December Bow Knitting Pattern: A Festive Accessory You’ll Want to Make Every Year
There is something undeniably magical about handmade decorations and accessories during the winter holiday season. When you take soft yarn between your fingers and transform it into something beautiful and intentional, the result carries a warmth that no store-bought item can replicate. One of the most charming and versatile projects you can pick up this time of year is a knitted bow — a small but impactful piece that works beautifully as a hair accessory, a gift topper, a wreath embellishment, a stocking decoration, or even a brooch pinned to a cozy winter coat.
This December Bow Knitting Pattern is designed with both beginner and intermediate knitters in mind. Whether you are sitting beside a crackling fire with a cup of tea, or squeezing in a few rows during a holiday gathering, this pattern is satisfying, quick, and endlessly giftable. By the end of this post, you will have everything you need to cast on your first bow and make a whole collection of them before the season is over.
Why Knit a Bow for December?
Bows are one of those timeless motifs that never feel out of place during the holidays. They show up on wrapped gifts, on wreaths, on tree toppers, in hair, and around lamp posts at Christmas markets. A knitted bow takes that classic shape and gives it texture, depth, and a handmade soul.
Unlike many holiday knitting projects, a bow is small enough to complete in a single sitting. This makes it ideal for last-minute gifts, craft fair stock, or holiday bazaar items. You can knit a dozen of them over a weekend and have something meaningful to give to every person on your list. They use minimal yarn, which means you can dip into your stash and use up scraps that have been sitting in a basket since last winter.
There is also a meditative quality to small, repetitive projects. When December gets busy and your to-do list feels never-ending, sitting down with a simple knitting pattern can anchor you in the present moment. The rhythm of needles clicking, the feel of soft yarn, and the gradual appearance of a recognizable shape — it is a quiet joy that belongs entirely to you.
Materials You Will Need
Before you dive into the pattern itself, gather your materials. The beauty of this project is that it requires very little, making it accessible to nearly every knitter regardless of experience level.
Yarn: For a classic holiday bow, choose a worsted weight yarn in your preferred color. Deep red, forest green, ivory white, and midnight navy all look stunning. If you want a bit of holiday sparkle, look for a yarn with a subtle metallic thread woven through it — these are widely available in craft stores during December and they catch the light beautifully. Approximately 20 to 30 yards of yarn will be enough for one bow, so this is an excellent stash-busting project.
Needles: US size 7 (4.5mm) straight or double-pointed needles work well for worsted weight yarn. If you prefer a slightly denser fabric, go down to a US size 6 (4.0mm). For a looser, more relaxed bow, size 8 (5.0mm) is perfectly fine.
Additional supplies: A tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends, scissors, stitch markers if you find them helpful, and a small amount of fiberfill or a bit of yarn scraps to stuff the center knot of the bow if you want it to have dimension.
Optional: A hair elastic, bobby pin, alligator clip, or brooch back if you plan to turn your bow into a wearable accessory. A hot glue gun works well for attaching hardware to the finished bow.
Understanding the Pattern Structure
A knitted bow is made of three distinct parts: two bow loops and one center band. The two loops are knitted as rectangular panels and then folded and seamed to create the rounded, puffed shape of each side of the bow. The center band is a narrow strip that wraps around the middle, cinching the two panels together to form the classic bow silhouette.
Each piece is worked flat in rows, making this a great project for knitters who have not yet ventured into knitting in the round. The shaping is achieved through the seaming and assembly rather than through complex stitch manipulation, so even if your knitting vocabulary is still growing, you will find this pattern approachable and clear.
The December Bow Knitting Pattern
Abbreviations
CO — cast on
BO — bind off
k — knit
p — purl
RS — right side
WS — wrong side
rep — repeat
st(s) — stitch(es)
k2tog — knit two stitches together
Gauge
Approximately 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using US size 7 needles and worsted weight yarn. Gauge is not critical for this project, but keeping it consistent will ensure both bow panels are the same size.
Bow Panel (Make Two)
These two panels form the loops of the bow.
CO 24 sts.
Row 1 (RS): Knit across.
Row 2 (WS): Purl across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 5 inches from the cast-on edge, ending after a WS row.
BO all stitches loosely.
Block the two panels lightly if desired, pinning them flat and spritzing with water, then allowing them to dry completely before assembly. This helps them lie flat and makes seaming easier.
To form each bow loop, fold one panel in half lengthwise with the right sides together so the long edges meet. Seam along the long edge using your tapestry needle and a length of yarn in a mattress stitch or whip stitch, leaving both short ends open. Turn the panel right side out so the seam is hidden inside. You now have a fabric tube. Flatten the tube so the seam sits along one edge, then seam the short ends closed. You should have a flat, rectangular pillow-like shape. Repeat for the second panel.
Pinch each panel firmly in the center to gather it into a bow loop shape. You can secure the gather with a few stitches through the center using your tapestry needle.
Center Band
CO 6 sts.
Row 1: Knit across.
Row 2: Purl across.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until the piece measures 3.5 inches from the cast-on edge.
BO all stitches.
Assembly
Hold your two bow panels together with the gathered centers touching and aligned. The flat sides should face outward and the gathered portions should meet in the middle. Use a length of yarn to stitch the two gathered centers together securely, pulling the yarn tightly to cinch them together into the classic two-loop bow shape.
Take the center band and wrap it around the middle of the bow, pulling it snug. Fold one end over the other at the back and stitch it in place with your tapestry needle, making sure the join is neat and hidden behind the bow. The center band should hold everything together firmly and create that satisfying middle knot look that makes a bow so recognizable.
