How to Make A Spool Knitted Bow (French Knitting Project)

Let's make a spool-knitted bow—it's such an easy project! These bows make pretty embellishments for other projects or can be used to make necklaces, hair clips, pins, magnets, and brooches.

Spool knitting is a fun craft for everyone, but especially for kids. They love to spool knit, but they don't always have a project in mind for the spool knitted cords they make. This spool knit bow is a great way to use cord knitting.

Spool knitting, also known as French knitting, is simple. For information and tutorials on spool knitting using a French knitter or spool knitter, click the link at the end of this page.

Not only is spool knitting easy, but this bow is a great project to make, too! The supplies needed include a spool-knitted cord, a tapestry needle to finish the ends of the cord and secure the bow together, and a piece of yarn to wrap the bow tightly.

And that's all it takes! You'll have a finished yarn craft bow to use any way you like in no time! 

Watch our video tutorial to learn more about making a spool-knitted bow, or continue reading this detailed post with step-by-step instructions and photos.

what you need to make a spool knitted bow

• Spool Knitter or French Knitter (Purchase at Amazon)
• Spool knitted cord - 9" long
• Piece of coordinating yarn (or contrasting yarn) - 24" long
• Tapestry needle (Amazon or Joann)
• Scissors
• Straight pin

INSTRUCTIONS to make a spool knitted bow

STEP 1: Hide the tail in the cord

After knitting a 9" long spool knitted cord, the completed cord will have tails on each end.  These tails need to be hidden inside the cord.

To learn how to knit with a spool knitter, visit our tutorial by clicking the link.

To hide these yarn tails, thread one of the tails into the eye of a tapestry needle. Click the link for a quick tip on threading a needle with the yarn.

Slip the needle into the center of the cord and come out a few inches away from the end.  Pull the yarn through and cut the yarn tail with scissors. The tail is now hidden inside of the cording. Repeat with the other yarn tail.

Step 2: Thread the tapestry needle

Fold the 24" long piece of yarn in half, and thread the two loose ends into the eye of the tapestry needle. This yarn will be used to hold the bow together in the middle. 

This tutorial uses a contrasting color yarn to see the steps.  

Step 3: find the middle of the cord

Locate the middle of the spool knitted cord. Fold the cord in half and mark this spot with a pin. This is where the ends of the cord cross to make the bow.

Step 4: make the cord into a bow shape

Next, take the cord and cross one end over the pin in the middle. Remember, the pin marks the location of the middle of the bow.

Take the other end of the cord, cross it in the middle, and hold the cord bow between your fingers.

Step 5: Secure the bow shape

While holding the bow in one hand, wrap the threaded tapestry needle around the center of the bow and pass the needle through the yarn loop.  Pull tightly.  

Now, wrap the yarn around the center of the bow several times to secure it.

Take the needle to the back of the bow. Insert the needle under some of the wound yarn on the back of the bow.  Pull the tapestry needle and yarn through. Do this twice to ensure the bow is securely fastened and will not fall apart.

Insert the tapestry needle and push it through the middle of the cording to hide the yarn. Cut close to the bow, and the piece of yarn will be hidden. Now the bow is complete!

Use it any way you like. For more French knitting projects, check out the links below.

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make a spool-knitted bow. Now that you know how to make a slew of them for many projects quickly,

Happy Knitting!

spool knitting tutorial and projects

• Doll House Rug
• Spool Knitted Snowman Ornament
• Bookmark
• Flower