How to Make a Simple Cheer Bow | Easy No-Sew Tutorial
Making your own cheer bows is easier than it looks! Once you get the basic fold down, you can make a simple cheer bow in just a few minutes.
In the video below, I’ll show you exactly how I fold a basic cheer bow — including my favorite trick for getting the loops even every time: an old Cricut cutting mat.
The grid lines make it so much easier to keep your folds consistent and create a bow that looks symmetrical without constantly measuring and adjusting.
What You'll Need
I keep a full list of my favorite bow-making supplies here:
For this basic bow, you'll need:
- 3-inch grosgrain ribbon
- Old Cricut cutting mat or another gridded sticky mat
- Double-sided tape
- Small zip tie
- Hair tie
- Rhinestone adhesive or bow center embellishment
- Scissors
- Lighter
How to Make a Simple Cheer Bow
1. Cut Your Ribbon
Cut a 29-inch piece of 3-inch grosgrain ribbon.
Find the center of the ribbon and place it along the center line of your Cricut mat.
Worth Making Tip: Don't throw away those old Cricut mats! Even when they're too worn out for cutting, the grid makes them perfect for bow making.
2. Make the First Loop
Starting from the center line, measure 3 inches out on the mat. Bring the ribbon around so the top of your fold sits right at that 3-inch mark.
Angle the ribbon downward so the top edge of the ribbon crosses the bottom edge at the zero/center mark.
This creates the angle you need for the classic cheer bow shape.
3. Repeat on the Other Side
Repeat the same fold on the opposite side, using the grid to make sure both sides are even.
Where the two ribbon tails cross, add a small piece of double-sided tape to hold them together.
4. Finish the Bow Shape
Bring the top of the crossed ribbon tails up to meet the top of the ribbon.
Secure it with another small piece of double-sided tape.
At this point, you should have your basic cheer bow shape.
5. Fold the Center
Now it's time to create the folds that give the bow its shape.
Pinch the center into three equal folds.
Wrap a 4-inch zip tie around the center to secure the folds.
Don't forget the hair tie! Slip your hair tie inside the zip tie before you pull it tight.
Trim off the excess zip tie.
6. Finish the Center
Apply rhinestone adhesive or your preferred bow-center embellishment around the zip tie to cover it and give your bow a finished look.
7. Cut and Seal the Tails
Cut each ribbon tail at approximately a 45-degree angle.
Very briefly pass a lighter along the cut edges of the ribbon to heat-seal them and prevent fraying. Keep the flame moving and avoid holding it directly against the ribbon.
And that's it — a simple, classic cheer bow!
Once you have this basic fold figured out, you can use the same method with different ribbon colors, glitter, rhinestones, vinyl, and other embellishments to make completely custom bows.
Save This Cheer Bow Tutorial
If you're making bows for a cheer team, gifts, or just want to learn how to make your own, save this tutorial so you can come back to the measurements and folding technique later.
Looking for more cheer DIYs? Check out my other cheer projects and my full list of favorite bow-making supplies.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Worth Making!
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