Just some helpful hints and info for you and your ribbon.
I chose millimeters to describe the width of the ribbon because it is a little more precise than the standard system. Also most ribbon that I sell is from France and Japan, and they use the metric system so the ribbon was designed to that system. Here are some basic conversions.
1 inch equals 25.4 millimeters 1/2 inch equals 12.7 millimeters 1/4 inch equals 6.35 millimeters
Metric Conversions
Definitions
Chenille -a soft wool, cotton, silk, or rayon yarn with protruding pile.
Soutache -a narrow braid with herringbone pattern used as trimming.
Ombre -A color effect woven into the fabric that has gradual changes in shade from light to dark, generally produced by arranging different tones in the warp.
Ruche - A ruffle or pleat of lace, muslin, or other fine fabric used for trimming women's garments.
Taffeta - A crisp, smooth, plain-woven fabric with a slight sheen, made of various fibers, such as silk, rayon, or nylon, and used especially for women's garments.
Satin - A smooth fabric, as of silk or rayon, woven with a glossy face and a dull back.
Grosgrain - A closely woven silk or rayon fabric with narrow horizontal ribs.
Organdy - A plain woven fabric that is fine and sheer, with a crisp finish.
Tips
When cutting ribbon and trim use the same scissors you use on your fabric exclusively. Using scissors that are designed and maintained just for this purpose will help you make a clean cut every-time.
Ribbons that fray: When a ribbon frays there are a few ways to tackle the problem. If the end will not show on your finished project you can just put little bits of tape on it until you get to the point where you sew or glue it under. If you do need your ends to show you can do one of two things: melting and fixing. Melting simply involves a match or a lighter. Carefully hold the flame as far away from your ribbon as possible while still being able to melt the edge. You can always melt a little more so it is better to go slowly. Also please do this in a well ventilated area as the melting can give off a strong odor. If you would prefer to fix the ends you can get no-fray products from a local sewing shop. These products are like glue, they dry clear and flexible, and most are washable. The only downside to this method is waiting for the product to dry completely which usually takes a few hours.
Magazines
Some magazines just love ribbon and it shows! Below I've listed links to magazines that regularly show ribbon in creative ways.
Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion
All of the Martha Stewart Magazines: Living, Kids, Weddings
Better Homes and Gardens
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