Simple Crochet Bow with a Wrapped Center

A decorative bow without shaping stitches

This bow is made from two flat pieces. The main rectangle provides the wings; a narrow band wraps around its gathered center. You do not increase, decrease or join a round. Work the two pieces separately, inspect them flat, then adjust the center band during assembly.

The pattern ends with a decorative bow motif. It does not include a hair clip, pin, elastic or other attachment. Decide how to use it after checking its size and securing the assembly.

Keep the rectangle even

A smooth, solid-color yarn makes the stitch tops easy to see. Mark the first and last sc of each row. Begin the next row in the first stitch beneath the chain-one, then stop after the final marked stitch. Do not add a stitch into the old turning chain.

The main rectangle contains 24 sc in every row and twelve rows overall. At the planning gauge, the width is 24 divided by 16, multiplied by four inches: six inches. Twelve rows at eighteen rows per four inches give a height of about 2⅔ inches. These are calculated measurements, not the dimensions of a maker-tested sample.

Gather the center before fitting the band

Lay the finished rectangle with its long edges horizontal. Find the midpoint of its width. Pinch the fabric at that midpoint from the top long edge toward the bottom long edge, forming two or three small accordion folds. Spread the left and right wings with your fingers until they look balanced.

Use a separate strand of yarn to hold the pinch with a few wraps around the gathered center. Secure that strand with a few sewing passes through the folds, then weave its ends into the center where the band will cover them. Keep this temporary gathering slim; a thick bundle is harder to hide neatly.

Fit the center band rather than stretching it

The starting band is three sc wide and eight rows long. Wrap its long dimension around the gathered center with the band ends meeting at the back. The band should hold the shape without crushing the wings or pulling the bow into a hard knot.

If the ends do not meet comfortably, add rows one at a time before fastening off the band. If there is excessive overlap, undo rows. Yarn thickness and the amount gathered affect this fit, so eight rows is a starting instruction rather than a guaranteed circumference. Preserve three stitches in each added or removed row.

With the fit checked, sew the band's short ends together at the back. Take a few small securing stitches through the band and the gathered center so the band cannot slide off. Inspect the front after each pass; the sewing yarn should not flatten the visible wings.

Finish with a small quality check

Weave every tail through supported stitches and gently flex the bow before trimming. Check that the band stays centered and the wings sit at a similar height. You can reshape a slightly uneven pinch before securing the band, but a badly tapered main rectangle is easier to fix while it is still flat.

For a smaller or larger future bow, change the rectangle proportions deliberately and fit a new band to the result. A much thicker yarn can make the same stitch count bulky even when the width looks attractive. A sample tells you more than simply swapping hook sizes.

The original instructions have been checked for count consistency but have not been physically made and tested. Keep notes of the finished width, yarn use and band length that worked for you. Follow the yarn label for washing, and support the bow's shape while drying rather than pulling the band tight again afterward.