. Now all that’s left is to tie the bow.
Here’s my best bow-tying tip.
(You may already use it, but once you figure it out—your bow will hang perfectly every time.)
To get the perfect bow, you just have to tie the bow backwards. In other words, tie the bow the opposite way you normally tie a bow. For example, I start with the loop in my right hand, then I loop the ribbon around the loop with my left hand and pull it through to form the bow.
Instead? When I’m tying a wreath bow, I start with the loop in my left hand, then I loop the ribbon around the loop with my right hand and pull it through to form the bow.
If you use your left hand to hold the first loop? The bow will lay perfectly every time.
total aside: I am crossing my fingers (and my ribbon) that you understand that explanation.
|| striped rug || planters || topiaries || boxwood wreath ||
black house lanterns (similiar) ||
|| striped rug || planters || topiaries || boxwood wreath ||
black house lanterns (similiar) ||
|| striped rug || planters || topiaries || boxwood wreath ||
black house lanterns (similiar) ||
Then you just fluff the end of your ribbon and hang the wreath.
I am so happy I ordered those chair sashes. I have decorations for my chairs and wreath bows to match.
Now the back porch and the back door are all ready for a graduation party.
Maybe I should make chair-sash-bow-tying one of the party games. 🙂
PS If you are following me on Instagram I’m sharing a video of the porch today.
disclosure: affiliate links are used in this post.
Where did you get the little black house on the front porch? Love it!
My question, too! So cute!
I got them several years ago from Walmart, but they are out of stock! Here's the link to some that are similar: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/m8X4
Love, love, love it!!!
I love, love, love chair sashes! I haven't seen the striped ones! They are beautiful! I ordered 250 white chair sashes for our daughter's wedding nine years ago and continue to use them for so many showers, parties and celebrations. I just used them on Wednesday for a luncheon to welcome our new female minister. I think all of the ladies in attendance loved the special touch of the chair sashes. (I wish I could show you a photo!)
That sounds amazing! They are the EASIEST way to add a little something extra to a party!!!! I think I'm going to get them in pink, too! They are so affordable and good quality for the price!
Love the front porch! The black and hot pink go so well together. And.... Where did you get the metal house? Happy Mothers Day Weekend
I got them several years ago from Walmart, but they are out of stock! Here's the link to some that are similar: https://urlgeni.us/amazon/m8X4
I’m loving the black and white stripes, and the big bows are awesome, so inviting! Have a great party my friend!
Genius and I have had chair sashes for years. it never dawned on me to do this, lol
Beautiful bow, beautiful porch. Love stripes so much. It looks awesome.
Chair sashes are such a great idea for using on chairs -- and now on wreaths! I like your idea of using a chair sash for a bow on a wreath. KariAnne, you are always giving us great ways to dress up our homes. The black and white is so pretty and the bow on the wreath ties in so nicely with your gorgeous home. Hope your grad party goes well! Enjoy your weekend!
GREAT idea!! Going to another grad party tomorrow - supposed to rain - crossing my fingers because it is an outdoors, a BBQ! Hope you have a fabulous weekend. I know your house will, love that black and white porch area!!
I love the white wicker plant holders on your front porch. I know you have posted before the name of the manufacturer, but I can't find it. I have the matching patio table and chairs. Could you please let me know. Thanks.
That's a great idea! I always have my bows leaning sideways, so, I'm going to try switching hands and see if that helps! Thanks! And congrats on your granduate! Good job!
Everything looks so festive! Enjoy the party!! xoxo
I am so proud of myself! I have been admiring your new front door look and proceeded in procuring what would work for my door… The bow took me 3 try’s before I got it right.. but turned out just like yours per your instructions…. So no worries, you can uncross your fingers now…lol. Thanks for the beautiful idea…! Love it!