Ribbon Bow

This is the kind of small pattern I always keep up my sleeve to finish off a gift wrap nicely or brighten up a kid’s room: a simple bow, with two pink loops and a clearly marked burgundy centre. Start with the two loops at the top of the grid, placed evenly symmetrical on either side of the middle, then fill in the little square in the centre that acts as the knot. The two tails trailing down go on next, bead by bead along the diagonal, right down to the small burgundy bead marking each tip, like a little notch cut into the ribbon’s end. Take your time on the diagonals, that’s where beads tend to shift the most before ironing. Once it’s done, this bow sticks beautifully onto a gift, strings up nicely as a garland, or slips onto a homemade headband.