How to Do Ribbon Embroidery for Children
Ribbon embroidery is a charming form of hand stitching that can easily be used to embellish children's clothing, canvas shoes, bedding and canvas bags. While the end result appears elegant and complex, the individual stitches themselves are simple to learn. In a matter of a few minutes, you can use small sections of ribbon and leftover embroidery floss to give new life to children's old clothes or hand-me-downs, or to add a touch of feminine elegance to a child's bedroom or backpack.
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Instructions
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Select an array of ribbon and thread based on the purpose and color of your project. For example, pastel ribbons would dress up a little girl's hat and dress for Easter, while a heavier ribbon of a dark color would make a fun outline, pattern or name on a student's backpack or library bag---and can easily be repeated on canvas tennis shoes for a cohesive look.
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Thread the ribbon onto the needle. Do this by first inserting the ribbon into the needle. Then bring the point of the needle around and poke it into the ribbon 1/2 inch from its end. Cut the ribbon to 12 or 14 inches.
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Complete a straight stitch. Keeping the ribbon flat, pull the ribbon up through the material and then poke it back through to the back at a small distance from where you brought it up. You can create a flower blossom repeating the straight stitch in a full- or half-circle from a central point. Vary the length of the stitch for the flower. Practice the distance from where you bring it up to where you poke it back through to achieve the look you desire. With a straight stitch and bright ribbons you can quickly add blossoms to a pair of child's jeans to create a feminine touch, particularly beneficial if children's clothing is being passed down from a boy to a girl.
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Create a ribbon stitch, also known as a Japanese ribbon stitch. Bring the ribbon up through the fabric. Pierce the ribbon with the needle, then pull the needle back down through the needle and fabric. Pull until the ribbon curls slightly, but do not pull taut, as this will cause you to lose the curl. Vary the stitches by piercing the ribbon to the left or right of center when you go back down through the ribbon.This is an excellent stitch to add pastel leaves to a little girl's spring dress or bold, autumn leaves to a child's jumper or overalls.
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Achieve a French knot by first pulling through to the front. Wrap the ribbon around the needle two or three times. Return to the back of the fabric by pushing the needle through a couple of threads from where you came up. Slowly slide the ribbon down the needle and pull the needle all the way through to the back. Tighten for a tidy, little knot. Combine the French knot with straight or ribbon stitches to make flowers on a child's dress or pants. The knot is small enough that a child will not find it uncomfortable if stitched, for example, on back pockets, and tight enough that it will not snag while the child is playing.
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Form a lazy daisy stitch to create leaves and flowers. Bring the ribbon up through the material. Go back through the material a few threads away from where you came up, but do not pull it tight. Leave a loop the size you would like the petal to be. Come back up at the top of the petal on the inside of the loop. Bring the needle and ribbon over the loop and go back down almost exactly where you came up, but on the outside of the loop, wrapping the ribbon around the loop. This is a fun stitch for children's hats and other items that will not easily snag during play.
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Create lines using the couch stitch. Bring the needle up and go back down some distance away. Bring the needle up directly along the path of the stitch you just made, but under it. Bring the needle up and over the long stitch, then back down and through the material. The end result is a long stitch that looks as if it has been stapled. Repeat the staple effect as many times as desired. This stitch would be an excellent choice for balloon strings and lollipop sticks to create a carnival theme.
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Progress to a stem stitch to add trailing vines or stems to elegant flowers. Bring the needle to the front of the fabric. Go back down a short distance away. Along the straight path from the second point to the first, poke the tip of the needle down into the fabric and back up again halfway from where you poked the tip down. Pull taut. Repeat from the new position. Continue forming a curved or straight line. When used with ribbon, this can add elegant stems and decorative curves to a girl's dress, while embroidery floss would give a more playful look to a casual children's outfit or canvas shoes.
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Tips & Warnings
All of the stitches, with the exception of the ribbon stitch, can be done with ribbon or thread, according to "Threads" magazine.
Floss will add a matte look to your finished piece, while the ribbon will add the elegance commanded by a girl's spring dress or a child's velvet holiday outfit.
According to Stitching.com, ribbon embroidery is not an exact art, thus allowing room for free expression.
References
- Photo Credit ribbon rolls image by TekinT from Fotolia.com
