I once decided that I <em>needed</em> to learn how to tie a a Tiffany bow. This might seem like a frivolous quest but I figured, why not learn to do it the right way? So I walked into Tiffany's and asked for help.

Now I'll save you the trip and teach you how to do it. It's really easy once you know how.

<strong>Step 1</strong>

Gather your materials. You'll need:

1) a box

2) nice silky ribbon (I usually cut enough to go around the box about two-and-half times)

3) scissors

<a title="Tiffany Set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121484764/"><img class="at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39ecb970c" alt="Tiffany Set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39ecb970c-pi.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

&nbsp;

<strong>Step 2</strong>

Leaving at least a box's length of ribbon at the bottom of the box, place the ribbon at the center of the top of the box and hold with your thumb. Like this:

<a title="Tiffany Set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121484806/"><img class="at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f07970c" alt="Tiffany Set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f07970c-pi.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 3</strong>

Wrap the ribbon once around the box. Place the second piece of ribbon under your thumb as well:

<a title="Tiffany Set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2120706355/"><img class="at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f26970c" alt="Tiffany Set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f26970c-pi.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 4</strong>

Fold the ribbon over your thumb to go around the box at a 45 degree angle:

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121462290/"><img class="at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f3b970c" alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f3b970c-pi.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 5</strong>

Keep going...

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121462398/"><img class="at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f47970c" alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f47970c-pi.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 6</strong>

...until you go around once:

<a title="Tiffany Set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121484934/"><img class="at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f6f970c" alt="Tiffany Set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f6f970c-pi.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

Now, the step coming up is actually the most important one of the
process - if you screw up this step the bow won't work - but don't
worry, it's an easy step. Ready?

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<strong>Step 7</strong>

Tuck the ribbon under and back across the ribbon you were holding
with your thumb. You're basically making a U-shaped hook. If the ribbon
looks like this you're almost done:

<a title="Tiffany Set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121484832/"><img alt="Tiffany Set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121484832_dc255634e2.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 8</strong>

Now center and tighten the ribbon:

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2120684345/"><img alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2120684345_74ac64bb5f.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 9</strong>

Now, just like you learned in elementary school, you make a loop
with the uppermost piece of ribbon to your right, and then wrap the
other piece around and push through to make a bow:

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2120684377/"><img alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2120684377_269285a3ea.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 10</strong>

At this point, your bow will probably look pretty crappy. Thats fine - just loosen and recenter it:

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121462258/"><img alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121462258_321f55c8c8.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

&nbsp;

<strong>Step 11</strong>

...tighten again:

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121462508/"><img alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121462508_fa31af0bbb.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<strong>Step 12</strong>

Trim the edges of the ribbon and...

<a title="Tiffany set by R. S. M., on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/diary/2121462222/"><img alt="Tiffany set" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121462222_5a59886774.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

<span style="font-weight: bold;">...</span>Voila! You have a perfectly executed Tiffany bow:

<a href="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2121462146.jpeg"><img class="size-full wp-image-2846 alignnone" title="2121462146" alt="" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2121462146.jpeg" width="500" height="375" /></a>

&nbsp;

After a few rounds of practice you'll be able to do this with your
eyes closed. You can use this  technique to wrap anything, but a
Tiffany gift wouldn't hurt!

(OK, your wallet might cry a bit, but the rest of you will be quite happy.)