Explore guide
Work with embroidery ribbon
Let ribbon lie with its intended width and orientation. Over-tightening collapses the shape, while unwanted twists change which face catches the light.
Related lessons and tools
Let ribbon lie with its intended width and orientation. Over-tightening collapses the shape, while unwanted twists change which face catches the light.
Before you start
Prepare a small offcut of the intended ground with the intended needle and thread. Mark the practice area lightly and support the fabric without stretching its grain.
Try this example
Make three short ribbon petals, guiding each flat with a spare needle. Compare one lightly placed petal with an over-tightened trial before working the final motif.
Check your result
- Release the frame and inspect front and reverse. The thread should lie as intended without distorting the ground; shorten a stitch or change the sample before pulling harder.
- Coverage and tension depend on the actual ground, thread and stitch length. A diagram shows the route, not a universal thread quantity or tension setting.
Sources
