Ribbon Embroidery & Needle Size

Preparing to embroider with ribbon

Embroidery with ribbon makes a lovely addition to many textiles. Ribbon comes in a variety of sizes and therefore requires different size needles. Choosing the right size needle makes the process easier.

Ribbon Types

Two types of ribbon frequently used in embroidery are cotton and silk. Cotton ribbon is durable and silk is strong with a sheen, adding to its appeal.

Ribbon Sizes

Ribbon size refers to the width of the ribbon, which varies from 50 mm to 2 mm.

Ribbon Functions

Smaller size ribbons---2 mm to 13 mm---are used for stitching when doing ribbon embroidery. Larger sizes---25, 32 and 50 mm---are used for surface application, where they are formed into shapes and stitched in place.

Needle Type

Chenille needles are best for ribbon embroidery. These needles have large eyes, which aid in threading and also make a good size hole in the fabric being worked, so the ribbon can pass through without fraying.

Needle Sizes

Chenille needle sizes vary from 20 mm to 14 mm---the larger the number, the smaller the needle size.

Expert Insight

Choose the needle size that allows you to thread the needle with your ribbon without binding in the eye: small needles with narrow ribbons and larger needles with wider ribbons.

References

• Basics of Silk Ribbon Embroidery
• Romancing Ribbons Into Flowers; Elly Sienkiewicz; 1996