A fast to print, single filament decorative bow that uses <6g of filament.  Just print, heat, and bend into shape.  Remixed from Bjørn Frihagen's clever design.

This model is a fun place to experiment with different top/bottom layer patterns and looks great with coextruded filament.  I used lots of walls to make “borders” on the ribbon.  You can also personalize bows with raised text like Alzibiff's make.  Have fun creating new looks and share your settings with your makes!

This bow has been successfully made with pla, petg, and tpu (so far).  It can be scaled up. 
Follow the assembly instructions and heat before bending to avoid cracking your bow.

Assembly Instructions

Important: See how the bow folds together in the video on the original design:
Christmas Gift Bow - Foldable! 

Instructions

Bending the bow without heating can crack and ruin the bow!

1. Watch the video linked above to see how to each loop bends to create the bow's shape

2. Pick a method to heat your bow (see list below).

3. One side loop at a time,

   1. Heat one side loop of the bow until it softens

      1. (Heating a single loop at a time keeps the rest of the bow cool to hold and it keeps its shape.)

   2. Gently bend the loop into shape, avoiding sharp folds or creases

   3. Push the hole at the end of the loop over the bow's center pin

   4. Hold the loop in a shape you like until it hardens

   5. Repeat with all 4 side loops

4. Finish with the top/center loop

   1. Heat the loop

   2. Follow the video instructions to fold the center loop over the front of the bow, weave it through both bottom slits, and carefully push the hole onto the center pin

      1. This loop will be smaller with tighter bends

      2. Reheat the rest of the center loop if it hardens before you finish all the bending

      3. For brittle filaments (like silk PLA), see alternate folding option below

Heating Your Bow - Options and Tips:

• Hot things are hot: don't burn yourself or let others get burned.  

  • Use common sense and tools or gloves if needed.

• Ways to heat the bow loops:

  • 60-70C build plate (recommended) - you may need to press the loop down on the plate

  • Heat gun

  • Brief soak in hot water

  • Hair dryer?

• Extra brittle filaments (like silk PLA) need extra care.

  • Make sure you heat each loop until fully soft before bending.

  • After feeding the top loop through to the bottom, the tab may break if you try bending it back into the center. Fear not: just use heat to crease the tab below the bow and it will stay assembled.

Change log:

4.1.1    Improved assembly instructions.  No change to STL.

4.1.0   Bow is now easier to assemble.  Took updated rounded corners, etc., from v4.1 of the source design.

OLD   Initial (remixed) design