In decorating event venues, one of the most common ornaments used is a bow. You can often times see bows placed on church pew end, end tables, gazebos, archways, candelabras, and banisters, but if you would observe keenly, bows are most commonly placed at the back of chairs. Bows make a plain white chair cover look more elegant and well-coordinated with the theme or motif of an event. They are simple and easy to make and attach, but they still make an amazing impression for the guests to appreciate.
How to tie the bow and what kind of material used depend on the liking of the event host but most interior designers recommend tulle. Tulle is a fine lightweight netting that is usually starched. It is made of different fibers such as nylon, silk, or rayon, depending on individual preference. When used as a garment, tulle adds touch of elegance that is why most designers use tulle for wedding gowns, veils, and even for ballet tutus. At present, tulle has become a favorite choice of material for bows because of its quality and it is easy to dye, dry, and arrange.
Aside from the raw material used for bows, event hosts are more particular with the kind of bows to use for decoration. There will always be the conventional bow knotting style, arranged by simply tying a knot, but since every event is a special day, you might want to make most of every detail that is part of your celebration. Experiment and fall in love with a particular kind of bow style. There are six frequently used kinds of bows: the floral bow, layered, tripled floral, graduated loop, puffy bow, and the basic faux.
The floral bow
This kind of bow is characterized by four to eight loops that vary in sizes. Smaller loops are made in the center and the bigger loops away from the center mimic the petals of a flower.
Tripled floral bow
Imagine a butterfly with its wings outstretched—that is how a triple floral bow looks like. There are three loops positioned on each side of the central loop.
Layered bow
As its name suggests, this kind of bow is a layering of either floral or tripled floral bow. Each layer is a smaller size of the bow beneath. The bows are tied using a florist wire.
Graduated loop
A graduated loop is typically used in academic ceremonies. Its distinguishing features are the two tails which ends are cut in angled points.
Puffy bow
If floral bows have a maximum of eight loops, the puffy bow has no limit as long as you can hold the loops at the center.
Basic faux
This one is a variation of the classic bow. The basic faux is characterized by the “tied look” of the center, similar to Minnie Mouse’s headpiece bow.
I recommend save-on-crafts.com to know more about the different kinds of bows and learn useful tips on how to make each kind of bows for decoration.