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Ribbon Bird Pattern

How to Weave a Ribbon Bird

This woven ribbon bird makes a beautiful package ornament, mobile or Christmas ornament. Attach a clip to the bird’s stomach to attach it to a branch of your tree. You can also slide one of your tree lights inside the body to give it a lovely glow.

Ribbon Bird Materials

• 2 20-inch lengths of 1 to 3-inch wide ribbon
• Scissors
• Scotch tape
• Tacky white glue
• Small piece of scrap cardstock to form a cone around which to mold the bird’s body

[Note: floral ribbon works well and can be split cleanly by hand. I used wired ribbon in this example. Though it must be cut into strips using scissors, it has the advantage of holding whatever shape you give it – a nice plump body, curled tail, wings in flight.]

Ribbon Bird Assembly

Wind a piece of tape around each length at about 5 inches.

Split the long tail of each length into four strands for the woven body.

Leave the ribbon on the other side of the tape un-split to form the wings as in the top picture.

Fold back the two outer strands on each length to form the bird’s shoulders and begin weaving the body.

The first section you weave will form the top tail segment of the bird.

Use two strips of tape to secure your work as shown below.

Flip the bird onto its back.

Form a cone for the size of the bird’s body with the cardstock.

Tape to secure it.

Tape the cone in place to weave the front half of the body.

Weave around the cone to complete the upper body. Keep the weaving fairly loose; you will need to be able to run the ribbon ends through the body and out the top for the neck and beak and through the bottom for the tail. Tape the woven section to secure it.

Carefully remove the cone; turn it around and tape it to the back portion of the bird’s body. Weave around the cone as you did before. Tape your work and remove the cone. Complete weaving the bird’s body. At this point it should look like a little woven pillow as in the next picture.

Now you’re ready to pull the loose ends through the body to form the tail and neck. Tuck the four strands from the bottom through the body and out the top.

Tuck the four strands from the top through the body and out the bottom. Your bird should look like the photo below.

Dab a little tacky glue between the strands where they exit the body. Try to get the glue inside the body. Pinch the strands together and let dry.

Form the spirals for the bird’s tail, using tacky glue to secure each loop.

Select the two best strands for the neck and head. Cut away the other two as close to the body as possible.

Tie an overhand knot with the two remaining strands for the bird’s head.

Trim the beak at an angle as shown.

Trim the wings. This is best seen in the first photo.

Again, referring the first photo, plump and shape the bird’s body.

Curl the wings to give the impression of flight.

For some simpler ribbon weaving projects, visit Ribbon Crafts

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