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.

Believe it or not, the nice saleslady actually taught me. 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39ecb970c-pi.jpg" alt="Tiffany Set" 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f07970c-pi.jpg" alt="Tiffany Set" 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f26970c-pi.jpg" alt="Tiffany Set" 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f3b970c-pi.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f47970c-pi.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef01310fa39f6f970c-pi.jpg" alt="Tiffany Set" 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 src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121484832_dc255634e2.jpg" alt="Tiffany Set" 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 src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2120684345_74ac64bb5f.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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 src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2120684377_269285a3ea.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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 src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121462258_321f55c8c8.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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 src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121462508_fa31af0bbb.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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 src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2121462222_5a59886774.jpg" alt="Tiffany set" 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" src="http://www.everydaytreats.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/2121462146.jpeg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /></a>

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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.)