8 Creative Decorating Ideas With A 1/8" Ribbon

What can you make with this thin sliver of a ribbon, which looks almost like thick thread? Well, a lot, apparently. This is why they say, NEVER underestimate anything and anyone. These thin ribbons are great to decorate clothes and fabric. Because they are narrow and flexible, they behave almost like thread with a lot of texture and shine.

Ribbon weaving

Hand Couching

In my opinion couching is one of the easiest of all surface decorations on fabric. You just laydown this ribbon you have and stitch over it with small stitches and you can cover a lot of area easily. This works the best on delicate fabrics because stitching ribbon like regular thread can leave visible holes. In this case, you will be using the ordinary thread to hold the ribbon down.

Let me tell you what I have done here. Made small vertical stitches half inch apart on the line.

Then passed the ribbon under the stitches. You can also do this in reverse – checkout all the different ways to do couching here.

Machine couching

Machine couching is even simpler. Use a zig zag foot or the braiding foot and set the zig zag machine width to 5 to hold down the thread completely.

The braiding foot has a hole in it to insert the ribbon and the ribbon passes through it and stitches are formed directly over it.

Checkout this post on sewing with the braiding foot

And, it is best if you do this with the embroidery hoop, if you do not like the puckers that I have on my rose.

You can embroider like this in any shape you want. Just doodle something or go freehand. Your choice. I would attempt lettering next.

Instead of zigzag you can use other decorative stitches as well. Even straight stitch would do. Infact for the 1/8″ inch ribbon straight stitch would work nicely.

The stitch will automatically go over the ribbon, attaching it to the fabric.
You will just have to guide the fabric to where you want the stitch to go. Do not pull the fabric. Stop the machine and gently pivot the material. Move the fabric gently to create curves or shapes.

Setting : Zig zag stitch
Width : Wide enough to go over the ribbon. I put mine at 5
Stitch length: 2.5

My learning : You should put your needle down every time you pivot to a different direction. Every time I forgot to put the needle down, the stitches landed off the ribbon – not a neat look at all. And use hoop and stabilizer. Stabilizer and the hooping will keep the fabric taut under the needle and avoid puckering.