Bows & Ribbon

Pull bows that open into a full rosette from a flat loop when you draw the tails — organza and polyester, in sizes from 6 to 12 inches, sold in counts of 2 to 24. Colours cover cream, gold, silver, red, blush and hot pink, blue and brown rose. Prices run $19.99 to $29.99.

How does a pull bow work?

It arrives flat with two tails hanging from the centre. Pull both tails evenly and the loops stand up and rotate into a finished rosette in a couple of seconds, with no tying and no wire. Pull one tail harder than the other and the bow goes lopsided, so even tension is the whole technique. Once opened it holds its shape and cannot be flattened back.

What size bow suits what?

A 6-inch bow is the standard gift size and sits proportionately on a boxed shirt or a wine bottle. A 7 to 10-inch bow suits a large hamper, a chair back or a banister. The 12-inch organza glitter bows are decorating rather than wrapping items — a door, an archway, the end of a pew — and look undersized on anything smaller.

Organza or polyester — which should you choose?

Organza is sheer and holds a crisp standing loop, so it catches light and photographs well on a gift table or a chair back. Polyester is denser and more opaque, which makes it the harder-wearing choice outdoors or anywhere it will be handled. For gifts that travel in a bag, polyester keeps its shape better.