How to Sew Satin Ribbon

One of the easiest ways to make a homemade outfit even fancier is to add satin ribbon trim. Satin ribbon is a perfect way to accent the transition between the body and ruffle of a skirt, to outline a shirt cuff and collar, and make the straps of a sundress even more decorative.
To make the satin ribbon look its absolute best on your clothes, you will need to sew it by hand. Sewing satin ribbon by machine leaves unattractive stitch lines that can detract from your look. Satin ribbon that's sewn on by hand is neat, smooth, and looks professional.

Things You'll Need

• Pins
• Hand sewing needle
• Scissors
• Matching thread
• Satin ribbon

Instructions

1. Pin the ribbon on. Use straight pins to pin the ribbon where you want it to be. Be generous with the pins; satin ribbon is slippery and you don't want it to slide out of place.

2. Sew the ribbon. Use a hemming stitch (see "Resources" below) to sew the ribbon in place. Keep your stitches as close to the edge of the ribbon as possible.

3. Sew both sides. If the ribbon is wider than 1/8 of an inch, you will want to sew both sides for a clean, professional look. You can remove the pins as you stitch the first side.

4. Iron the ribbon. When the ribbon is stitched on both sides, press your work with a hot iron to make it as smooth as possible.

Resources

• various hand stitches, including hemming stitch