How to Make Your Own Award Ribbon—and When It's Worth Buying a Ready-Made One
How to Make Your Own Award Rosette and When It’s Worth Buying a Ready-Made One
Are you planning to hand out awards at a competition, a race, or a club party and thinking about making the rosettes yourself? It works perfectly well for small quantities and can be a fun craft project. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide—plus some thoughts on when it’s better to buy ready-made rosettes instead.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Satin ribbon or plastic ribbon in your chosen colors
- Scissors
- Glue gun, sewing machine, or strong tape
- Cardstock or a ready-made blank plaque for the center
- Safety pin or a shorter ribbon for hanging
- Optional: a pen or printer to print text on the plaque
Step-by-step: Make a simple rosette
1. Cut the ribbon into strips. Decide how many “layers” (layers of pleated ribbon) the bow should have. One layer is enough for a simple bow; two to three give a more elaborate look for finals and first prizes.
2. Fold the ribbon into even pleats. Fold each strip back and forth in a pleated pattern, much like a fan. The more even the pleats, the neater the final result will be.
3. Secure the folds in the center. Hold the folds together in the center and secure them with a few stitches on a sewing machine, a sturdy paper clip, or strong tape. This is the step that requires the most precision—feel free to practice on a strip before making the “real” rosette.
4. Stack the layers on top of each other. If you’re making a bow with multiple layers, place the smaller layer on top of the larger one and secure them at the same center point.
5. Attach the center plaque. Cut out a round piece of cardboard, or use a ready-made blank plaque. Write or print the desired text—for example, the placement, the name of the competition, or “Best in Test.”
6. Attach a ribbon for hanging or a pin. Finish by attaching a shorter ribbon at the back for hanging on a horse or wall, or a safety pin if the rosette is to be worn by a person or a dog.
Allow about 15–30 minutes per rosette, depending on the number of wreaths and your level of experience—multiply that by the number of rosettes you need to get a rough idea of how much time it will take.
When is it better to buy ready-made rosettes instead?
Making rosettes by hand is a fun project for just a few pieces—for example, the awards ceremony at a small club party or a single race. But it quickly becomes time-consuming when you need more, such as for an entire competition class, a show, or a season with multiple events.
Do the math: if each rosette takes 20 minutes to make and you need 30 of them, that adds up to 10 hours of work—on top of the cost of materials like ribbon, plaques, and accessories. Ready-made rosettes in the same quantity often cost less overall when you factor in your own time, and you’ll also get a more consistent, professional-looking result across the entire set.
A good rule of thumb: make them yourself for one-off occasions or as a craft project. Buy ready-made rosettes when you need more than a dozen, want a consistent look, or want the club’s or competition’s name professionally printed on the plaque.
Want to skip the hassle?
At Prisrosetter.se, we manufacture ready-made rosettes in all colors, with or without custom printing on the plaque—from single pieces to an entire club’s seasonal needs.