Day 9! Today's topic: Ribbon. One thing that I've learned is that stationery that requires ribbon just looks better if there is some uniformity in how the bow is tied. If you can master tying bows then it will lend itself to a more polished presentation.
Note that this is how I tie MY bows. There are other ways, but this way is just very neat and it makes a nice, unfussy "footprint" on your paper products.
Step 1.
Lie a pre-trimmed strip of ribbon flat (I looped it through two small circles since you will most likely be doing something like this for your stationery). It will be painful, but you should take the time to pre-trim your ribbon to ensure that 1.) You don't run out by being careless when grabbing the fabric throughout the job and 2.) you are adding to a consistent result.
Step 2. When you tie your first knot, make SURE you tie the knot one way and pull your strips the other way... It should look like this.
Step 3. Create a loop on the right side, keeping the ribbon in the direction that it was laid, like above.
Step 4. Take the left side (while still holding your right loop like above) and wrap it around your right loop and pull through.
Step 5.
Continue to gently pull the ribbon through... Because you started off with the knot vertical and your strips perpendicular, the ribbon bows (and tails) should now end up very neat, and facing the same direction...
Step 6. The finished product... You should have neat little footprints like this on each tie if you do it correctly. One of the tails might overlap the bow a little, but that doesn't bother me.
Thanks for sticking with us, we'll be back tomorrow with more tips! --ct