Weave in all loose ends thoroughly so the bow is tidy on both sides.
If you want a little dimension in your bow, you can gently push a tiny bit of fiberfill into each panel before closing the seam. This gives the loops a pleasantly puffy appearance and helps them hold their shape even in lightweight yarns.
Variations to Try This December
Once you have made one bow, you will want to make many more, and the good news is that there are countless ways to vary this pattern to suit different purposes and aesthetics.
Size variations: Scale the bow up for a dramatic wreath topper by doubling all the measurements. A large bow made with bulky yarn and big needles works up in minutes and makes a bold statement on a holiday door wreath, a gift basket, or even as a decorative element on a stair banister. Scale down by halving the measurements and using fingering weight yarn on US size 2 needles to create a delicate miniature bow that can be attached to a gift tag or sewn onto a holiday card.
Texture variations: Instead of plain stockinette stitch, try a seed stitch or moss stitch for the bow panels. Seed stitch adds beautiful texture and gives the bow a more rustic, handcrafted appearance. To work seed stitch, simply alternate knitting and purling across each row, working knit stitches over purl stitches and purl stitches over knit stitches. It is an easy modification that dramatically changes the look of the finished piece.
Color variations: A striped bow is festive and fun. Work a few rows in red, then switch to white, then back to red to create a candy cane inspired look. Two-color bows made with contrasting yarns can also be striking — try a deep burgundy panel with a gold center band, or a green panel with a cream center band. If you have scraps of several different yarns, you can make a scrappy, multicolored bow that celebrates the variety of your stash.
Ribbon-style bow: For a more elongated, ribbon-like bow reminiscent of a real satin ribbon tied around a package, extend the bow panel length to 8 inches and reduce the width to 18 stitches. You can also add two long tail pieces by knitting additional narrow strips and attaching them to the back of the bow, letting them hang down for a gift-tied effect.
How to Use Your Knitted December Bow
The versatility of this small project is one of its greatest joys. Here are some ideas for putting your finished bows to use.
As a hair accessory, attach an alligator clip or a French barrette finding to the back of the bow using a hot glue gun or a few stitches. A red knitted bow worn in the hair is a charming and subtle holiday touch that suits all ages. These make wonderful gifts for children and adults alike.
As a gift topper, a knitted bow placed on top of a wrapped present elevates the presentation instantly and doubles as an extra gift — the recipient can remove it and wear it or use it as a decoration. Use a green bow for a classically festive look, or match the bow color to the recipient’s favorite color for a personal touch.
As a wreath embellishment, hot glue or stitch a large knitted bow to the bottom of a holiday wreath where a ribbon bow would traditionally sit. The texture of knitting adds something that ribbon cannot — a cozy, tactile quality that suits the handmade aesthetic many people are drawn to during the holidays.
As a stocking decoration, stitch a bow to the cuff of a knitted or fabric stocking. You can also attach a row of small bows along the mantle edge of a Christmas garland.
As a package tag, attach a small bow to a piece of card stock along with a handwritten note. The bow becomes part of the gift itself — a little piece of handmade care that the recipient can keep long after the wrapping paper has been recycled.
Tips for Knitting Success
A few practical notes will help you get the best results from this pattern.
Blocking makes a noticeable difference with knitted fabric. Even a light blocking — laying the pieces flat, misting with water, and allowing them to air dry — evens out the stitches and gives the finished piece a more polished appearance. This is especially helpful if you are working with a yarn that tends to curl at the edges.
When seaming the bow panels, take your time. Neat seams are what separate a handmade bow that looks professional from one that looks rushed. Use a matching yarn and a sharp tapestry needle, and work slowly, especially at the corners.
If the center band feels too stiff or too loose when wrapped around the bow, adjust the cast-on number by two stitches at a time until you find the width that suits your bow size. The pattern is very forgiving and easy to modify.
Store finished bows flat or gently folded to keep their shape. If a bow flattens out over time, a light steam from a garment steamer can puff it back into shape. Avoid placing heavy items on top of knitted bows in storage.
Making It a Holiday Tradition
One of the loveliest things you can do with a simple, satisfying pattern like this is turn it into an annual tradition. Set aside an evening in early December each year to knit a batch of bows. Put on a holiday film, brew something warm, and work through a pile of festive yarns while the season settles around you. Over the years, you will accumulate a wonderful collection of handmade holiday bows, each one made in a different yarn, a different color, during a different chapter of your life.
You might find yourself remembering the year you made the deep green bow with the gold center while your children were small, or the white bow with silver thread you knitted the winter you were snowed in for a week. Small handmade objects carry memory in a way that manufactured goods simply do not. That is the quiet power of knitting — it turns time and fiber into something lasting.
Share the pattern with friends and family who knit. Host a December bow knitting night where everyone brings their own yarn and needles and you work through the pattern together. Send a finished bow tucked inside a holiday card to someone who lives far away. Let your handmade work travel into the world and carry a piece of December’s warmth with it.
Final Thoughts
This December Bow Knitting Pattern is proof that the most meaningful holiday projects do not have to be complicated or time-consuming. In a season that can easily feel overwhelming, picking up your needles and making something small, beautiful, and intentional is a genuine act of self-care and creativity. Whether you knit one bow or twenty, each one is a small celebration of the season and a testament to what your hands are capable of making.
Cast on, enjoy the process, and let December be a little more handmade this year.
