Simple Two-Ribbon Patriotic Boutique Bow For A Summer Wreath

This project was inspired by a t-shirt. A Patriotic t-shirt.

It is a pretty t-shirt with a rustic cross covered in a Patriotic two-ribbon bow tied in a different way. And I wanted to find a way to tie a similar bow. This post is how I figured it out.

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This post is part of the monthly Creative Craft Blog Hop, where I co-host each month with Sara of Birdz Of A Feather blog. 

If you are joining me from Sara’s project for a DIY Bag Charm, then welcome.  Wasn’t her project great!

Working on the new-to-me style bow

Below is an image of the Southern Couture t-shirt that inspired my new Patriotic Summer wreath for this year.

In reality, this is a very simple bow, and I expected to find a tutorial for making it on Pinterest.

I am definitely not a newbie to bow making. Bows are usually a combination of creating a loop from the ribbon, twisting it at a point, and creating a matching loop on the opposite side, and so forth.

A second, or then third, colored ribbon is either stacked on top of the first set of loops (usually 3 or 4 on each side) to create a layered effect.

However, this is not a stacked ribbon bow. It is connecting two sets of ribbon loops from two different ribbon styles on opposite sides.

I didn’t find a tutorial on Pinterest or YouTube.

I was sure I could find another crafter/blogger who had shared a tutorial on how to make a two-sided bow on Pinterest, but my search brought up nothing.

So I shared the image with ChatGPT and was told it didn’t have an “official name” but was often referred to as an Awareness Bow, Boutique Bow, or a Pinched Bow.

Those terms didn’t bring up anything on Pinterest either, so I decided to accept ChatGPT’s name suggestion: the Patriotic Boutique Bow. Then I started figuring out how to make it my way, as I envisioned.

Patriotic Boutique Bow – My Way

I KNOW I can’t be the first person to ever make a bow this way. Maybe it is just too simple. But just in case you are wondering too, here is how I made mine.

For the left side of the bow, with the dark blue background and white stars, I first measured out a length for the tail. Next, I created the first loop. Then I simply folded a second loop behind the first. No twisting to bring it to the other side. Just a simple fold. The third and fourth loops were the same.

The tail for this ribbon is leading from the top of this stack of folds.

I recreated the same steps on the right side of the bow for the red-and-white striped ribbon.

Next Steps…

Before joining the two sets of folded loops for the bow in the center, I created a small square fold for the tail section up towards the top edge of the loops. This allows the bow’s tails to fall directly beneath the matching folds.

A dab of hot glue on the center folds of the left side (blue) connects the right-side loops (red and white) over the top of them to form the two sides of the. I also used a pipe cleaner to secure the two halves together.

To hide the center connection, just cut a small length of the second ribbon to wrap around the center, then secure it close in the back with more hot glue.

You may notice that I also moved each end of the pipe cleaner to the sides out of the way of the center ribbon. The two ends of the pipe cleaner are then twisted together over the back seam to create the hanger for the bow.

To be honest, I made several versions of this bow. At first, I made one with only one loop on each side as in the inspiration photo, but I felt like it was too small for the star. So I tried another one with two loops on each side. It was better, but still too small. The best version of this bow for the star wreath was definitely the one with four loops on each side.

Finishing the Patriotic Wreath

Now that the boutique bow has been figured out, finishing the wreath was easy.

I am repurposing a rustic wooden star from a Christmas wreath I made a few years ago.

During a recent trip to Lowe’s, I was very surprised to find a display of Patriotic woodchip flower bouquets at the entrance. The colors were stunning, so I impulsively bought one, even though I didn’t have a Summer wreath idea figured out yet.

Combined with faux greenery stems, these woodchip roses created the perfect arrangement for the star wreath, with the Patriotic bouquet bow as the focal point on top.

I adore Patriotic decor and colors, so I am excited to display this wreath on my mantel, with its stunning bow, all Summer.

Remember to Pin It!

Please visit the other bloggers who joined the Creative Craft Hop this month:

I hope you will take the time to visit the other talented crafters and bloggers who joined the Creative Craft Hop this month, starting with Gail’s Hibiscus Paper Napkin Foam Flowers.

DIY Bag Charm

Simple Two-Ribbon Patriotic Boutique Bow

Hibiscus Paper Napkin Foam Flowers

How to Crochet Trim to Elevate Plain Hanging Baskets

A Ribbon-Inspired 4th of July Wreath

Happy Fourth of July!